Headline Roundup • May 28th, 2021
Senate GOP Blocks January 6th Commission With Filibuster
US Senate,Republican Party,Filibuster,Chuck Schumer,Mitch McConnell,Bipartisanship,Polarization,Politics
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Senate Republicans on Friday blocked legislation to create an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6th storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump-supporting rioters. While the final procedural vote was 54-35 in favor, Republicans withheld enough votes to stop the bill’s supporters from getting over the 60 vote threshold required to overturn a filibuster. This was the first time Republicans used the filibuster this legislative session, as support grows among Democrats for reforming or abolishing the practice. Republican Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine), Bill Cassidy (La.), Rob Portman (Ohio) and Ben Sasse (Neb.) voted in favor. Eleven senators missed the vote, including Democrats Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) and Patty Murray (Wash.). House Democrats previously passed the bill in a 252-175 vote with the support of 35 Republicans.
Coverage from across the spectrum was relatively similar, highlighting the role of the filibuster in blocking the bill as well as the six Republicans who voted in favor.
Featured Coverage of this Story
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Washington Examiner
Senate Republicans on Friday thwarted an effort to create an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, blocking legislation they believed would ultimately be used as a political weapon against them by Democrats.
Most Republicans refused to back the measure, depriving the Democrats of the 60-vote threshold needed to begin debate on the bill.
It was the first GOP filibuster of major legislation since the Democrats reclaimed the Senate majority in January.
Six Republican senators backed the proposal to cut off debate on the bill...
The Hill
Senate Republicans on Friday blocked legislation to form a commission to probe the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Senators voted 54-35 on the House-passed bill, falling short of the 10 GOP votes needed to get it over an initial hurdle. GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), Susan Collins (Maine), Bill Cassidy (La.), Rob Portman (Ohio) and Ben Sasse (Neb.) broke ranks, voting to advance the legislation.
Senate Republicans were widely expected to reject the legislation after days of publicly and privately warning that they believed the commission would damage them heading into the 2022 midterm election, keeping former President Trump and the attack,...
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Politico
Senate Republicans on Friday blocked a bill that would form an independent commission to probe the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the first filibuster of the year by the chamber's 50-vote minority.
The 54-35 vote, with six Republicans breaking ranks to join every Democrat in favor, came after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell lobbied his members forcefully against the House-passed commission measure. The vote was delayed through the night by a handful of Senate Republicans who obstructed China competitiveness legislation, though Democrats decided to punt that bill until after the Memorial...
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