Of what possible benefit is the filibuster? Is it any more than grandstanding to put off the inevitable? What am I missing?
No, the filibuster works. If you can’t get cloture to end debate on a matter it never comes to a vote at all.
This is why “the Republicans controlled both houses of congress” is a lie. They controlled the house, but not the senate because they couldn’t get cloture to stop debate.
It’s why the last appropriations bills didn’t pass. It’s why the tax cut was passed under special reconciliation rules that allowed it to move with only 50%+1 rules.
I think for real legislation, in extreme cases, the filibuster is sensible. But it’s used on every single bill, and even on appropriations, which is why congress never gets its spending bills done on time and we have all these continuing resolutions.
Its a device favored by both parties because it allows them to avoid voting on controversial issues. They can both go back home and say ‘well we tried but we didn’t have the (60) votes’
They are cowards - all of them. They do not represent the states as they should. They represent their respective parties.