Jayapal Admits Support For Filibuster Reform Was Partisan
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, acknowledged that her advocacy to abolish the Senate filibuster stemmed from a partisan motivation rather than a principled stance. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Jayapal explained her position in light of Democrats’ recent losses in Congress and the White House.
Jayapal was asked about her prior calls to eliminate the filibuster compared to her current plans to use it to shield Democratic policies from Republican control. “If we had had control of the trifecta and got rid of the filibuster to pass minimum wage, paid sick leave, or abortion access, I think we would have built some trust with the American people,” Jayapal said.
Rep. @RepJayapal admits Democrats only oppose scrapping the filibuster because they lost: "If we had control of the trifecta & got rid of the filibuster to pass minimum wage & sick leave & many of these things on abortion access & the ballot measures that are so popular, those… pic.twitter.com/yQoqqAwNhR
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 12, 2024
She admitted that her push to abolish the rule was contingent on Democrats holding the Senate, House, and presidency. “Would I be championing getting rid of the filibuster now, when the Senate has the trifecta? No. But had we had the trifecta, I would have been because we have to show that government can deliver,” she said.
Progressive Rep. Pramila Jayapal reneges on support for axing filibuster after Republicans flip the Senate https://t.co/xou9cFKT3Q pic.twitter.com/pnpyPscfvp
— New York Post (@nypost) November 12, 2024
have long debated reforming or abolishing the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to advance most legislation. Despite their slim majority in recent years, the party struggled to pass sweeping reforms like codifying abortion rights or expanding the Supreme Court. Efforts to dismantle the rule were blocked by Sens. Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who argued it preserved bipartisan cooperation and stability.
New: Progressive Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal announces that she will no longer back abolishing the filibuster now that the GOP has a trifecta. pic.twitter.com/wvYDymCe8q
— Trending Politics (@tpbreaking) November 12, 2024
Manchin reaffirmed his support for the filibuster earlier this year, stating it “stabilizes our democracy, promotes bipartisan cooperation, and protects our nation from partisan whiplash and dysfunction.” Sinema echoed similar sentiments when defending her vote to uphold the rule.
Jayapal’s comments come amid broader criticism of the filibuster from progressive circles. She has previously called it a “Jim Crow filibuster” and maintains a section on her congressional website advocating for its elimination. However, her recent remarks underscore the partisan motivations behind her stance, fueling debates over whether the rule should remain intact under divided government.