I want to be realistic here. The opening for Democrats is not likely at all to be by altering the filibuster rule, although adamant Republican obstruction could change that calculus later this year. The opening is reconciliation. 1
That can be used for tax reform, health reform, infrastructure, Covid relief and economic stimulus, elimination of the debt ceiling as a weapon, maybe a change in the Byrd Rule and other reconciliation rules to allow less jiggering of numbers and more non-budget stuff 2
But other goals, like major democracy reform and adding states like DC and Puerto Rico, will be a heavier lift. Even so, I would bring up HR 1 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and force Rs to filibuster. 3
But here is the element of a D majority that is critical: the ability to fill positions like head of the CFPB, the membership of the NLRB and the FEC and other regulatory commissions, along with judgeships, is huge.
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