Stephan: Robert Reich nails what I think is the central dynamic of the American Congress today, one that most of the media, either doesn't get or won't say. As a result poll after poll shows the American people blame Biden for the failure to get the laws into place that are so desperately needed. This is very wrong. The fact is that Biden and the Democrats have passed literally hundreds of laws in the House that then go nowhere in the Senate because of the Republican Party, aided by the corrupt Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema, and the filibuster rule. Because the media does not cover this honestly most Americans have little or no understanding that this is the case.
Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan, speaks with Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri, before delivering testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on the proposal to establish a United States Space Force at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, April 11, 2019. Credit: DoD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro
Why doesn’t Congress get anything done? Well, one chamber actually does. Hundreds of bills have been passed by the House of Representatives, but have been blocked from even getting a vote in the Senate. Bills like –
The Freedom to Vote Act,
The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act,
The Equality Act,
Background checks for gun sales,
Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act,
The Protecting the Right to Organize Act.
The Build Back Better Act.
The list goes on…
So why aren’t these crucial bills getting a vote in the Senate? Because the filibuster makes it impossible.
All told, the House passed over 200 bills since the start of 2021 that have not been taken up in the Senate. Everything from investing in rural education to preventing discrimination against pregnant workers to […]
