Harris-backed filibuster change would ‘break’ the Senate, McConnell says
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell lambasted a proposal from Vice President Kamala Harris that would eliminate the filibuster to pass abortion rights legislation — warning Democrats that they will rue the move when Republicans next control Washington.
“What they want to do is break the institution in order to achieve what they want to achieve,” he said in an interview Thursday.
McConnell spoke two days after Harris told Wisconsin Public Radio that “we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe” — in other words, changing the Senate’s rules to exempt a vote to restore the abortion rights guarantee under Roe v. Wade from the chamber’s usual 60-vote threshold for legislation.
Such a scenario would be likely only if Harris wins the presidency and Democrats keep the Senate and retake the House majority — currently a tall order for a party facing a tough Senate map. Notably, two former Democrats who blocked prior attempts to undermine the 60-vote rule — Sens. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) — are retiring.
But McConnell, delivering some of his most pointed and substantial criticism of a Harris proposal since she became a presidential candidate, said that the proposal would spell the end of the filibuster altogether, explaining that her suggested exemption for Roe would put the chamber down a steep and slippery slope.
“There's no way you can have a minor carve-out” for one issue, he said. “Because then you’ll come up with the next idea that’s more important than the rule — then, practically, it’s over.”
Democrats last tried to break the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation in the early years of President Joe Biden’s administration, when they had control of both the House and Senate. Manchin and Sinema’s opposition tanked that effort, but the 2022 Supreme Court ruling overturning Dobbs focused new attention on the rule — with Harris, a former senator, joining many other Democrats in backing filibuster changes in the immediate aftermath of the decision.
Such a move, Harris said Tuesday, would “get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do.”
McConnell said that would permanently change the nature of the Senate, for the worse.
While at least some presidential nominations have been exempt from the filibuster for more than a decade, doing the same for legislation is a "totally different matter, he said: “The Senate was designed to do one of two things: Kill bad stuff or force a reasonable compromise — and that's what it's done all along.”
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
McConnell warned that if they adjusted the filibuster rules Democrats would then use simple-majority votes to entrench their power by admitting D.C. and Puerto Rico as states, likely adding four additional Democratic senators. “Then,” he said, they’ll “go after the Supreme Court.”
“So it would fundamentally, in my view, turn America to California,” he continued. “And I think that is a major structural change to the country.”
McConnell has long been a fierce defender of the Senate’s legislative filibuster, withstanding public pressure to change the rules during Donald Trump’s presidency and then openly encouraging Manchin and Sinema as they stood athwart their fellow Democrats’ recent push.
If Democrats do go nuclear, McConnell said Thursday, Republicans will also take advantage of the new system: “They never think about what might happen when the shoe is on the other foot.”
Asked what bills Republicans would pass without the filibuster, McConnell said, “I don't know, but I'm sure they wouldn't like it.”
Over the past decade, a similar dynamic played out over the use of the filibuster for Senate confirmations. In 2013, McConnell cautioned then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) not to break the filibuster for lower-level court nominations, which Republicans had been blocking.
“You’ll regret this, and you may regret this a lot sooner than you think,” McConnell said at the time.
When Republicans took the chamber a few years later, McConnell cited Reid’s rule change to justify going nuclear for Supreme Court nominations — helping Trump confirm three conservative justices in what’s become the most sweeping overhaul to the court in a generation.
Asked if he has any regrets about that move, McConnell said he did not.
“I said to my members, if a candidate like [Neil] Gorsuch — who is so obviously totally qualified — can't get 60 votes, there's nobody we can pick that we're comfortable with that can get confirmed,” he said. “And so we lowered the threshold for the Supreme Court.”
Like this content? Sign up for POLITICO's Playbook newsletter.
Date: |
-
World - The Guardian
Dining across the divide: ‘I’m not 100% sure I would be against corporal punishment in schools’
One is a children’s charity worker, the other a teacher. Can they come to an agreement on the behaviour crisis in education?. Joe, 46, Brighton . Occupation Director at a ...50 minutes ago -
Business - Inc.
