President Joe Biden says the Senate has âfailed to stand up for our democracyâ after Republicans blocked Senate Democratsâ effort to pass Voting rights legislation.
Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) dealt a significant blow to Democratsâ efforts to change filibuster rules to pass the Voting rights legislation. The vote came out to be 52-48.
Biden issued a statement reacting to the vote, saying, âAt the core of our democracy is a basic principle: the right to vote, and to have that vote counted. That principle was assaulted one year ago, when a violent mob attempted a coup seeking to overturn the will of the people.â
He continued, âAnd today, in state after state, Republican state legislatures are engaged in an unprecedented effort to suppress the sacred right to vote and subvert the American bedrock of free and fair elections.â
The president explained he is âprofoundly disappointed that the United States Senate has failed to stand up for our democracy. I am disappointed â but I am not deterred.â
Biden vowed to ânever stop fighting to ensure that the heart and soul of our democracy â the right to vote â is protected at all costs.â
His statement goes on, âWe will continue to work with allies to advance necessary legislation to protect the right to vote. And to push for Senate procedural changes that will protect the fundamental right to vote.â
Concluding his statement, Biden said Vice President Kamala Harris would continue to lead the effort.
During an appearance on âGood Morning America,â George Stephanopoulos asked Harris what the administration will do now that the legislation is not moving through the Senate.
âWeâre not going to give up on legislation because ultimately that is one of the most important aspects of what we must do to correct what has been happening in the various states,â Harris said.
She added, âThere is work that we will continue to do that is about convening folks around the country to uplift the message and to include what we need to do to expand the ability of all Americans to understand whatâs at stake.â
