Mitch McConnell Filibusters Himself, Demonstrates Need for Senate Rules Reform

Washington, DC – Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) filibustered his own bill on the floor of the U.S. Senate.  As Huffington Post explains, “A move to embarrass Democrats backfired on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Thursday as the Kentucky Republican proposed a vote on raising the nation's debt ceiling -- then filibustered it when the Democrats tried to take him up on the offer.”

The following is a statement from Shane Larson, Legislative Director of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), on how Senator McConnell’s behavior yesterday underscores the Republican abuse of the filibuster and the larger need for Senate rules reform:

“Yesterday’s spectacle of Mitch McConnell filibustering his own bill after he tried and failed to score partisan points underscores the fact that Senate obstruction has been driven by politics, not principle.  As Senator Dick Durbin said yesterday, ‘I don't know how the Republicans can say they're not abusing the filibuster after what we saw on the floor today.’

This is just the latest example of why we will continued to fight for real Senate rules reform and why change in the Senate is sorely needed. We commend Senate Majority Leader Reid for his remarks and for recognizing that rules reforms are needed to ensure that the U.S. Senate lives up to its great traditions and is capable of meeting the challenges of our time.” 

CWA has been a longtime champion of Senate rules reform, recognizing that it is near impossible for legislation that will help working families to get an open and honest debate under Republican abuse of the current Senate rules.  CWA helped to spearhead the Fix the Senate Now coalition after the 111^th Congress and now is helping to lead the coalition in its current effort to support the Senate’s adoption of substantial rules reforms.

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Contact Kendra Marr Chaikind, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, kmarr@cwa-union.org