(DCWatchdog.com) – After a string of public call-outs, Independent Senator, Bernie Sanders, took to Twitter to name and shame Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ.) in what some may view as a last-ditch attempt to gain their votes on the Senate’s filibuster rule.
As it stands, Democrats are pursuing passing voting rights legislation, but given that Senate Republicans are unified in their opposition to the bills, the Senate is in a 50-50 split. Democrats need 60 votes to pass their legislation. The only way around this would be if Democrats can change the filibuster rule, which only requires a simple majority to change. But Manchin and Sinema currently agree that bipartisanship is necessary to pass legislation, effectively making it impossible for Democrats to change the filibuster or pass voting rights legislation.
So far, fellow Democrats have only publicly criticized Manchin and Sinema, calling them “bigots” and “racist” on social media following statements that they still did not support the filibuster. Now, it seems it’s Sanders’s turn, and he is taking a far more cautious approach to sway Manchin and Sinema.
In a tweet, Sanders wrote, “As the voting rights bill finally comes to the floor of the Senate, there is only one vote which will really matter. Will 50 Democrats vote to override the filibuster, protect American democracy and pass the bill, or will Manchin and Sinema vote with the GOP and let the bill die?”
His remarks come on the eve of the Senate debating on voting rights, with a vote expected to occur on Wednesday. But, according to a report by The Hill, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the majority leader, is expected to force a vote on the filibuster rule despite Sinema and Manchin vehemently announcing their opposition to changing the filibuster.
