Feb 25, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Potential 2020 candidate Jay Inslee calls for end to Senate filibuster

Khorri Atkinson

Washington Democratic Governor Jay Inslee — Washington Gov.Jay Inslee (D). Photo: Suzi Pratt/WireImage via Getty Images

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who said Monday he’s close to making a decision on whether he will launch a 2020 presidential bid, told the HuffPost that the Senate filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass most bills instead of a majority rule, should be eliminated.

"I do believe that the time for the filibuster has come and gone. It was an artifact of a bygone era that is not in the U.S. Constitution and somehow it got grafted on in this culture of the Senate."

Why it matters: As the 2020 race begins to heat up, progressive proposals like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All are all likely to be dead on arrival in the Senate — even if Democrats manage to take back the majority in 2020.

The big picture: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has among the most progressive policy proposals in the current Democratic field, told CBS News last week: "I’m not crazy about getting rid of the filibuster. ... The real issue is that you have in Washington a system which is dominated by wealthy campaign contributors."

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif) told reporters over the weekend that she's "conflicted."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told Politico last month it should be "on the table" if Democrats retake the Senate and White House.
Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). have expressed concerns about going nuclear.

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Potential 2020 candidate Jay Inslee calls for end to Senate filibuster

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