Top House Democrat urges Senate to abolish filibuster to pass voting rights on Jan. 6 anniversary | TheHill – The Hill

A top House Democrat is calling on the Senate to abolish the filibuster in order to pass federal voting rights legislation, pointing to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as reason why election reforms are needed on the national level.

Assistant House Speaker Katherine ClarkKatherine Marlea ClarkTop House Democrat urges Senate to abolish filibuster to pass voting rights on Jan. 6 anniversary Photos of the Year Biden employs flurry of meetings to unite warring factions MORE (D-Mass.) penned an op-ed in Newsweekon Thursday, the first anniversary of the deadly riot, in which she said the upper chamber must nix the legislative hurdle because it has been weaponized against voting rights in the past year.

We must abolish the current filibuster to protect the vote and fair elections, Clark wrote, adding, The future of the republic depends on it.

The assistant Speakertook a swipeat Republican lawmakers for refusing to put democracy ahead of their own desperate pursuit of power, pointing to their false claims of election fraud, refusal to participate in the Jan. 6 investigation and backing restrictive voting laws at the state level.

At least 19 states passed 34 laws hampering access to voting between Jan. 1 and Dec. 7 of last year, according to the Brennan Center.

They have proven time and again that their political goal is undermining our democracy instead of standing up for its survival, Clark wrote. So, we must go it alone. And to do that, we must abolish the filibuster.

Clarks plea comes as voting rights legislation has largely stalled in the Senate. The House last year passed the Freedom to Vote Act and the John LewisJohn LewisSchumer makes plea for voting bill, filibuster reform in rare Friday session The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Altria - Biden unleashes on Trump and GOP Democrats skeptical of McConnell's offer to talk on election law MORE Voting Rights Advancement Act, both of which were later blocked by Senate Republicans.

As a result, a number of Democrats are calling for abolishing the filibuster to allow the caucus to pass voting rights legislation with a simple majority vote. Two key Democrats, however, are opposed to amending Senate rules to approve the bills: Sens. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinManchin can support the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund by backing Build Back Better Schumer makes plea for voting bill, filibuster reform in rare Friday session Like it or not, all roads forward for Democrats go through Joe Manchin MORE (W.Va.) and Kyrsten SinemaKyrsten SinemaSchumer makes plea for voting bill, filibuster reform in rare Friday session The Hill's 12:30 Report: Biden comes out swinging in 2022 Democrats skeptical of McConnell's offer to talk on election law MORE (Ariz.).

Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerBiden eulogizes Reid as a fighter 'for the America we all love' at memorial service Like it or not, all roads forward for Democrats go through Joe Manchin Pelosi: It was 'inexplicable' why it took so long for National Guard to be activated on Jan. 6 MORE (D-N.Y.) is now turning up the heat to pass voting rights legislation. The top Democrat earlier this week said he will force a vote on amending the Senates rules by Jan. 17 if Republicans again block voting rights legislation.

President BidenJoe BidenAre we investing trillions on what matters? Biden eulogizes Reid as a fighter 'for the America we all love' at memorial service Fox News tops ratings for coverage on Jan. 6 anniversary events MORE last month said he supportsan exception to the filibusterto pass voting rights legislation.

Clark, in her op-ed, tied the push for voting rights to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, writing that despite the destruction and violence that occurred last year, federal voting rights legislation has still not been enacted.

The Capitol building has been repaired. But the threats we face are as real now as they were a year ago. Despite a seditious coup attempt meant to overthrow the election, not a single piece of federal voting protection legislation has been signed into law, Clark wrote.

Democracy cannot survive voter suppression laws that substitute the will of the people for the will of a few, she later added.

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Top House Democrat urges Senate to abolish filibuster to pass voting rights on Jan. 6 anniversary | TheHill - The Hill