Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) told the Times Herald that legislation to expand background checks for gun purchases isn’t likely to be revived “any time soon” after its failure to secure 60 votes to overcome a filibuster last month.
“It’s a pretty heavy lift to get five senators to change their mind on a big issue like this,” he told the paper. “It’s not likely to happen any time soon. I hope people will reconsider over time.”
Toomey, who crossed the aisle to cosponsor the bill with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), also said the legislation failed in part because some Republicans did not want to be perceived as help President Obama accomplish something.
“In the end it didn’t pass because we’re so politicized,” Toomey said. “There were some on my side who did not want to be seen helping the president do something he wanted to get done, just because the president wanted to do it.”
The senator’s remarks put a damper on hopes expressed by top Democrats that background check legislation will be brought up again soon.
