WASHINGTON — Sen. John Cornyn announced he supports scrapping the filibuster if needed to pass a voting restrictions bill, a marked change from his longtime support of the procedural tool as he courts the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
In an op-ed in the New York Post, Cornyn argued that Democrats, many of whom voted to reform the filibuster when they had a majority but were stymied by centrists in their party, have “already dealt the filibuster a fatal blow.” The filibuster, which sets a 60-vote threshold to end debate on a bill and bring it up for a vote, essentially gives the minority party veto power over most legislation.
“After careful consideration, I support whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary for us to get the SAVE America Act and homeland security funding past the Democrats’ obstruction, through the Senate, and on the president’s desk for his signature,” Cornyn said. “This could be a ‘talking filibuster’ that removes the obstructionists’ free pass and makes them defend their indefensible views on the Senate floor, or it could be a different reform.”
