Sinema, who is a co-sponsor of Democratic voting rights bills
aimed at prohibiting racial discrimination and ensuring ballot
access, told the newspaper that she continues to oppose efforts
by fellow Democrats to eliminate the filibuster, a Senate rule
that requires a 60-vote supermajority to pass most legislation.
“My opinion is that legislation that is crafted together, in a
bipartisan way, is the legislation that’s most likely to pass
and stand the test of time. And I would certainly encourage my
colleagues to use that effort to move forward,” she told the
Post.
She also brushed off the possibility of supporting an exception
to the filibuster to enable passage of voting rights
legislation, saying she was not sure it is a viable option.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had hinted at a change in
Senate rules earlier this month to circumvent the filibuster, at
least for some legislation.
"That caveat — ‘if it would even work’ — is the right question
to ask,” Sinema, who rarely gives interviews, told the Post.
Senate Democrats earlier this month failed to advance voting
rights legislation for the fourth time this year due to
overwhelming Republican opposition, raising potential
ramifications for the 2022 congressional and 2024 presidential
elections.
The Senate voted 50-49 in favor of starting debate on the John
Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act but fell short of the 60
votes needed.
Named for the late civil rights activist and congressman, the
legislation would restore state voting requirements to prohibit
racial discrimination that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in
2013.
Democrats have made election reform a priority in light of
Republican state balloting restrictions passed in response to
former President Donald Trump's false claims of massive voter
fraud in the 2020 election.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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