They should have done that last January ...
I don’t think you understand. The Dems are threatening to eliminate the filibuster and the GOP is threatening to force other legislation that has less support from the full Dem Senate through under the rule change. The question is will Manchin allow the rule change?
The problem is that you can't make it last. This is all about gaming the rules, and if the GOP did that, the Democrats could change those rules too.just as easily and quickly as they change the filibuster.
Bottom line is that if they hang together, the majority in either chamber of Congress can make the minority completely powerless.
The reason they did not do it last Jan is that back then any one Dem could block their proposals. If Schumer eliminates the filibuster then there are a number of gop bills that would potentially become viable. They would need to convince just one Dem to vote with them. And the filibuster would not stop it.
Nobody imagined that Jiden would move so quickly on an agenda he had claimed to oppose or at least not support. That’s the problem with the Republicans. They have no imagination.