Graham on lowering filibuster threshold: ‘Not going to be extorted’
District of Columbia, South Carolina | June 21, 2021
Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, is not changing his stance on Democrats’ voting bill over threats that Democrats would diminish the Senate filibuster if Republicans do not relent to liberals’ agenda.
The filibuster rule requiring 60 votes to pass bills has obstructed liberals’ policy agenda in a Senate divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats. Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace asked Mr. Graham if Republicans intent on rejecting the voting bill were risking Democrats responding by lowering the number of votes needed to overcome the filibuster’s barrier from 60 to 55.
Sen. Joe Manchin III, West Virginia Democrat, signaled an openness to lowering the filibuster’s threshold at a private meeting with donors, according to leaked audio obtained by the Intercept last week. Mr. Graham said he has worked on several issues with Mr. Manchin, who has sought to develop a compromise over the massive voting bill, but Mr. Graham signaled he would not change his stance on the filibuster…
(Excerpts from the Washington Times)