With the Nov. 3 election approaching, legislators are debating use of a voting tool that could provide an advantage to the majority in the 117th Congress. Editor’s note: This article is available for members only.
8/25/2020 12:00
Republicans and Democrats are eyeing the majority as the Nov. 3 election approaches and, while the outcome remains to be seen, in the interim members of Congress are debating removing the filibuster voting and debate option come 2021.
According to The Hill, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who will become Senate Majority Leader if he wins in November, is facing pressure to decide on the future of the filibuster.
“The 60-vote legislative filibuster stands in the way of some of the biggest items on [the Democrats’] to-do list, including ethics and election reform, immigration, health care and climate change legislation,” according to the article.
The U.S. Senate is currently made up of 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two Independents (who caucus with the Democrats). To take the Senate, Democrats will need to win three or four seats—three if the administration changes and four if it does not.
A close majority and removal of the filibuster could go a long way in advancing that majority’s agenda in the 117th Congress and could hinder debate and advocacy efforts for the accounts receivable management industry.
ACA International’s Vice President and Senior Counsel of Federal Advocacy Leah Dempsey and former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman discussed this topic in the Aug. 19 ACA Huddle: The Political Outlook for the Remainder of 2020. Listen to Dempsey and Coleman’s discussion here.
For example, Dempsey said ACA’s advocacy efforts on the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act and Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act on behalf of the industry would be impacted by removal of the filibuster in Congress.
“If the filibuster goes away, and one party is in control, extreme measures could become reality,” Dempsey said during the ACA Huddle.
“We really need to be concerned about that,” Coleman responded. “There is really a lot at stake in this election.”
Related Content from ACA International:
ACA Advocacy: Comparing Senate and House Economic Relief Proposals