Republicans Demand Immediate End to Senate Filibuster for Must-Pass Legislation

Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., stated on Wednesday that the Senate filibuster should not apply to must-pass legislation. He argued that the procedural rule allows the minority party to block essential budget measures when the majority supports them.

On “Carl Higbie FRONTLINE,” Fine questioned the continued use of the Senate filibuster for must-pass legislation. When asked about eliminating the filibuster as Democrats oppose changes to Affordable Care Act subsidies, he said: “Well, I think it’s something worth considering, particularly for must-pass bills. The minority party should not have the power to keep the government closed for whatever reason they want. And so for things like a budget that has to be passed to keep the government open, there’s no reason the filibuster should exist.”

Under Senate rules, most legislation requires a 60-vote threshold to end debate, allowing a unified minority to block bills even when a simple majority supports them. Both parties have used the procedure to stall or stop legislation depending on which side holds power.

During President Trump’s first term, Democrats relied heavily on the filibuster to block GOP efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017. Several repeal bills failed after Democrats and a small number of Republicans withheld support, keeping the 60-vote threshold out of reach. Republicans later used the filibuster in 2021 to obstruct the creation of a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, preventing Democrats from reaching the votes needed to advance the legislation.

Trump has recently urged Republicans to eliminate the filibuster if necessary to advance legislation during ongoing funding debates, stating: “Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!” Senate leaders in both parties have historically defended the filibuster as a guardrail for minority rights, but pressure continues to build over whether it should apply to budget and government funding measures.