Bait and switch: Manchin teases ‘rule changes’ to make the Senate ‘work better’ after Biden’s speech
President Joe Biden delivered one of the most powerful and authentic speeches of his nascent presidency on Tuesday in Georgia, urging passage of critical voting rights legislation including a carve of the filibuster to allow a simple majority vote on the two bills.
In response, just hours later Senator Joe Manchin – likely one of just two in the President’s own party preventing Democrats from having a majority on eliminating the 60-vote supermajority threshold needed for passage of voting rights legislation – pulled something of a “bait and switch” in a Senate hallway interview.
Asked about gutting the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation the West Virginia Senator and millionaire coal magnate at first appeared supportive.
“The filibuster is what we have our rules,” Manchin told intrepid CBS News reporter Scott MacFarlane.
Read: ‘What a moron’: Dr. Fauci loses his temper with a GOP senator during a heated exchange
“We need some good rule changes to make the place work better,” he continued, but then added, “but getting rid of the filibuster doesn’t make it work better.”
Watch:
MANCHIN to @MacFarlaneNews\n\n\u201cWe need some good rule changes to make the place work better but getting rid of the filibuster doesn\u2019t make it work better.\u201dpic.twitter.com/s4y1HtS6WH— Alan He (@Alan He) 1641914056
- Who made Joe Manchin 'The Decider'? Here's why West Virginia's ... ›
- 'Joe Manchin is the worst': Critics pile on senator after he declares ... ›
- Hope for voting rights? Manchin reportedly 'engaged' in filibuster ... ›
