In the Senate, the Republicans blocked the law strongly desired by the president for the fifth time in six months Joe Biden and by the Democrats to defend and strengthen the right to vote after the squeezes decided in several conservative US states. The votes in favor of the measure were 49, those against 51. For the go-ahead, 60 yeses would have been necessary.
The leader of the Democratic Majority in the Senate, Charles Schumer, therefore tried to propose a modification of the rules governing the debate, so that the bill could pass with a simple majority of 51 votes. The assembly also rejected this initiative with 52 votes to 48: two Democrats, Joe Manchin e Kyrsten Cinema, united with the 50 republican senators arguing that the rule of 60 protects the rights of minority parties and promotes bipartisanship in American democracy.
Biden defends his America: “A year of challenges and successes”
by our correspondent Paolo Mastrolilli
The Biden administration intends to move forward
“The president and I will not give up” on the defense of the right to vote: “it is fundamental for our democracy”, commented the American vice president. Kamala Harris, present in the Senate.
Shortly thereafter, Biden’s statement appeared on the White House website: “I am deeply disappointed that the US Senate has failed to defend our democracy.” “At the heart of our democracy – he continued – there is a fundamental principle: the right to vote and to have that vote count. That principle was attacked a year ago, when a violent crowd attempted a coup trying to overturn the will of the people. And today, state after state, republican legislatures are engaged in an unprecedented effort to suppress the sacred right to vote and subvert the American foundation of free and fair elections. “
The president also pledged to carry on this battle: “I am disappointed, but I am not discouraged. My administration will never stop fighting to ensure that the heart and soul of our democracy – the right to vote – are protected. at all costs. We will continue to work with allies to advance the legislation necessary to protect the right to vote. And to push for procedural changes in the Senate that protect the fundamental right to vote. While dangerous new republican laws clearly designed to suppress and subverting the right to vote proliferate in states across the country, we will explore every measure and use every tool at our disposal to defend democracy. The Vice President will continue to lead this effort, as she did last year. “
Stop the vaccine obligation, the social plan and the voting law: Biden finds himself paralyzed
by our correspondent Paolo Mastrolilli
