The Democratic-controlled House approved a measure that combines two voting bills: the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. It will next be sent to the Senate where a high-profile battle awaits between Republican opposition and resistance from some Democrats to change Senate rules.
A senior Democratic aide told CNN that Biden is expected to discuss efforts to pass the voting bills and possible changes to Senate rules at the Senate Democratic Caucus luncheon on Thursday.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki later confirmed that Biden would attend the Democratic Senate lunch, adding that he would go directly to members to make the case for the new voting law.
“This is a defining moment that will divide everything before and after when the most fundamental American right, from which all others come, the right to vote and your vote is counted,” Psaki said on Wednesday. “He’s heading to Hill tomorrow to talk to the caucus and make the strong case that you’ve heard him go straight to members publicly.”
Despite this, Democrats are gearing up to implement a plan where the House will first pass voting legislation and then send it to the Senate. Democrats would need 60 votes to crack a filibuster going the final route, setting the stage for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, to try to force a vote to change the rules. .
Democrats are under heavy pressure from grassroots activists and their voters to pass legislation to protect access to voting, but have consistently hit a wall in the Senate, where at least 10 Republicans must vote to pass legislation. All 50 members of the caucus will need to be involved. To drive away a filibuster. Most Senate Republicans have dismissed Democrats’ attempts to pass the voting bills as reckless partisan redundancies.
Biden’s decision to make a high-profile push on voting rights has emerged as a key pillar of his domestic agenda, raising questions about what Democrats will be able to achieve now, while they still remain in the White House and The narrow majority control the majority in both chambers. of Congress.
This story and title have been updated with additional developments on Thursday.
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