And what we are saying is, “You used it for that. It was used as an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Now, as you know, reconciliation, which is a Senate rule, was used by the Republicans, under Trump, to pass massive tax breaks for the rich and large corporations. BERNIE SANDERS: What we cannot do is wait weeks and weeks and months and months to go forward. On Sunday, Senator Bernie Sanders, who’s the incoming Senate Budget Committee chair, appeared on CNN and promoted using a process known as reconciliation to quickly pass part of Biden’s COVID relief plan. A group of civil rights and social justice groups are pushing Democrats to eliminate the filibuster to limit McConnell’s power and give Biden a chance to enact his agenda. Critics say the filibuster is a relic of the Jim Crow era that preserves minority rule. McConnell is pushing to preserve the filibuster, which allows any senator to block a bill’s passage unless it’s supported by 60 senators.

Schumer and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are locked in negotiations over how the Senate will be run over the next two years. The Senate is split 50-50, but the Democrats control the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as a tiebreaking vote. But, make no mistake, a trial will be held in the United States Senate, and there will be a vote on whether to convict the president.ĪMY GOODMAN: As senators prepare for the impeachment trial, lawmakers are also debating how to move forward on President Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. I’ve been speaking to the Republican leader about the timing and duration of the trial. MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER: Now, as I mentioned, the Senate will also conduct a second impeachment trial for Donald Trump. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke Friday. The Senate trial will begin the week of February 8th. House impeachment managers are walking the single article of impeachment to the Senate today. I’m Amy Goodman.ĭemocratic lawmakers are moving ahead with plans to hold an impeachment trial of former President Trump for inciting the deadly January 6th insurrection at the U.S.

AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now! The Quarantine Report.

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