1 Sneaky Change to What You Say Makes You Instantly More Believable, According to Linguistics Experts
It works for politicians and advertisers, and it can work for you, too.2 hours ago -
Top stories - The New York Times
Why Democratic Senate Control Seems to Be Slipping Away
A Times/Siena poll shows Jon Tester behind by seven points in Montana, while Colin Allred trails Ted Cruz by four in Texas.3 hours ago -
Top stories - The New York Times
NW Natural Added to Oregon Suit Over Climate Change
The Oregon lawsuit alleges that the utility knew of the dangers of burning fossil fuels and misled its customers.3 hours ago - Climate -
Top stories - BBC News
Three weeks that changed life in Lebanon
Israeli air strikes have forced more than 1.2 million Lebanese to flee their homes3 hours ago -
Sports - ESPN
Breaking down the WNBA Finals: Is this the year the Liberty win it all?
Minnesota dominated New York in the regular season. Can they do it again in the WNBA Finals? Will the weight of a first title overwhelm the Liberty?7 hours ago - WNBA -
Politics - The Hill
5 takeaways from the Arizona Senate debate
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Republican candidate Kari Lake faced off in their only debate in the Arizona Senate race on Wednesday, as the two contenders frequently traded barbs. Gallego and ...7 hours ago -
World - Financial Times
How Google plans to deflect and delay a historic break-up threat
Search group claims regulators are overreaching just as foreign and domestic rivals are gaining ground8 hours ago - Google -
World - Financial Times
US considers breaking up Google
The US government has outlined a list of options to end Google’s monopoly in search8 hours ago - Google -
Top stories - ABC News
Strategists break down presidential campaigns' options as election day looms
Republican strategist Tricia McLaughlin and Amanda Renteria, former national political director for Hillary Clinton, analyze the positions of each presidential candidate.14 hours ago -
World - ABC News
Israeli defense minister warns an attack on Iran would be 'lethal' and 'surprising'
Israel’s defense minister has warned that his country’s retaliation for a recent Iranian missile attack will be “lethal” and “surprising,” while the Israeli military pushed ahead with a large-scale ...14 hours ago - Israel -
Politics - The Hill
Breaking up Google
Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story DOJ eyes Google breakup after antitrust victory The Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering asking a ...14 hours ago - Google -
Politics - The Hill
Trump campaigns in 'make or break' Pennsylvania
Former President Trump barnstormed Pennsylvania on Wednesday as he and his campaign have made clear the commonwealth could make or break his chances of winning in November. Trump held rallies in ...15 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Business - MarketWatch
Hurricane Helene’s victims could get more generous tax breaks. Senators just need to vote for them.
“We shouldn’t saddle survivors with unfair taxes as they work to rebuild their lives,” said one lawmaker supporting the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act.15 hours ago -
Tech - Wired
The AI Nobel Prizes Could Change the Focus of Research
It has been a billboard week for artificial intelligence research. But could big wins for Demis Hassabis and Geoffrey Hinton change broader scientific incentives?16 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
How hurricanes like Milton may be supercharged by climate change
Welcome to The Hill's Sustainability newsletter {beacon} Sustainability Sustainability The Big Story How hurricanes like Milton may be supercharged by climate change Scientists pointed fingers ...17 hours ago - Climate -
Politics - The Hill
Slotkin, Rogers tied in Michigan Senate survey
Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) and former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) are tied in a new survey as they vie for retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D) seat in the upper chamber. The Quinnipiac University ...17 hours ago -
Business - CNBC
33% of homeowners would hire a 'questionable' contractor to save money, report finds
A third of homeowners are willing to hire a "questionable" contractor to save money, a report finds. But that may leave room for error, and sometimes fraud.17 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
Medicare coverage of weight loss drugs would cost $35B: CBO
Expanding Medicare to cover weight loss drugs would cost $35 billion over eight years, according to a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). In its estimates released Tuesday, CBO ...18 hours ago -
Business - Financial Times
Breaking up Google would be misguided
It is better to target the tech giant’s ability to entrench its power18 hours ago - Google -
World - The Guardian
The new Tory leader will be Badenoch or Jenrick. Either would be a one-way ticket to another political planet | Martin Kettle
