A Step Forward in the Filibuster Fight
Dispatches on the For The People Act (Edition #33)
Hello everyone! We’ve reached a new chapter in the fight to fix the filibuster. But before I get into the latest news, I want to flag another Substack that you might be interested in.
Above and beyond H.R. 1, there's a lot happening in the voting rights world. Spenser's Super Tuesday is a Substack that highlights a new, under-reported voting rights story each week and tells you what's going wrong (and right!), along with ways you can help. I highly recommend checking it out.
Biden Begins to Lead:
Last week at a CNN Townhall, President Biden suggested that the filibuster will need to be fundamentally altered in light of Republican obstruction on voting rights and raising the debt ceiling. It goes without saying that this is incredibly good news. Here is a clip of what Biden said:
When asked about Biden’s remarks after the fact, Press Secretary Psaki confirmed that we should “stay tuned” to see what types of filibuster reform President Biden will support. Psaki also said, “not getting voting rights done is not an option” (AP). As we’ve previously explained, any filibuster reform will likely allow both sides to voice their opinions for a while but prevent the minority of senators from blocking bills indefinitely.
There’s still a LONG way to go in the fight to fix the filibuster. But Biden’s comments were a game changer. We’ve been waiting months for him to use his bully pulpit to guide discussions in the Senate, and we are glad that he finally did so. More, of course, is still needed from the president, so we look forward to his next steps. Together, we can fix the filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act.
Watch Fix Our Senate Coalition spokesperson Eli Zupnick respond to Biden’s filibuster comments on MSNBC here.
And the good news doesn’t stop there!
Senate Majority Leader Schumer announced that he hopes to have voting rights legislation passed by Thanksgiving. That’s an encouraging statement from the top Senate Democrat and it means we’ll have a busy November ahead of us.
Additionally, Senator Angus King, an independent representing Maine, endorsed several versions of filibuster reform this weekend. A longtime supporter of the Senate filibuster, King acknowledges that he’d “prefer some alternative to what the present rule is. I'd like to restore the Senate to what it was, where we actually had debates and people had to hold the floor” (The Hill)
It is hard to overstate the importance of these developments in the fight to fix the filibuster. Yes, progress has been way slower than we might have wanted; nevertheless, we are continuing to push the ball forward — despite the odds. Fixing the filibuster is the first step towards protecting our democracy, addressing the climate crisis, ensuring racial justice, defending a woman's right to choose, and more. We’re going to get it done.
As always, we will keep you updated on the trajectory of federal voting rights legislation as it moves through Congress. Subscribe to this Substack to stay informed on the twists and turns of this journey.
The Grassroots
Last week, grassroots activists engaged in a Freedom to Vote Relay from West Virginia to Washington, D.C. The event was very successful and generated significant press. Check out some of the coverage it got here. And you can watch the D.C. rally here.
Upcoming Events:
On November 3rd, People for the American Way, DFAD, Black Voters Matter, and the League of Women Voters are hosting a youth-rally for voting rights legislation in Washington D.C. at 10am. For more information click here.
From November 8th-13th, there will be a ‘Time to Act’ Week of Action which will include distributed actions across the country in support of the Freedom to Vote Act. Check out the events here.
There are more events on the Declaration for American Democracy website here. Please make sure to find an event near you. Also, don’t forget to check out our additional ways you can help below.
In the News:
Rep David Cicilline (D-RI) argues in The Hill that the Senate must end the filibuster. He concludes:
“[the Senate] should use this power today and end the tyranny of the minority that is allowing so many important bills to die the moment they are delivered from the House. It’s time to choose: the filibuster or democracy.”
Washington Post columnist, E.J. Dionne Jr. explains that true conservatives should support fixing the filibuster. The filibuster prevents the Senate from functioning, which means that reform is needed to protect what conservatives (and all of us) value, the Senate itself.
New York Times columnist Charles Blow expresses frustration that President Biden is still not being vocal enough. Blow appreciates the President’s recent comments on the filibuster but is frustrated that the president is not treating the Freedom to Vote Act as the number one priority.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer penned an op-ed calling for filibuster reform. He writes:
“I would urge my colleagues in the Senate to eliminate Rule XXII, which allows a filibuster (feigned or real) to silence the majority. The premise that such a rule is necessary as some kind of check and balance fails to understand that good principle. It is the legislature that checks the executive, who checks the legislature by the veto, and Supreme Court who checks both on behalf of the Constitution and the minority. If the Senate Minority has veto power over the Senate Majority, our democracy is upside down, and there is real danger that Americans will conclude their democracy is broken. That has happened too often around the world. We must not let it happen here.”
Don’t forget to keep your friends, family, and colleagues in the loop by sharing this Substack with them.
Social Media Roundup:
Let’s be frank: there are A LOT of tweets, posts, and general conversation about the Freedom to Vote Act. In this section, we give you an overview of the tweets and media you really need to see.
More Ways to Help!
We are entering possibly one of the most critical moments for American democracy since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We need all the help we can get to push the Freedom to Vote Act over the finish line! Here are more ways to join the fight to protect American democracy:
Call your senators and tell them that you support reforming the filibuster for voting rights legislation. You can find your senators’ phone numbers, as well as where they stand on the filibuster, using our handy filibuster tracker!
Common Cause, RepresentUs, and End Citizens United are organizing regular phone banks in support of the Freedom to Vote Act. This is a great opportunity to spread the word and help constituents contact their Senators in support of the bill. Check them out here, here, and here.
You can also text DEMOCRACY to 33339 to receive a daily text message reminder to call your senators in support of voting rights legislation.
The League of Women Voters can also help you contact the White House here.
Write a letter to the editor in your local paper sharing your support of the Freedom to Vote Act and urging your Senators to pass it. Not sure how to write a letter to the editor? Reach out to us at info@equalcitizens.us and we can help!
Share our newsletter, our podcast, the articles included above, and the resources on the bill below on social media and tell your friends why you support #FreedomtoVote
Extra, Extra:
If, after reading our newsletter, you still want to know more about the Freedom to Vote Act or Equal Citizens you can find more information here! If you have questions about the bill you want us to answer in our Substack, tweet at us with #HR1Substack! Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more updates throughout the week.
Relevant Resources:
Here are a few resources on the “Freedom to Vote Act” if you have questions:
Equal Citizens launched a filibuster tracker, so you can see where your senator stands on the filibuster. It also includes their phone numbers and their Twitter handles, so you can get in touch with them directly and push them to support filibuster reform!
The Brennan Center for Justice created a wonderful guide to the Freedom to Vote Act. Check it out here. Additionally, they created an extensive fact sheet on the differences between the Freedom to Vote Act and the For the People Act, which I highly suggest checking out here.
The Brennan Center also published a report on why H.R. 1 brings us closer to an inclusive democracy, while the Freedom to Vote Act is not the same, this report is still relevant in a number of ways. Check it out here. They also created an in-depth report about racism and disenfranchisement due to incarceration.
There is a lot of misinformation about the Freedom to Vote Act, and the amount of misinformation so please reach out to us if you hear anything that doesn’t sound right and we will give you the correct information.
More About Me:
Kevin Rissmiller is a fellow at Equal Citizens and a Goodwin-Niering Scholar at Connecticut College majoring in Government and exploring sociology, economics, and applied statistics. In his free time, you will find him at Dunkins or (pre-pandemic) playing ultimate frisbee. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
If you want more updates on federal voting rights legislation from Kevin, then subscribe here!