Hakeem Jeffries and the Filibuster
Hakeem Jeffries has been an outspoken critic of the Senate filibuster, often labeling it as a barrier to progress. He has consistently advocated for its abolition. Yet, now he finds himself employing a procedural delay of his own, utilizing the “magic minutes” of the House to postpone the final vote on a significant piece of legislation.
Back in 2013, he tweeted, “The Senate’s #filibusterreform time is now.” Fast forward to 2021, and his statements had become even more fervent. In May that year, he referred to filibusters as “racially colored artifacts from the Jim Crow era,” arguing they should not impede advancement.
In June, he remarked, “Now may be a good time to remind America that the filibuster will not appear anywhere in the Constitution.” By October, he was bringing attention to the idea that “cults are not interested in governance,” suggesting that abolishing filibusters was essential for functioning democracy. He later described the filibuster as a lingering remnant of the Jim Crow era, once more stressing its negative impact on progress.
As of January 2022, Jeffries declared, “We’re exploding the filibuster so that we can crush the prevalence of voter suppression.” Though he can’t implement Senate filibusters in the House, he is currently stalling Republican initiatives using the traditional “magic minute.” This allows party leaders to speak for an unlimited amount of time on the floor.
In the early hours of Wednesday, during a speech that stretched well over six hours, Jeffries stated, “You know, budgets are moral documents. And in our view, Mr. Speaker, budgets should be designed to lift people up. This reckless Republican budget we’re debating on the floor of the House of Representatives now tears people apart.”
He went on to emphasize, “This reckless Republican budget is an immoral document, and no one should support it due to the way it harms children, everyday Americans, and individuals with disabilities.” His passionate speech concluded as he extended the time on the floor, just as the House was preparing to move forward with a major bill backed by Trump, which had near-unanimous support from Republicans.
