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Gov. Jay Inslee in Austin, Texas, calls on rivals to scrap filibuster

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee greets students following a discussion about climate change March 5 at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Inslee, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, called on rivals Sunday in Austin, Texas, to abolish the U.S. Senate filibuster. (Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press)
Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas –

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says he’s challenging the U.S. senators in the 2020 Democratic presidential field to abolish the filibuster in their chamber.

The presidential hopeful on Sunday began a second day of Democratic candidates dropping in on the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas. Inslee joined the race this month and is running a campaign that’s almost singularly focused on climate change.

But Inslee said nothing will happen on the issue unless the Senate gets rid of the filibuster. That’s a procedural tool that requires a supermajority of 60 votes out of 100 to pass many big items, rather than a simple majority.

Six Democratic senators are running for president. Inslee called on them to “get religion and realize that the filibuster” is stopping them on major policy.