Roberts Defends Filibuster As Tool To Enforce Bipartisanship

Retired Senator Pat Roberts says he’s not on board with discussions suggesting that the Senate do away with the filibuster, the legislative practice which results in most bills needing 60 votes before it can even come up on the floor.  Roberts says the higher vote margin has ensured that the bills that do pass, most notably the Farm Bill, have bipartisan input and support.

Roberts says eliminating the filibuster, which would align the Senate with the House in requiring just a simple majority to bring legislation to a vote, would result in the upper chamber turning to what he calls ‘trench warfare’ and less reaching across the party aisle.

Retired Senator Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, spent four decades in Congress.  His time included terms as the agriculture committee chairman in both the House and Senate.