Sen. Rick Scott in The Wall Street Journal: “Filibuster Abuse Has Destroyed Senate Debate”
Sen. Rick Scott in The Wall Street Journal: “Filibuster Abuse Has Destroyed Senate Debate” August 6, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott published a letter to the editor in The Wall Street Journal titled, “Filibuster Abuse Has Destroyed Senate Debate.” In his letter, Senator Scott shows how the Senate filibuster has failed to force debate, compromise, and results—and why it needs to go. Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Abuse of the filibuster has stifled open debate in the chamber. It prevents, by design, the results that voters expect us to deliver.” … “Modern majority leaders file cloture before debate begins. The agenda changes at the threat of debate. The iconic final scene from the film ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ rarely occurs.” … “In 1964 opponents of the Civil Rights Act attempted to stop the legislation with a filibuster. The bill’s supporters were initially far short of the 67 votes needed to break the filibuster. But by forcing open debate, the Senate finally forced an answer on Jim Crow.” … “The filibuster is a muscle we never exercise. It has atrophied. Senators have lost the implicit understanding that a debate needs to happen before it can end. This legislative body needs to deliver results, not fail while adhering to a prohibitive process. We should end the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act—or require debate until exhaustion or satisfaction.” Senator Scott wrote in response to an op-ed published by his colleague U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) last week arguing to preserve the filibuster. Read the full letter HERE . ### https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/8/sen-rick-scott-in-the-wall-street-journal-filibuster-abuse-has-destroyed-senate-debate
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Sen. Rick Scott in The Wall Street Journal: “Filibuster Abuse Has Destroyed Senate Debate” August 6, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rick Scott published a letter to the editor in The Wall Street Journal titled, “Filibuster Abuse Has Destroyed Senate Debate” In his letter, Senator Scott shows how the Senate filibuster has failed to force debate, compromise, and results—and why it needs to go. Senator Rick Scott wrote, “Abuse of the filibuster has stifled open debate in the chamber. It prevents, by design, the results that voters expect us to deliver.” … “Modern majority leaders file cloture before debate begins. The agenda changes at the threat of debate. The iconic final scene from the film ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ rarely occurs.” … “In 1964 opponents of the Civil Rights Act attempted to stop the legislation with a filibuster. The bill’s supporters were initially far short of the 67 votes needed to break the filibuster. But by forcing open debate, the Senate finally forced an answer on Jim Crow.” … “The filibuster is a muscle we never exercise. It has atrophied. Senators have lost the implicit understanding that a debate needs to happen before it can end. This legislative body needs to deliver results, not fail while adhering to a prohibitive process. We should end the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act—or require debate until exhaustion or satisfaction.” Senator Scott wrote in response to an op-ed published by his colleague U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) last week arguing to preserve the filibuster. Read the full letter HERE . ### https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2026/8/sen-rick-scott-in-the-wall-street-journal-filibuster-abuse-has-destroyed-senate-debate
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