Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) is calling for the Senate to change its rules amid Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) continued blockade of over 300 military promotions continues.

“I wish the Senate would change their rules so that one senator doesn’t have that kind of power, so that we actually would have a democracy where you have a fair vote,” Smith said of the upper chamber of Congress in an interview on CNN.

He added that it’s clear to him that Tuberville doesn’t believe in democracy.

“He doesn’t believe in the system of government that we’ve set up,” Smith argued. “You have a vote, you lose you move on.”

Smith, who served as a state senator in Washington in the 1990s, called the House Freedom Caucus and Tuberville’s approach to governance “incredibly destructive.”

“What he and the Freedom Caucus believe is ‘if you don’t get what you want, do as much damage as you possibly can’ to the government,” he said.

“In this case, it’s incredibly destructive to the defense of this country, to the national security of this country, to not be able to have top leaders appointed to their position nearly undermines our ability to protect this country bottom line, Smith added.

  • MomoTimeToDie@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Funny how when someone doesn’t just rubber stamp everything that hits their desk it becomes a threat to democracy. Surely an elected representative not approving things is equally as democratic as approving them, no?

    • Bibliotectress@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      You have to be joking. No one could possibly spin this as legit. From the article:

      Tuberville began his blockade in April in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy enacted late last year. The policy, which covers travel expenses for abortion care, hit the six-month mark earlier this week.

      • MomoTimeToDie@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Sounds like the exact things he’s there for: to play politics. I assume you’re equally as vocal in opposition whenever politicians work towards goals you like?