Senate Parliamentarian Rules Democrats Can Bypass GOP Filibuster on Two More Bills, Paving Way For Biden’s Infrastructure Package to Pass with Simple Majority Vote

 

Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough

The Senate Parliamentarian on Monday ruled that Democrats can go around the GOP filibuster on two more bills, paving the way for Biden’s gargantuan infrastructure bill to pass in two separate packages with simple-majority votes.

This is a win for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who has been fiercely fighting to get rid of the filibuster to push through the left’s radical agenda.

Last month Democrat Senators went around Republicans by passing Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion ‘Covid relief bill’ through budget reconciliation, a process that requires only a simple majority vote.

The Democrats may be able to use the same reconciliation to ram through Biden’s $2.25 trillion infrastructure package that has almost nothing to do with infrastructure.

“The Parliamentarian has advised that a revised budget resolution may contain budget reconciliation instructions. This confirms the Leader’s interpretation of the Budget Act and allows Democrats additional tools to improve the lives of Americans if Republican obstruction continues,” a spokesperson for Schumer said in a statement Monday. “While no decisions have been made on a legislative path forward using Section 304 and some parameters still need to be worked out, the Parliamentarian’s opinion is an important step forward that this key pathway is available to Democrats if needed.”

While this is an early ruling and there are still hoops to jump through, it will enable Schumer and Pelosi to split Biden’s infrastructure proposal into two separate packages.

“Both the Senate and House will need to pass another concurrent resolution to trigger an additional set of reconciliation instructions.” the Hill reported.

Republicans argued that the Democrats are abusing the reconciliation process.

CNN reported:

The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that Democrats may amend the budget resolution they used for their Covid-19 relief bill and attach another set of reconciliation instructions to it, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

The ruling is a key step for Democrats as they weigh their options for moving infrastructure legislation, potentially giving them a route to pass new legislation without Republican votes. It’s important to note, however, that some details are still going to have to be worked out with the parliamentarian, and it was not immediately clear whether it could be used to pass President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan.

A Democratic Senate aide familiar with the parliamentarian’s ruling told CNN on Monday “there is no doubt that this was good news,” but cautioned that there will likely need to be more rulings before Democrats could move forward using the reconciliation process to advance the President’s infrastructure plan. “But there is still a great deal that needs to be worked out,” the aide said. “This was just the opening salvo in what will be a long and complicated process.”

Democrat Senator Joe Manchin (WV) on Monday said he will not support Joe Biden’s corporate tax hike which is designed to supposedly “offset” the infrastructure package’s costs.

Joe Manchin said on Monday he rejects Joe Biden’s corporate tax increase to 28% and he may not be the only Democrat to break with the president on the enormous tax increase.

Manchin said Democrats do not have the votes to pass Biden’s tax increases.