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“I’ve been stopped by the filibuster five times from passing it. I had a majority, I didn’t have 60 votes. Do I have 60 now? I think I’m close,” the Illinois Democrat told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” Sunday.
“I think I’ll have some support. Whether it’s enough remains to be seen,” he said.
On Sunday, Durbin said he supports President Joe Biden’s immigration plan, the Citizenship Act of 2021, and called it “long overdue” but reiterated his belief that it would be difficult to pass in the 50-50 partisan split Senate.
Durbin is open to lowering the threshold for breaking a filibuster and said on CNN that he wants his Senate colleagues to “prove to me under the current rules, with the filibuster requiring 60 votes, that we can actually produce something.”
“I want to tell you something, as chair of the Judiciary Committee, we are desperately in need to rewrite our immigration laws to stop this mess at the border, and to stop the problems that we face,” Durbin said, adding, “It’s a challenge to my colleagues, make it work. Right now, we know that the 60-vote requirement can stop the Senate from meaningful activity.”
“I certainly support the talking filibuster as proof positive that if someone cares enough to stop the Senate in its tracks, to say to the Senate that you cannot even consider the measure that is before you. Is it too much to ask them to stand at their desk to show that personal commitment?” Durbin told CNN on Sunday.
This story has been updated with additional details Sunday.
CNN’s Manu Raju and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.
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