Merkley rails against Trump’s politics in filibuster speech
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) delivered a lengthy filibuster speech to oppose a Republican-backed bill aimed at reopening the government during the ongoing shutdown. In his speech, Merkley criticized President Donald Trump’s actions, accusing him of posing serious threats to American democracy and exhibiting authoritarian tendencies. He condemned the Trump management’s deployment of military troops to U.S. cities to assist in law enforcement and immigration enforcement, calling it un-american and a misuse of the military. Merkley’s filibuster, which lasted about 13 hours, is part of a broader Democratic effort to block the bill unless a provision extending Obamacare subsidies is included-a demand Republicans reject, causing the shutdown stalemate to continue into its 22nd day.
Merkley rails against Trump politics in filibuster speech during government shutdown
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) is using a lengthy filibuster speech to criticize President Donald Trump as Senate Democrats utilize the procedural tool to block passage of a GOP-backed measure to open the government.
“I’m holding the Senate floor to protest Trump’s grave threats to democracy. We cannot pretend this is normal,” he said in a post on X.
The filibuster is a Senate rule that protects the minority against majority power. When a bill, including the continuing resolution Republicans want to pass to open the government, is brought to the Senate floor, any lawmaker can bring things to a halt by filibustering, or speaking for as long as he or she can. The Senate can only end the extended debate with 60 votes.
Merkley began his filibuster around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and continued debating overnight. The marathon speech has now lasted 13 hours, short of Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) 25-hour record set earlier this year.
Merkley condemned the Trump administration over several measures during the speech, including the president’s use of military troops to crack down on crime in major U.S. cities and protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carrying out deportation operations.
Merkley argued that such tactics are proof that Trump has authoritarian tendencies.
“This is an incredible threat to our nation,” he said. “To the entire vision of our Constitution. To the entire platform on which our freedom exists.”
“This is un-American,” Merkley added. “It is a fundamental violation of the purpose of our military.”
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The Oregon senator’s filibuster comes as the government shutdown stretches into the 22nd day.
The gridlock has continued due to Democrats’ demands that Obamacare subsidy extensions be attached to the House-passed continuing resolution, which is being held up in the Senate. Republicans have refused to attach that provision, leading to the stalemate.
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