Many Biden Bills Will Languish as Filibuster Remains Intact

The bottom line, according to Valliere: "We'll get a Covid relief bill via reconciliation by spring, but it could be significantly less generous than the initial Biden proposal. Potential casualties: massive aid to states and a minimum wage hike."

What's the Filibuster?

It's "not in the Constitution," James Angel, associate professor of finance at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, told ThinkAdvisor on Tuesday in an email. "It is part of the Senate's rules for when to shut off debate. The filibuster effectively creates a 60-vote supermajority provision for getting Senate approval of legislation. Thus, a party with less than 60 party stalwarts won't be able to pass legislation on purely partisan votes."

The filibuster "will prevent legislative implementation of some parts of the so-called 'progressive' agenda," Angel said. "There are some loopholes, though, that affect the tax code and allow 'temporary' measures to get in with less than 60 votes. This is why so many tax features expires in a few years, such as the changes in the estate tax."

Biden, Angel said, "will have to work harder to get bipartisan support for his initiatives. He needs to develop a Reaganesque ability to work with the opposition to get needed things done, something Obama lacked."

Added Andy Friedman, principal and founder of The Washington Update, in an email: "Elimination of the filibuster was highly unlikely in any event, so this development saves unnecessary threat, delay, and rancor later in the term. The Senate never needs to find an excuse to slow down legislation, but at least this one is out of the way."

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