Congress
Democrats are likely to try to revive the “talking filibuster” in a doomed bid to pass election reform. Their two centrists still aren’t on board.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer made clear again on Tuesday that the election reform vote and the associated filibuster reform would go forward. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images
By BURGESS EVERETT and MARIANNE LEVINE
01/18/2022 03:11 PM EST
Updated: 01/18/2022 07:26 PM EST
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Joe Manchin made clear that his party’s push to isolate him and fellow centrist Kyrsten Sinema won’t force his hand on rules changes, once again rejecting Democrats’ proposed reforms to the Senate’s filibuster rules.
The West Virginia Democrat actually seems to welcome the isolation. He told reporters ahead of a Democratic Caucus meeting he would not go along with instituting a talking filibuster, which could be used to evade the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, nor would he entertain a rules change by a simple majority.
Asked about his party’s priorities, Manchin said people are most worried about inflation and coronavirus right now. He added that he’d welcome a primary challenge over his filibuster position if he runs again for reelection: “I’ve been primaried my entire life. That would not be anything new for me.”