[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat who has opposed several progressive bills championed by U.S. President Joe Biden, is now casting doubt on the election reform bill as well.
On the 6th (local time), Senator Manchin appeared on 'Fox News Sunday' and publicly expressed his opposition to the Democrats' election reform bill, named the 'For the People Act,' saying, "I do not support it."
He argued that the bill is a flawed measure that obstructs American unity and "will divide us further." He pointed out that "voting is the foundation of our democracy" and that the election reform bill passed by the House includes many provisions unrelated to actual voting rights.
On the same day, Manchin also wrote an op-ed for the Charleston Gazette, a newspaper in his home state of West Virginia, opposing the Democrats' election reform bill and the abolition of the filibuster, a legitimate parliamentary procedure to block legislation.
He stated, "I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster." He said that voting rights have become politicized and that some Democrats have tried to demonize the filibuster, adding, "Partisan voting and election reforms will only deepen partisan divisions."
The Democrats' proposed election reform bill focuses on automating voter registration, expanding early and absentee voting, and preventing gerrymandering, which is the drawing of electoral districts to favor certain parties or candidates.
Bloomberg News reported, "Without Manchin's support, the voting reform bill will fail in the Senate."
The bill was passed in the Democrat-led House in March with 220 votes in favor and 210 against. At that time, all Republicans voted against it.
The Senate is evenly split with 50 seats each for both parties, and Senator Manchin has played the role of a swing voter as an internal opponent within the party. The Democrats have also struggled to pass the bill due to Republican filibusters.
CNN reported that the current filibuster rules have allowed Republicans to delay the passage of many progressive bills supported by the Biden administration, including infrastructure spending, voting laws, and climate change legislation, stating, "Manchin's opposition to changing the filibuster is a major obstacle to Biden's legislative priorities."
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