"The filibuster is a Senate rule that allows lawmakers of the minority party to block legislation from passing. Cloture on a filibuster occurs when it obtains 60 votes - meaning that nearly every bill can only pass if it is opposed by 40 senators or less. Traditionally, the filibuster had been used sparingly. However, its use increased during the Obama administration, when Republicans utilized the rule to block as much legislation as possible, despite Democrats briefly having a majority in both houses of Congress."
"Now, with Republicans in charge of both houses, Democrats are filibustering their bills, including a continuing resolution to fund the government. Democrats are blocking passage of that legislation in hopes of restoring huge cuts to health care programs that were included in Trump's budget bill earlier this year. Trump issued his lengthy call to end the filibuster on his Truth Social account Tuesday morning."
President Donald Trump has twice demanded that Senate Republicans end the filibuster, arguing that abolishing it would help Republican performance in next year’s midterm elections and the subsequent presidential contest. The filibuster permits the Senate minority to block legislation; cloture requires 60 votes, so most bills need opposition from 40 senators or fewer to pass. Use of the filibuster rose during the Obama administration as Republicans extensively used it even when Democrats briefly controlled both chambers. Now Republicans control both houses, but Democrats are filibustering GOP bills, including a continuing resolution aimed at restoring cuts to health-care programs in the administration’s budget. Senate leaders say they lack votes to eliminate the rule.
Read at Truthout
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