Take Action to Protect Democracy!
As we mark the anniversary of the appalling attacks on American democracy that took place at the U.S. Capitol on 1/6/2021, it is clear that the Senate filibuster is incompatible with democratic governance. While the Senate is evenly divided between the two major parties, Senate Democrats and Independents represent 41 million more voters that Senate Republicans. And yet, Republicans continue to wield veto power over the will of the clear majority of Americans. This is especially true when it comes to the issue of preserving the right to vote and have your vote fairly counted. As Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently put it, “If the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, then how can we Democrats permit a situation in which Republicans can pass voter suppression laws at the State level with only a simple majority vote but not allow the U.S. Senate to do the same? This asymmetry cannot hold.”
Please sign PPJC’s letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Alex Padilla and urge them not only to support ending the filibuster but also to take on a leadership role in denouncing this anti-democratic rule. We will deliver the letters to our California Senators on Thursday, January 6.
Dear Sen. Feinstein,
Dear Sen. Padilla,
On this anniversary of the appalling attack on our democracy, we are writing with great urgency to implore you to do all you can to end the filibuster in the Senate. We urge you to use your position to speak out publicly and forcefully for an end to the filibuster. There is simply no other way to preserve voting rights for all.
Although the two parties have an equal number of Members of the Senate, the 50 Democrat and Independent Senators represent over 41 million more voters than Republicans. As Majority Leader Schumer said recently, “If the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, then how can we Democrats permit a situation in which Republicans can pass voter suppression laws at the State level with only a simple majority vote but not allow the U.S. Senate to do the same? … This asymmetry cannot hold.”
We ask that you not simply support an end to the filibuster, but rather become a leading voice for its overturn. We are facing a critical juncture in our nation, one which will determine if we will continue as a nation rooted in democracy. We call for — and expect to see — your leadership on this crucial issue.
Sincerely yours,
[Signed}
