How the Racist History of the Filibuster Lives on Today - History of the filibuster to block civil and voting rights

How the Racist History of the Filibuster Lives on Today By Greta Bedekovics April 29, 2023 Since the end of the 19th century, the filibuster—a political procedure used in the U. [...] This legacy, however, is not a relic of the past; it is alive and well today through the repeated use of the filibuster to prevent the passage of critical voting rights legis- lation, including the Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) and the reauthorization of the monumental Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA).1 This latest chapter in the filibuster’s history comes at a time when many states are enacting targe. [...] The FTVA and the John other VRA measures Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) would counter and prevent the fur- The Protection of Voting Rights Requires ther erosion of voting rights today, but the filibuster stands in the way of progress. [...] House of Representatives has passed the FTVA and the JLVRAA with the simple majority of votes that would ordinarily be necessary for the Senate to approve the final passage of legislation.37 However, the Senate has filibustered both pieces of legislation, and supporters of the bills have yet to muster the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster.38 In fact, over the past few years, the filibuste. [...] Bush’s presi- dency, the 158 under each Congress during President Barack Obama’s presidency, the 265 under each Congress during President Donald Trump’s presidency, and the 293 during the first Congress under President Joe Biden.44 Center for American Progress How the Racist History of the Filibuster Lives on Today 5 Although long and tedious, the filibusters used to block the passage of the CRA a.