House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly distanced himself from President Donald Trump's call for Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster in order to end the ongoing government shutdown. This highlights the reluctance among many Republicans to adopt drastic measures during a prolonged political stalemate.
• Trump's Filibuster Proposal: Trump urged Republicans to abolish the filibuster on his platform, claiming it would allow the GOP to pass their policies without Democratic obstruction.
• Filibuster Explained: The legislative filibuster is a Senate rule requiring 60 votes to proceed on most legislation. It has been criticized as a tool for obstruction but is seen by many as a protective measure against extreme measures by either party.
• Republican Reluctance: Despite Trump's demands, many Senate Republicans, including Senate Minority Whip John Thune, value the filibuster as it checks excessive power by a majority party.
• Johnson's Views: Johnson stated that he considers his opinions on Senate rules "irrelevant" but acknowledged that some Senate Republicans view the filibuster as crucial. He expressed understanding of Trump's frustrations regarding the shutdown.
• SNAP Funding Complications: The government shutdown has delayed funding for programs like SNAP, which could impact over 40 million Americans. Johnson noted that attempting to utilize contingency funds for SNAP is more complex than suggested by the recent court order.
The unresolved government shutdown, now at 34 days, continues to create division within Republican ranks over the potential removal of the filibuster and how to address critical funding issues. Both parties remain gridlocked, with Republicans pushing for their budget proposal and Democrats demanding priority for ACA subsidy extensions.
https://www.courthousenews.com/republicans-break-with-trump-on-calls-to-nuke-filibuster/
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