Biden says elimination of filibuster “would plunge all of Congress into chaos”

President Biden essentially rejected the idea of clear the obstruction, claiming that this would “throw the whole Congress into chaos and nothing would be done.”

He was in Cincinnati at a town hall Wednesday night, and his desire to preserve the filibuster, with some reforms, came despite urging from CNN host Don Lemon over the filibuster’s role in blocking the legislation. on civil rights, and in the midst of clear public support to eliminate it.

When a freshman law student called for the elimination of filibuster, which in modern times meant most laws needed 60 votes to end debate and move forward, the audience applauded. While some Democrats have said removing the filibuster is the only way to gain the right to vote, Mr Biden objected and suggested he wished – and believed he could get – a larger coalition. large. He said he wanted to bring in the Republicans too.

The president pushed the Senate to move forward with voting rights legislation and not be “wrapped up in whether it is just systematic obstruction.”

In Mr Biden’s second town hall since taking office, COVID-19 and the rebound in the economy have dominated discussion. He addressed the surge in coronavirus cases, declining vaccination rates, but also immigration, the opioid crisis and the ongoing debate in the Senate on his infrastructure bill.

He remains convinced that despite the procedural vote on the bill failed on Wednesday, the legislation will be treated more favorably on Monday, and the bill will eventually succeed. “I think it’s going to be done,” he said.

The infrastructure bill is a big part of Mr Biden’s economic agenda, and he insisted on Wednesday that it has bipartisan support and has repeatedly praised the senator from the Home State Rob Portman of Ohio, a Republican.

Lemon launched City Hall by asking Mr Biden about vaccinations as the country grapples with slowing vaccination rates and increasing infections in some states due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant among those without protection against disease. “We have a pandemic for those who haven’t been vaccinated. It’s that basic, that simple,” Biden replied.

Mr Biden noted that there are ongoing trials of vaccinating children under the age of 12, and he said he believed children in school will likely wear masks in the fall.

City Hall comes as Mr Biden marks six months in office.