Manchin is open to lowering the filibuster to 55 votes.

[Goodheart]

Mighty brave position for something that would change nothing while he's in office, right?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2021/06/16/manchin-says-hes-open-to-lowering-filibuster-threshold-to-55-votes/?sh=24a5148bd5e2

[lark]

1. WEll, there would be a 1/6 commission.

That's a big difference.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

4. People are just looking to shit on him

He's signed on to voting rights legislation, endorsed by Stacy Abrams. He's talking about reforming the filibuster. He's leaning on moderate donors to start pressuring Republicans.

But yeah, he's not doing anything.

[empedocles]

7. You got that right

[Fiendish Thingy]

20. The rubber hits the road next week when Schumer brings S1 to the floor

Then we’ll see if Manchin is all talk or not.

The latest events and leaks make me more hopeful than I have been in a while.

[wellst0nev0ter]

25. Pressure works

So don't let up.

[ananda]

26. Well, he wasn't. But he's moving in the right direction now.

... hope ...

[George II]

27. He's doing a lot more as a Democrat than people will give him credit.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

31. Yep nt

[temporary311]

12. Maybe there would've been.

Or maybe several of the Repubs who voted yes only did so because there weren't enough votes to pass it anyway.

[tritsofme]

2. The big question is, would he support using the nuclear option to do it?

Or would he insist on a rules change through regular order, which would require 67 votes, making the discussion academic.

[Goodheart]

10. Good point.

[David__77]

3. Take it.

…

[RegularJam]

5. It would be a pretty big change.

Not sure why you think otherwise.

[W_HAMILTON]

6. It's a big change, period.

When the most conservative of Democrats comes out in favor of seriously reforming the filibuster, that is a threat to McConnell and the Republicans. I doubt it will scare Republicans into being more bipartisan for fear that the Democrats will seriously reform the filibuster, but in no way is Manchin saying this a bad thing. It shows that he is open to changing the filibuster, which in itself is a pretty big deal.

[empedocles]

9. Manchin is more experienced, politically savvy, and capable of working the

system; to move the Dem ball forward - than his reflexive critics.

[PSPS]

8. In other words, continue minority rule.

[Goodheart]

11. I'm OK with requiring a majority vote, eliminating the VP as tiebreaker.

And, yes, 55 would be a big improvement, although I don't see it changing a damn thing right now even if it were immediately instituted.

[PSPS]

18. There's no logical reason to eliminate a tiebreaking vote.

Democratic senators represent about 40 million more voters than Republican senators. The largest 15 states have 66% of the nation’s population, but just 30 seats in the Senate. The 21 smallest states that have two Republican senators account for 29% of the U.S. population. So, by themselves, these states could muster 42 votes to sustain a filibuster, thereby overruling the 71% of the population represented by the other 58 senators.

[Bristlecone]

13. I'd call that progress

Maybe McConnell’s recent public comments regarding: Voting Rights and the SC have put a crack in Joe’s shell.

[Goodheart]

14. We can hope!

[brush]

15. 55 and a real filibuster where a senator has to stand and deliver at the podium...

with the rest of the minority having to be present.

That's how is should be instead of just declaring a filibuster which effectively lets the minority rule without any skin in the game.

[WA-03 Democrat]

16. This exactly!

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

17. There'd be no difference even it's made 51 votes.

If there's any way to keep Biden from achieving his goals, Moscow Mitch is going to use it. In his mind he's still majority leader, and as long as the filibuster exists in any form he's not far off.

There seem to be two options: (1) end the filibuster and pass the "Manchin Voter Protection Act." That would solidify Joe's legacy as being the man who saved democracy from an unprecedented attack by the GQP on our founding principles. Or (2) he can continue to use his power to keep the filibuster in place. In that case Manchin's legacy is, "The man who destroyed democracy." Of course, if the Repugs get their autocracy, they can rewrite history and portray Manchin as a great patriot, equal to or greater than our Founding Fathers. Of course, they'd have to fight T*****, who has already claimed that title for himself. He would probably be willing to trade it for "president for life," however, which he has said sounds pretty good.

As Rachel says, "Watch this space."

[Fiendish Thingy]

19. In that same leaked audio, he proposed requiring 41 senators present to sustain a filibuster

So, 55 votes to end one, but 41 present and speaking to sustain one, or cloture is declared, and a floor vote proceeds.

I could live with that.

[lagomorph777]

22. You answered my question. I could live with that, too.

[lagomorph777]

21. Need more reforms than that. E.g. a true talking filibuster; require 45 obstructors on the floor.

[Tennessee Hillbilly]

23. Ending a filibuster used to require 67 votes in most cases

In 1975 the Senate reduced the number of votes required for cloture from two-thirds of senators voting to three-fifths of all senators duly chosen and sworn, or 60 of the 100-member Senate.

So before 1975, if all 100 senators voted, then 67 votes were required to break a filibuster.

[dansolo]

24. 55 is pointless

Unless other changes occur, one Senator will still have effective veto power over the majority. Force them to actually stand up and talk, or require all 41 votes to continue the filibuster. Anything else won't stop the obstruction.

[George II]

28. There have been a number of votes that failed with 55-59 votes in favor.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

32. Sshh, don't want to stop the Manchin bashing...

[LiberalFighter]

29. What part of majority rule doesn't he understand?

[Hortensis]

30. He's so far forced McConnell to demonstrate that bipartisan agreement,

which a majority of Americans want, including many right-leaning voters, is impossible. Now this. We'll see what comes.