Sen. Merkley on Voting Rights, the Filibuster & Why Infrastructure Deal Must Address Climate Crisis

Failing to illuminate the climate crisis as the single most extraordinary emergency that must be comprehensively addressed NOW through radical policies and systemic changes is nothing short of criminal neglect so catastrophic that it puts all life on Earth at risk. It is just pure madness. Bless Senator Merkley and all those who are tirelessly fighting to dismantle the suicidal path we've long been on. The eyes of the children are watching. ― Molly

Pressure is growing on Democrats to abolish the Senate filibuster in order to pass a major voting rights bill and other legislation. Republicans this week used the filibuster to prevent debate on the For the People Act, which would restore the protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act gutted by the Supreme Court eight years ago. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, who is a lead sponsor of the For the People Act and self-described “Chief Filibuster Antagonist,” says Republicans have broken the Senate’s “social contract” of bipartisan cooperation in favor of total obstruction of all Democratic priorities. “The majority makes the decision, not the minority,” he adds. Meanwhile, as much of the Pacific Northwest faces record-shattering temperatures, 30 degrees or more above average, including Merkley’s home state of Oregon, lawmakers in Washington continue to negotiate over an infrastructure bill Democrats say needs to include major new funding to address the climate crisis. Merkley explains why he said, “If there’s no climate, there’s no deal.”

Please go here for the original interview and full transcript: https://www.democracynow.org/2021/6/24/jeff_merkley_voting_rights_filibuster