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Manchin urges Democrats to ‘stand up’ to Senate GOP amid push to nix filibuster

Former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) said Sunday it’s time to “stand up” to Senate Republicans trying to eliminate the filibuster.

The filibuster, endemic to the Senate, is more than 200 years old. The rule allows debate until 60 votes are collected to initiate cloture and end debate; This is a high bar when no party has 60 seats.

“I’ve always been an independent. But stand up now. You need at least 10 or at least five Democrats right now to sign a pledge that we will not vote to get rid of them in any way, in any way, in any way.” [of the filibuster]Manchin said during an appearance on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.”

Manchin said filibustering the filibuster would “kill the soul” of the Senate, tarnish the government’s global reputation and turn the upper chamber into a “high-profile House” that rotates every two years.

The former West Virginia senator argued that the filibuster “protected” the minority party and worked against passing bills without bipartisanship.

“It gives the minority a chance to participate. All it takes is hearing from the minority, which makes us the most intentional, extraordinary institution in the world, because when we pass legislation, Chris, it’s very difficult. It’s even harder to get rid of it,” Manchin told host Chris Stirewalt.

“So the bottom line is we have stability. We have predictability in the world,” he added.

Senators have re-evaluated the usefulness of the filibuster in recent weeks as GOP lawmakers try to pass the Protecting American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act ahead of the midterm elections.

House Republicans called on their counterparts in the upper chamber to use a “talking filibuster” to push the bill through. The measure would require Democrats to physically remain at the dais to block passage of the SAVE America Act.

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