Tom Carper Open to Filibuster Carve Out For Voting Rights

    From Carper

    Right now, in state houses across the country, state legislators are enacting a wave of voting restrictions with the sole purpose of making it harder to vote. In this year alone, 19 states have enacted 33 laws to restrict voting, oftentimes specifically targeting Black Americans. Meanwhile, many elected officials are embracing the Big Lie as justification to strip away voting rights and weaken our non-partisan electoral process. 

    This is wrong. In response, Congress must act with the same urgency as it did in 1965.

    By passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Congress can fulfill our responsibility to protect the right to vote and uphold the sanctity of our electoral process. Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have repeatedly used the filibuster to obstruct the path forward.

    More coverage:Democrats weigh changes in filibuster to pass voting rights legislation after GOP opposition

    I’m an optimist by nature, so I want to hold out hope that a compromise can be reached. But I cannot look the other way if total obstruction continues. I do not come to this decision lightly, but it has become clear to me that if the filibuster is standing in the way of protecting our democracy then the filibuster isn’t working for our democracy.

    Earlier this year, my friend Sen. Angus King, an Independent from Maine, wrote that “if forced to choose between a Senate rule and democracy itself, I know where I will come down.” And so do I. 

    https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/2021/11/04/tom-carper-no-barrier-not-even-filibuster-stop-our-obligation-our-democracy/6269169001/

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