01.19.22

Durbin Votes For Rules Change Following Senate Republicans' Filibuster Of Historic Voting Rights Legislation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted to support a change to Senate rules that would allow for a talking filibuster on the historic voting rights legislation—the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act—after Senate Republicans filibustered it earlier in the evening:

“Unfortunately, a majority of Senators have pledged allegiance to the filibuster.  But I believe there is something more critical than a Senate rule that has been changed 160 times in the history of this body.  The integrity of our free elections, the right to have your vote counted, and our oath to uphold and defend the Constitution count for more.  I’m sorry more of my colleagues don’t agree with that basic premise.”

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