It is easy to agree with that view ... but we are on swampy ground here, and discernment requires better knowledge.
For example, not mentioned in the article is the rule of reconciliation. That rule suspends the fillibuster and allows a simple majority vote. HOWEVER, reconciliation can only be used on voting on budget bills and, as I understand it, only once each fiscal year.
In holding out, I presumed McConnell was hoping to force the Dems to use reconciliation to raise the debt ceiling, thus deep sixing their $3.5 trillion (cum $5.5 trillion) boondoggle bill. That idea of mine has been knocked into a cocked hat; therefore, McConnell folded.
But then we encounter another misleading factor in the article: does Joe Manchin want to eliminate the fillibuster? It virtually eliminates the power of the Senate and places it somewhat under the auspices of the Speaker of the House. Also, IMO, it could weaken the separation of powers - also strengthening the hand of the Speaker.
Of course it totally undermines our Constitutional form of government. Perhaps Joe Manchin does not want to go back to West Virginia with that tattooed on his hand, especially to also explain why he killed the state's number one source of income: coal! I once had a chance to work in the coal mines; believe me, miners don't want to hear that they can do as well as computer programmers - Hildabeest notwithstanding.
There is the possibility that McConnell and the GOP can hold firm in December . . . . No, I don't believe that either, really. The GOP is reverting back into the Whigs and the outcome could be the same as the last time the Whigs could have diverted a national disaster.
That's a close understanding, but not entirely.
By rule, Congress can use reconciliation three times per fiscal year: for a revenue bill (taxes), for a spending bill, and for a debt ceiling bill. They can do each of them via reconciliation only once, but they can combine them in a single bill (example being that a tax and spend bill uses up two reconciliation slots in one bill).
So, if Democrats used reconciliation to raise the debt limit, they cannot do that again via reconciliation until the next fiscal year, but they can still do a tax bill and a spending bill via reconciliation.
-PJ
The demonrats aren’t going to be able to get rid of the filibuster, Joe Manchin would switch parties before he let that happen.
Without the filibuster Manchin has zero power or say in the demonrat party and is hated by the Odd Squad.
Nope, he isn’t going to let that happen.