Here’s the truth about the filibuster:

• The filibuster originated by accident. The word does not even appear in the Constitution. The Framers (imperfect though they were) never intended for the Senate to be rendered essentially dysfunctional by a minority of its members.

• For many decades, the filibuster was used almost exclusively by segregationists to block civil rights legislation and to perpetuate white supremacy.

• Despite popular depictions like Jimmy Stewart’s iconic character in the classic film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, senators no longer even have to stand up and talk until they collapse for the filibuster to be set in motion.

• All it takes to subject important legislation to the practically unachievable 60-vote threshold demanded by the filibuster is for a single senator to send one email.

• Mitch McConnell — the top Republican in the Senate — shamelessly weaponized the filibuster to stonewall any kind of progress during the entire Obama presidency.

• And you can bet your bottom dollar that Senate Republicans will do the same thing during the Biden presidency.

• But with a simple majority vote, the Senate can eradicate this undemocratic tool of minority rule.

We stand at a crossroads on numerous issues that will determine the very fate of our nation: the rise of a white-supremacist proto-fascism as personified by Donald Trump; ongoing and worsening economic inequality; corporate greed; racial injustice; attacks on democracy itself; and the imminent threat of extinction-level climate disaster.

And of course we are still suffering unprecedented loss of life and financial ruin due to our calamitous response to the coronavirus pandemic under Donald Trump.

We have to take bold steps.

We have to take them right now.

Or it may well be too late.

And we can’t do that if Senate Republicans can continue holding progress hostage with the filibuster.

Public Citizen is partnering with allies like Common Cause, Demand Progress, The Other 98%, and RootsAction to call for elimination of the filibuster.

Join us in urging the Senate to prioritize abolishing the filibuster so that Congress can actually work on the issues that matter to the American people.

Add your name.

Thanks for taking action.

For democracy,

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

P.S. For half a century, Public Citizen has been advancing policies that put the needs of everyday Americans before the greed of billionaires and Big Business. That legacy of progress and that ongoing work could not matter more right now, as our nation transitions to a Joe Biden presidency that will be as progressive as we — you and Public Citizen, together — make it. We’re also busy undoing all the damage Trump did. And, like so many nonprofits and small businesses, we continue to experience financial strain related to the coronavirus pandemic. If you can, please make an emergency donation today to support the critical work we’re doing together or even join our popular Monthly Giving program. Thank you.
 
 
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