The Filibuster Must Go Now

The choice is clear. Either abolish the filibuster or lose any chance of preserving our democracy.

Jump to today’s actions:

Call the Senate
Call the House

Background

The Senate will vote today on two widely supported, bipartisan bills--the Endless Frontier Act, to bolster America’s competitiveness with China, and HR.3233, establishing an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6th insurrection. Although both were the result of lengthy bipartisan negotiations--the China bill in the Senate and HR.3233 in the House--GOP filibusters are threatened. This is the same GOP playbook employed successfully against Obama.

Watching Republicans objecting incoherently for hours to investigating an assault on Congress and our democracy or to increasing America’s competitiveness with China represents a very teachable moment for both Americans and Democratic Senators opposed to filibuster reform.

Schumer cannot relent: he must force the GOP into “talking” filibusters of these bills and other popular legislation languishing in the Senate--VAWA (HR.1620), the pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and agricultural workers (HR.6 & HR.1603), two gun-control bills (HR.8 & HR.1446), George Floyd Act (HR.1280). This is the only way to highlight GOP obstruction and break the back of the filibuster.

Unless the Senate quickly chooses democracy over racist Senate rules that encourage gridlock, not bipartisanship, democracy will wither and die. We cannot let that happen.

1. Call the Senate.

Script Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The Senate can no longer put off confronting the filibuster. I expect the Senator to play a leadership role in convincing Majority Leader Schumer to bring to the floor, one after another, the widely popular bills now languishing in the Senate and to force the GOP to use “talking” filibusters for each bill it opposes. This is the only way to demonstrate to the country and wavering Democratic Senators that the GOP’s real agenda is delay and obstruction. Failure to act decisively now will cause our democracy to wither and die.

SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The Senate can no longer put off confronting the filibuster. I expect the Senator to play a leadership role in convincing Majority Leader Schumer to bring to the floor, one after another, the widely popular bills now languishing in the Senate and to force the GOP to use “talking” filibusters for each bill it opposes. This is the only way to demonstrate to the country and wavering Democratic Senators that the GOP’s real agenda is delay and obstruction. Failure to act decisively now will cause our democracy to wither and die.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

It is time for you and your party to stop delaying and obstructing and begin working with Democrats to find real compromises on the House-passed legislation pending in the Senate. Never forget that your job is to serve your constituents, protect their rights, and preserve our representative democracy.

2. Call the House.

Look up your rep.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

It is long past the time for the Senate to confront the filibuster. Please do everything in your power to convince Senate colleagues that the only way to break the filibuster is to bring the widely popular House-passed legislation to the Senate floor, one after another, and to force the GOP to use “talking” filibusters for each bill it opposes. Otherwise, the Biden agenda is doomed, and so is our democracy.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you very much for supporting HR.3233, establishing an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 attack on Congress. Please convince Senate colleagues to do likewise. I also expect you and your party to stop delaying and obstructing and begin working with Democrats to find real compromises on the important issues affecting our country. Never forget that your job is to serve your constituents, protect their rights, and preserve our representative democracy.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

It is long past the time for the Senate to confront the filibuster. Please do everything in your power to convince Senate colleagues that the only way to break the filibuster is to bring the widely popular House-passed legislation to the Senate floor, one after another, and to force the GOP to use “talking” filibusters for each bill it opposes. Otherwise, the Biden agenda is doomed, and so is our democracy.

Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

It is long past the time for the Senate to confront the filibuster. Please do everything in your power to convince Senate colleagues that the only way to break the filibuster is to bring the widely popular House-passed legislation to the Senate floor, one after another, and to force the GOP to use “talking” filibusters for each bill it opposes. Otherwise, the Biden agenda is doomed, and so is our democracy.

Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

It is long past the time for the Senate to confront the filibuster. Please do everything in your power to convince Senate colleagues that the only way to break the filibuster is to bring the widely popular House-passed legislation to the Senate floor, one after another, and to force the GOP to use “talking” filibusters for each bill it opposes. Otherwise, the Biden agenda is doomed, and so is our democracy.

3. Take Action.

Join us on Tuesday June 1st from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT for Indivisible Tuesday - a district visit with Senator Wyden’s and Representative Blumenauer’s staff.