Sen. Manchin Previously Voted to Eliminate the Filibuster on Motions to Begin Debate on Legislation, Like the For the People Act

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Senator Manchin Previously Voted to Eliminate the Filibuster on Motions to Begin Debate on Legislation, Like the For the People Act

On January 27, 2011, Senator Joe Manchin cosponsored and voted for S. Res. 10 to eliminate the ability to filibuster motions to begin debate on legislation, like the For the People Act.

S. Res. 10 also contained other revisions to the filibuster rules, but it was not adopted.

If the Manchin position had prevailed, the motion being offered today by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to begin debate on the For the People Act would pass if it had the votes of 50 Senators plus Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Since Senator Manchin is already on record against the use of a filibuster to block a motion to proceed to debate legislation, he should have no problem today voting in favor of the motion to proceed to Senate consideration of the For the People Act,” Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer said.

Senator Manchin also cosponsored and voted on January 27, 2011 for S. Res. 21, to revise the filibuster rules to require Senators who wanted to filibuster a bill to actually take the floor and make remarks. S. Res. 21 also was not adopted.

Senator Manchin said in a press release on January 27, 2011, “West Virginians deserve a government that works for them, and they are understandably frustrated with the way things get done – or don’t – in Washington.”

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