Sen. Warren: It’s Hard to Compromise with GOP When They’re Just Saying No
Republicans simply standing in the way of programs popular with the American people
It's hard to negotiate — or even meet in the middle — with legislation which is in front of the US Senate when the other side just folds their arms and says, “No.”
That's the frustration expressed by Sen Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) as the Democratic majority tries to advance measures that, at least in many cases, have broad support in the country.
The most immediate victim of this Republican negativity is the Democratic attempt to approve a bipartisan commission to study the events of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.
The House approved the measure last week, but it's likely to die this week in the Senate at the hands of a Republican filibuster.
Soon, much more of the Democrats' — and President Biden's — meat-and-potatoes agenda will be coming into sharp focus: including his signature American Jobs Plan.
“You know, I don’t see this just as Congress can’t compromise. I see this as right now the Democrats are trying to get things passed that makes sense, like a January 6th investigation, or some sensible gun safety protections. Things that are wildly popular all across this nation. And the Republican response has simply been no,” said Warren. “They’ve just crossed their arms and said no, we’re just not going to do that. It’s hard to compromise with someone who’s just saying no. It’s not like there’s some place you meet in the middle on that. So to me, this is about what President Biden did when he passed … the rescue package.
"He said if this is something that people want all across the nation then I’m going to find a way to push it through and I’m going to call that bipartisan, because Republicans wanted it and Democrats wanted it across the nation,” she added. “It’s the Republican elected officials in Congress who are out of step with their own constituents, out of step with the people across this nation who want to see us make changes.”
Reform of — or outright killing of — the filibuster has been a possibility many Democrats have discussed. However, the two senators on the rightmost flank of the razor-slim Senate majority — Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Krysten Sinema of Arizona — have this far resisted that move.
Without their support, Senate Democrats lack the votes necessary to enact the rule change.