When Fifty Was Sixty

How is it that Republicans can pass legislation with a simple majority in the U.S. Senate, whereas Democrats needed a super majority of sixty votes to get anything done? Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act with a supermajority. In the midst of enormous public backlash, the Republicans were unable to repeal the ACA with fifty votes.

Republicans stalled the Obama agenda using every tool at their disposal. Their favorite tool was the filibuster, a procedural rule that allows a senator to object to moving forward with an appointment or a piece of legislation until a super majority of sixty votes senators overrules his objections. 

The Democrats considered changing the rule to thwart the blatant stall tactics of the GOP, but the Republicans warned that if they did that, then the Republican might do the same when they took power. The Democrats chose to let the rule stand. But when the Republicans took power, they weakened the filibuster anyway. 

And so today, an unpopular tax bill that will benefit only the wealthiest citizens and corporations while adding US $1,500,000,000,000 to the national debt, will pass with a simple majority. 

I look forward to supporting the next Democratic majority as they pass a wave of progressive legislation including single-payer healthcare coverage for all citizens, a strong commitment to alternative energy and carbon reduction, massive funding for education and job training, a massive infrastruction bill, and a tax bill that will actually pay down the country’s debt load instead of expanding it, all with simple majorities. 

Thank you, Republicans, for setting the precedent of passing bills with a simple majority in the Senate. Hopefully, this will enable progressives to clean up your mess before you bankrupt the country and destroy the planet.