09:35
Joe Biden expressed severe disappointment in the Senate’s failure to pass Democrats’ voting rights bill or amend the filibuster for the legislation.
In a statement released after the votes, the president condemned the “unprecedented effort to suppress the sacred right to vote” unfolding in state legislatures across the country.
“In the face of those threats, I am profoundly disappointed that the United States Senate has failed to stand up for our democracy. I am disappointed — but I am not deterred,” Biden said.
President Biden
(@POTUS)I am profoundly disappointed that the Senate has failed to stand up for our democracy. I am disappointed — but I am not deterred.
We will continue to advance necessary legislation and push for Senate procedural changes that will protect the fundamental right to vote.
The president pledged that his administration would continue its efforts to protect voting rights and strengthen election systems, even in the face of the demoralizing defeat.
“My Administration will never stop fighting to ensure that the heart and soul of our democracy — the right to vote — is protected at all costs,” Biden said.
“As dangerous new Republican laws plainly designed to suppress and subvert voting rights proliferate in states across the country, we will explore every measure and use every tool at our disposal to stand up for democracy.”
09:35
Greetings, live blog readers.
Senate Democrats suffered painful failures on two fronts last night – first on voting rights and then on filibuster reform.
Democrats’ voting rights bill failed to advance because of a Republican filibuster, which requires 60 votes for legislation to move forward.
The final vote on the voting rights bill was 49-51, with every Republican voting against the proposal. (Majority leader Chuck Schumer changed his vote from “yes” to “no” because that will allow him to bring up the matter again later.)
Senate Press Gallery
(@SenatePress)By a vote of 49-51, the #Senate did not invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.5746.
ML Schumer switched his vote from yes to no in order to enter a motion to reconsider the vote.
The Senate then voted on a rule change that would have allowed the voting rights legislation to circumvent the traditional legislative filibuster.
That measure was defeated in a vote of 48 to 52, with Democrats Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema joining their Republican colleagues in opposing the proposal.
The results of the votes demonstrate that challenges that Joe Biden faces in enacting his agenda, as he marks one year since he took office.
With a 50-50 Senate, it will be extremely difficult to pass another other major bills before the midterm elections. And if Democrats cannot enact their agenda, they will likely face some angry voters in November.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Read More: Biden struggles to deliver agenda after Democrats suffer twin Senate defeats – live | US
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