Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, expressed understanding of President Donald Trump’s frustration over the government shutdown but reaffirmed her opposition to ending the Senate filibuster. The Iowa Republican emphasized that dismantling the 60-vote threshold for most legislation would weaken the institution and pave the way for radical Democratic policies.
Speaking on “National Report,” Ernst praised Trump’s leadership while cautioning against using the so-called “nuclear option” to pass a short-term spending bill. She argued that scrapping the filibuster could backfire if Democrats regain control of Washington, citing potential implementations of the Green New Deal, Supreme Court expansion, D.C. statehood, Puerto Rico statehood, and nationalized healthcare.
Ernst stressed that maintaining the 60-vote rule ensures bipartisan cooperation and prevents abrupt policy shifts based on which party holds power. “We want to keep the filibuster in place,” she said. “I don’t know that the Democrats will actually do this — there is no guarantee. But I certainly don’t want to be the Republican Party that broke the institution of the Senate.”
The Senate filibuster, a longstanding tradition designed to encourage debate and compromise, has seen limited exceptions for judicial nominations in recent years but remains intact for most legislation.