By rejecting James Cleverly, MPs spurned the chance to renew their party. Their chosen path is further right, a blow for all who want an effective opposition. So the final Tory run-off, whose ...18 hours ago -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
🗣️ USMNT star reveals change in intensity after first Pochettino training
United States men's national team full-back Antonee Robinson has revealed one noticeable change after the team's first training session with new head coach Mauricio Pochettino this week. The ...18 hours ago -
World - ABC News
Israel's defense minister says an Israeli attack on Iran would be 'lethal' and 'surprising' but offers no details
Israel's defense minister says an Israeli attack on Iran would be 'lethal' and 'surprising' but offers no details19 hours ago - Israel -
World - ABC News
Bathroom break at work? Swiss court upholds watchmaker's rule to do it on your own time
A court in Switzerland has ruled that a manufacturer was justified in telling workers: If you need a bathroom break, clock out and take it on your own time19 hours ago -
Sports - ESPN
Ullmark sticking with Senators on 4-year deal
Former Bruins star goaltender Linus Ullmark has signed a four-year contract extension with the Senators, who acquired him in a high-profile trade in June.19 hours ago -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
Blackhawks' Lines Expected to Change for Second Game
With new lines in the first game of the season for the Blackhawks, a loss and time to practice will cause changes.19 hours ago -
Top stories - CBS News
Taylor Tomlinson reveals who would be her dream guest on "After Midnight"
Taylor Tomlinson opens up about her new comedy tour, "Save Me," which tackles personal topics like growing up in church.20 hours ago -
Entertainment - CBS News
Taylor Tomlinson reveals who would be her dream guest on "After Midnight"
Taylor Tomlinson opens up about her new comedy tour, "Save Me," which tackles personal topics like growing up in church.20 hours ago -
Tech - The New York Times
U.S. Weighs Forcing Google to Break Off Parts of the Company
They include making Google’s data available to rivals and forcing it to break off parts of the company, the Justice Department said in a court filing.20 hours ago - Google -
Sports - ABC News
Wimbledon tennis tournament replaces line judges with technology in break with tradition
Wimbledon is replacing line judges with electronic line-calling to mark the latest step into the modern age by the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament21 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
Lara Trump dismisses change candidate polling, citing 'beverage napkins'
Republican National Committee co-Chair Lara Trump dismissed polling showing that more voters view Vice President Harris as the presidential candidate representing change, citing "beverage napkins" ...22 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Tech - GameSpot
Lord Of The Rings Star Has A Blunt Response When Asked If He Would Come Back For New Movies
Actor Hugo Weaving played Elrond in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, but could he come back for the next set of fantasy films that are in the works?. Speaking ...22 hours ago -
Politics - Politico
Senate Republicans’ strangely uneven spending map
The distribution of ad spending for Senate GOP candidates is highly lopsided, with a massive amount focused on Pennsylvania.3 days ago -
Lifestyle - The New York Times
How Hedi Slimane Changed Fashion
He has just left his fourth job at a big brand. Maybe it’s time he start one of his own. Would you buy that?4 days ago -
Lifestyle - The New York Times
A Welcome Break on ‘One of the Hardest Days’ of Her Life
Mary Kathryn Burke was ready for a drink after her mother was admitted to the hospital. Jonathan King messaged her at the right time.6 days ago -
Politics - Politico
Facing GOP attacks, Zelenskyy looks to sell White House on victory
Republicans are sharply criticizing his Sunday visit to a Pennsylvania munitions factory.September 25 - Ukraine -
Politics - Politico
Senate Democrats are suddenly extremely interested in Texas and Florida
September 25 - Florida
More from Politico
-
Politics - Politico
Milton threatens to trigger flood insurance reckoning for Congress
Lawmakers are preparing to step in if the hurricane overwhelms the National Flood Insurance Program.23 hours ago -
Politics - Politico
Why JD Vance is absent from key Ohio House campaigns
House Republicans said back in July that the vice presidential candidate “sets Ohio on fire” and would provide a “real lift” in key races. But they're not using him in this critical battleground ...2 days ago -
Politics - Politico
Mike Lee lays out demands for McConnell successor
The Utah Republican wants to shape the race to elect the next Senate GOP leader.2 days ago -
Politics - Politico
‘A temper tantrum from a deranged fanatic’
The latest filing from special counsel draws the wrath of Sen. Tom Cotton.3 days ago -
Politics - Politico
Senate Republicans’ strangely uneven spending map
The distribution of ad spending for Senate GOP candidates is highly lopsided, with a massive amount focused on Pennsylvania.3 days ago