Sinema Defends Filibuster, Likely Dooming Biden’s Voting Bill

President Biden's woes with the legislative branch continue.

The president recently returned to D.C. from Georgia, where he accused opponents of his party's stalled voting rights bill of being on par with the infamous segregationist George Wallace.

Hoping to turn the spotlight away from the negative criticism he received, Biden planned a trip to Capitol Hill in a last-ditch attempt to encourage Senate Democrats to change the filibuster. Only then could Democrats pass their controversial election reforms with a simple majority.

Yet again, Biden failed.

Despite his expected arrival, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) preempted Biden by reiterating her support for the filibuster. (RELATED: Manchin and Sinema Imperil Biden Agenda Hours Before Vote)

WATCH:

Per USA TODAY:

The Arizona moderate's position wasn't different than other times she defended the filibuster, a legislative hurdle that requires 60 votes to start debate on a bill. But her surprise speech on the Senate floor came just before Biden was expected to meet with Democrats on Capitol Hill in an effort to rally his party around changing the Senate's rules to bypass GOP opposition to the voting rights legislation.

SEE ALSO: Biden's Confused Winter of Severe Illness and Discontent

Sinema said she supports the two pieces of voting rights legislation championed by civil rights advocates but wants more collaboration between Democrats and Republicans to protect voting rights.

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Shortly after Sinema's speech, Biden attended a Senate Democratic Caucus lunch to discuss the push to pass voting rights and potential changes to the Senate rules.

SEE ALSO: Manchin Dashes Progressive Hopes Yet Again

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Biden told Democrats in the meeting that “the Senate rules are not sacrosanct. The Constitution is. The preservation of democracy is. But the Senate rules have changed often and they're not sacrosanct.”