Sen. Kyrsten Sinema dashed uphill efforts by Democrats to alter the Senate’s long-standing filibuster rules, announcing in a floor speech Thursday she “will not support” the change.
Sinema, an Arizona centrist who has largely remained silent as Democrats have struggled to round up support for the change, will make it impossible for the party to pass partisan voting overhaul bills with the simple majority they sought.
In addition to Sinema, centrist Joe Manchin of West Virginia also refused to back the change, frustrating Democratic leaders.
Sinema justified her decision in a rare floor speech, delivered with a wavering voice.
She insisted the best way for the Senate to function was through bipartisan cooperation and that eliminating the filibuster would hurt the nation.
“Eliminating the 60-vote threshold will simply guarantee that we lose a critical tool that we need to safeguard our democracy from threats in the years to come,” Sinema said.
Sinema said she backs the two voter overhaul bills, which the GOP unanimously opposes, but would not change the rules that would ensure they become law.
“Congress was designed to bring together Americans of diverse views representing different interests and as a collective to find compromise and common ground to serve our country as a whole,” Sinema said.
Manchin quickly praised Sinema’s filibuster speech.
“Very good. Excellent speech,” Manchin told reporters Thursday afternoon.
