BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey is embracing the idea of abolishing the Senate filibuster, in order to get a $15 federal minimum wage passed.
Senator Markey hosted a livestream discussion Sunday with transportation, environmental, and public health advocates, where he said a $15 minimum wage is essential to ensuring no one working full-time lives in poverty. He also said Democrats are examining several options for passing that measure.
Anticipating a Republican filibuster to keep the minimum wage measure from getting a vote in the Senate, Sen. Markey said Sunday he is embracing what's known as "the Nuclear Option."
"If we cannot get this provision passed within this [COVID-19] rescue package, we must do what it takes to deliver for the American people and abolish the filibuster," Markey said during the livestream.
According to the U.S. Senate, the type of filibuster most familiar to Americans is "the marathon speech by a small group of senators, or even a single senator," which includes "the tactic of using long speeches to delay action on legislation."
At some point, both parties have been reluctant to abolish the filibuster, and it's not yet clear whether the move would in fact save a $15 federal minimum wage.
Sen. Markey said the filibuster "will be used to block every piece of progressive legislation we put forward."
"We can and must get it out of the way, do the work we were elected to do, and deliver racial, economic, climate, and health care justice for the American people," Markey said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kendall Buhl reports:
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Written by Brit Smith
(Photo: Getty Images)