Thread by @PattyMurray

The Senate is broken.

My colleagues know I am someone whose focus is always on getting things done for WA state & our country. But outdated, misused procedure is getting in the way of debate & legislation. With all our country faces right now, we’ve absolutely got to fix it.

When a single Senator can block even a debate on legislation a majority of us support or hold up the otherwise uncomplicated, run-of-the-mill confirmation of very non-controversial administration officials—just by hitting send on an email—that’s absurd.

Millions of Americans wonder why bills that pass the House only ever come to the Senate to die. It’s because a single member of this institution can shut down even the opportunity to confirm a nominee or debate legislation that a majority of this chamber supports.

This is all at a time when our country faces more challenges—that are more urgent and consequential—than at almost any time I can remember.

First among these is the coordinated, national attack on the right to vote.

I've made very clear I believe protecting the right to vote will be the most important thing we do this Congress. But right now—every single time this chamber has tried to even debate this legislation, Senate procedure has empowered Republican obstruction over Democratic action.

Because of Republican obstruction to voting rights measures that should be bipartisan, Democrats—who control the White House, House, and Senate—are left with no legislative options to address the dangerous rise of voter suppression laws sweeping the nation at the state level.

It's not just voting rights. It’s also about whether the Senate can debate—and act—on all the issues people send Senators to Washington to address. When we can’t even debate major bills the House passes, we're stifling the voices of people who want to see us tackle key issues.

I’ve thought long & hard about what we do about this. I believe strongly in the right of the minority party to have a voice, & the filibuster has helped me protect issues I care deeply about. Our nation would be better off if we could address major issues in a bipartisan manner.

But today—Senate procedure is making the Senate more partisan, not more functional. The rules are pushing Democrats & Republicans further into their corners rather than towards collaboration, making it unbelievably easy to block legislative action—& nearly impossible to start it.

That's why I've been speaking to my colleagues about two steps we can take this year to fix this:

1) We absolutely have to carve out a path to pass strong federal voting rights protections this Congress

2) We need to restore the Senate

If you oppose a bill that others want to pass—you should have to explain to the American people why. You should have to come to the floor of the United States Senate & make your case so voters can see & decide for themselves who is best representing their interests.

If it's the filibuster or democracy, I'll choose democracy. If it's Senate rules or a Senate that works for the American people, I'll chose a Senate that works. I'm urging my Senate colleagues to make that same choice.

Read more about my position here: senatormurray.medium.com/pass-voting-ri…