Shutdown Challenges Republican Filibuster Vow

“In January 2021, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin made a solemn vow to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, swearing on the lives of his children and grandchildren that he would never vote to end the legislative filibuster—a longstanding rule that requires a 60-vote supermajority to bring most bills to the floor,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The Democrat-turned-independent said in an interview that at least 15 of his Senate Republican colleagues made similar promises to him.”

“Now retired, Manchin is calling on them to honor their pledges, as a growing number of GOP lawmakers say their party should kill or change the filibuster to end the government shutdown, which is approaching a full month.”