In the United States, the Democrat party should have a pretty strong grasp on federal politics. They have Joe Biden as President, a majority in the House of Representatives, and a 50-50 split in the Senate, which gives Vice President Kamala Harris the deciding vote.
However, that isn’t the reality. Rather than having to grapple with their opposition, the Republicans, Biden’s Democrats have had to compete with members of their party to pass legislation, threatening to disrupt the best chance Democrats have had at legislating since 2008 – the last time they had all three of the Presidential office, a majority in the Senate and a majority in the House of Representatives.
In particular, Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have been instrumental in sinking some of Biden’s plans, despite themselves being democrats.
Manchin-omics
Joe Manchin, specifically, has mounted strong opposition to a few of President Biden’s economic policies so far. Biden opened his presidency with several strong working-class pieces of legislation, such as the amendment in the stimulus package for Americans with an increase on the $7.25 national minimum wage to $15.
Democrats have needed every vote they have in the Senate to pass the bill, which makes a swing-voter like Manchin incredibly important – because if he doesn’t like it, it doesn’t pass. Manchin was vocal in his opposition to the $15 minimum wage, instead preferring a more conservative $11, suggesting it was more “reasonable” and “responsible”.
Manchin represents West Virginia, one of the poorest states, so it is up for debate who that is most reasonable for. Manchin has been fervent in his opposition, saying that he didn’t know why “they don’t take a win on $11″, and that Democrats are “going to walk away with their pride, saying we fought for $15, got nothing.”
The event where that was said, hosted by the National Restaurant Association, was equally adamant on a low subminimum wage in restaurants, with him saying “I don’t think the tipped wage should ever go above half of [$11].” The $15 minimum wage amendment to the stimulus bill was eventually defeated 58-42, with eight Democrats joining the Republican opposition.
Kyrsten Sinema also helped to stymie the minimum wage amendment of that bill. She was also at that NRA conference and spoke in opposition to a $15 national minimum wage. Representing Arizona, which has a history of Republican voters, she voted against the proposal because it was not directly connected to a short-term recovery plan from Covid.
And she voted it down in some fashion, stepping towards the speaker’s desk and giving a “thumbs down” when called upon. Another key issue has been the planned infrastructure plan in America that would cost $4 trillion, and partially be paid for by an increase in taxes.
While Manchin has again been vocal in his conditional support, only wanting a 25% tax rather than the proposed 28%, Senator Sinema has also apparently indicated her opposition. Republican Minority Leader in the Senate Mitch McConnell has said that he is sure that Sinema will be another Democrat to vote down the bill, putting it (in its current form) into major doubt.
The Filibuster
The filibuster is a deeply contentious issue in US politics. In a last-ditch effort to block legislation, the minority opposition in the Senate can attempt to filibuster it, which will prolong discussion before the vote to such an extent that instead of the simple 50 vote majority for things to pass, they require a 60 vote majority.
While some votes cannot be filibustered, such as budget reconciliation, many others are still susceptible. The filibuster is a remnant of racist politics in America, suggested to protect minority rights and force bipartisanship, but in fact to block controversial and often progressive human rights, gun law and police reform bills. While the Democrats have indicated a desire to get rid of the filibuster, both Manchin and Sinema are defenders of it.
The first major bill of Biden’s presidency that can be filibustered has just happened – the vote for an independent enquiry on the January Sixth Capitol uprising – and it was, predictably, filibustered and defeated. Both Manchin and Sinema urged bipartisan support for the bill, but the latter didn’t even turn up to the vote, citing family issues.
The filibuster won with the vote landing at 54-35, not reaching the necessary 60 vote threshold. President Biden has called out Manchin and Sinema for their party-line-breaking voting, as frustration grows over a lack of action by the Democrats. The filibuster could be removed with a simple 50 vote majority, but for that to happen Manchin and Sinema would seriously need to change their tune.
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