Opinion - Abolishing the filibuster is necessary to protect the republic

The U.S. Senate was originally conceived as a chamber for thoughtful deliberation, carefully shaping and refining legislation before it impacts the nation. In reality, however, it has become a graveyard for bills due to the filibuster's 60-vote requirement. While most laws pass by a simple majority, starting and concluding debate demands a supermajority, which frequently blocks action.

I once supported keeping the filibuster, advocating only for the removal of the frequently misused motion to proceed, which allows senators to block bills without public debate. Removing this would create transparency and force recorded votes while still preserving the filibuster for compromise. Yet, recent shifts in the Democratic Party and statements from party leaders have altered my view.

Former Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated last August that Democrats would eliminate the filibuster if they secured a large 2024 victory: with moderates like Manchin and Sinema gone, a Democratic majority would easily have the votes to abolish it. Had Democrats won, this would have paved the way for court-packing, expanded voter eligibility, and potential statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico, securing long-term Democratic control of Congress. President Trumps election delayed these plans, at least for now.

Recent off-year elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York underscore how quickly political momentum can shift. Even in traditionally blue states, Republicans made significant gains among independents and women. Unless the GOP can convincingly promote its approach to affordability, upcoming midterms may be difficult. Losing control of Congress would stall Trumps agenda and reopen impeachment battles, potentially leading to a Democratic presidency in 2028.

Regarding senators who helped end the 2022 government shutdown, all but one voted to maintain the filibuster at that time, leaving Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania as the only untested member. The period before the midterms may be the GOP's last opportunity to regain momentum and prevent a hard-left shift. Trump should frame ending the filibuster as essential for major reforms capable of reshaping the nation.

Key priorities could include:

• Restoring trust in elections with verifiable systems, paper trails, and strict fraud penalties.
• Streamlining government by cutting unnecessary agencies and departments, granting the president authority to reduce bureaucratic overreach.
• Reforming health care to improve price transparency, particularly in prescription drugs and medical procedures, enabling patient choice and lower costs.
• Pursuing constitutional amendments to fix the Supreme Court at nine justices and maintain D.C. as a federal district.
• Strengthening trade and national security by preserving presidential authority to impose or remove tariffs.
• Addressing the federal debt by cutting spending to pre-COVID levels (adjusted for inflation) and implementing measures like Rand Pauls Six Penny Plan to balance the budget within five years.

These steps are not radical destruction but precise actions aimed at sustaining limited government and a market economy. The filibuster, once a tool for deliberation, now protects inaction while Democrats plan its removal. Republicans must act decisively to prevent the opposition from rewriting the rules entirely.

Heather R. Higgins, CEO of Independent Womens Voice and president of Suasion Insights

Analysis: The Filibuster and the Future of U.S. Legislative Power

From my perspective, the U.S. Senate’s filibuster has shifted from a deliberative tool to a barrier against legislative action. While it was originally intended to encourage compromise, the 60-vote threshold frequently stalls bills, leaving critical reforms in limbo. My prior support for keeping the filibuster, with modifications to the motion to proceed, has evolved in light of recent political developments.

Democratic leaders have signaled that they would remove the filibuster if electoral conditions allowed. Such a change would have enabled measures like court-packing, expanded voting rights, and statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico. Trump’s 2024 campaign altered that trajectory, delaying the potential elimination of the filibuster and the legislative agenda tied to it.

Recent state elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York show that voter sentiment can swing rapidly, even in reliably blue areas. These results indicate a volatile landscape for the midterms, with Republican strategies focusing on affordability and governance likely determining their ability to regain Congressional influence.

For Republicans, the period before the midterms is critical. Ending the filibuster could enable significant reforms in elections, government efficiency, healthcare, the judiciary, trade, and fiscal policy. These targeted actions are designed to sustain limited government and protect a market-based economy. Without decisive action, the filibuster will continue to shield inaction, while Democrats may push to change the Senate’s rules permanently.

Sources:

• Opinion - The filibuster must fall to save the republic