Jason Husser, associate professor of political science and policy studies and director of the Elon University Poll, weighed in on the struggle for gun legislation and the power of the filibuster.
Jason Husser, associate professor of political science and policy studies and director of the Elon University Poll, was featured in a report by Greenville, N.C., news station WITN about Congress’ efforts to pass gun legislation and the obstacles that legislation faces.
In “State political science experts on GOP filibuster, Senate gun debate,” reporter Cindy Choi details President Joe Biden’s calls for Congress to “immediately pass” gun laws in response to recent mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado. The report discusses two gun control bills regarding background checks that were passed by the U.S. House. In the report, Husser calls attention to the major hurdle the bills will have to overcome in the Senate.
“The Senate is a super majoritarian institution,” Husser told WITN. “It requires 60 senators to stop one senator from continuing to talk as long as possible, and so as a result to get anything done in the Senate, it requires 60 votes. That makes the Senate very different than the U.S. House of Representatives in which a simple majority is able to pass legislation.”
Husser also offered his thoughts on calls to do away with the Senate filibuster and the possible ramifications of such a decision. To hear more of Husser insights, watch the full WITN report here.