The president of major labor union SEIU, Andy Stern, today called on all 60 members of the Democratic caucus to allow a vote on a health care reform bill, claiming, “There is no such thing as a Republican filibuster.”
Writing on the Huffington Post, Stern threatened that Democratic senators who join Republicans to block a vote would face “disaster in 2010…and even in 2012.”
With 60 votes on the Democrats’ side, Republicans alone cannot filibuster reform, he wrote.
“Well Democrats, it’s show time. America elected the 60 you asked for, and America is waiting for results,” he wrote.
But here is the problem with reaching the magical 60: if Democrats can’t deliver the meaningful reforms that they have repeatedly promised, then what’s the point of 60? Why should anyone believe that knocking on doors, making calls, or donating another dollar changes anything if with 60 votes they cannot deliver real reforms?
“The Democrats must not squander their 60-vote majority,” he added.
