WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats on Tuesday are pressing ahead on voting rights legislation, facing intense pressure to change the filibuster rules that have stalled voting measures in the past — and likely will again amid holdout lawmakers.The Senate opened on Tuesday, launching a debate on legislation that combines the two major voting bills: the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
The House has passed the package, but the legislation is stalled in the Senate, opposed by Republicans. With a 50-50 split in the upper chamber, Democrats have a narrow Senate majority.
Vice President Kamala Harris can break a tie, but they lack the 60 votes needed to overcome the GOP filibuster. Focus and recent criticism have centered on two pivotal Democrats, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, for their refusal to change the Senate filibuster rules.
Both say they support the package, but they are unwilling to change the Senate rules to muscle it through that chamber over Republican objections.On Monday, the two were singled out by Martin Luther King III, the son of the late civil rights leader.