Bernie Sanders defended the filibuster Wednesday, insisting that he would not need 60 votes to pass his $16.3 trillion climate change plan.
Sanders, speaking at CNN’s climate change town hall, said he could accomplish his goals of reaching 100% renewable energy for electricity and transportation by 2030 through the parliamentary procedure of budget reconciliation, which allows for passing legislation with only a simple majority in the Senate.
“I haven’t wavered,” Sanders said. “What I have said is we need major filibuster reform. Budget reconciliation is the method we will use.”
Reconciliation provides for passing fiscal measures, and could be a good fit for passing something such as a carbon tax. It wouldn’t be well suited, though, for approving mandates or regulations favored by Sanders. Sanders does not endorse carbon pricing in his climate change plan.
His defense of the filibuster comes after Kamala Harris joined Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday in being the only candidates in the race to favor killing the filibuster to overcome Republican opposition and pass aggressive legislation to combat climate change.
