Daily on Energy: Major climate legislation vs. the filibuster
Is the filibuster really the problem? James Wallner, a former executive director of the conservative Senate Steering Committee, says the real challenge is that both Democrats and Republicans remain divided amongst themselves on big issues such as climate change, health care, and immigration. That means it’s no sure thing Democrats could pass a major climate policy even without the filibuster, he said.
“The filibuster is not so much a barrier as it is a convenient villain,” said Wallner, now a senior fellow at R Street. “We don’t have the kind of intra-party agreement to pass these controversial things. Majority control of the Senate does not translate to majority of support for controversial legislation.”
