Resolution 976 – in Support of Eliminating the Senate Filibuster

WHEREAS The filibuster today creates a de facto supermajority requirement to pass any legislation despite being accidentally created in 1806 during a cleanup of Senate rules even though the authors of the U.S. Constitution intended bills to be passed by a simple majority; and 

WHEREAS The filibuster has been used throughout its history predominantly for racist ends, starting with Senator John Calhoun and Southern Senators using it to preserve slavery prior to the Civil War; and to block voting rights for Black citizens during Reconstruction, and then to block Civil Rights legislation, including 200 bills outlawing lynching, bills ending poll taxes and employment discrimination, and the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964; and

WHEREAS The use of the filibuster has skyrocketed in recent years to block progressive legislation, including bills on worker rights, lobbying reform, voting rights, wage discrimination, a public option for healthcare, consumer protection, banking regulations, Social Security benefits, the DREAM Act, climate change legislation, and gun violence prevention; and

WHEREAS The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced many critical pieces of legislation, including HR1, The For the People Act, to expand voting access; HR5, The Equality Act, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation; HR536, The New Way Forward Act, to reform immigration laws; HR603, The Raise the Wage Act, to increase the minimum wage to $15; and HR1976, the Medicare For All Act; and

WHEREAS The above legislation will be blocked by just the threat of a “virtual filibuster” despite campaign promises and Democrat control of the U.S. House, Senate, and Presidency; will improve and strengthen the United States; and will enable moderate Senators to “work across the aisle” and pass bills which have the support of a bipartisan majority, 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington State Democrats join with more than 60 organizations and unions to call on the U.S. Senate to abolish the filibuster, including by using the so-called “nuclear option” if necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Washington State Democrats call on Senators Murray and Cantwell to to work to end the filibuster and make public their support for doing so, and, 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be submitted to Washington State Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, U.S, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and , Washington States’ Congressional DelegationFederal Democratic Representatives Pramila Jayapal, each of the Local Legislative District Democratics organization s of Washington State, and members of the media of Washington State..

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Submitted by Camille Gix, Policy & Advocacy Committee Chair, 43rd LD Democrats, and Paul Chapman, 43rd LD Democrats member and PCO, for consideration by the Washington State Democratic Central Committee at their May 1st, 2021 meeting. 

Recommended DO PASS AS AMENDED

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