The Independent View: Fact-Checking Manchin's Claim Senate Filibuster Has Not Changed In 232 Years

President Biden's efforts to Remove the Senate Filibuster, in order to address the combined, Two Voting Rights Bills, Failed by Two Votes, when Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) Votes NO.

Currently, 60 Votes are needed to prevent a Filibuster. The change, which is often referred to as the "nuclear option," would essentially do away with the Filibuster and allow the Senate to pass Legislation with just a simple Majority of 51 Votes, 50 Demctatic Votes and VP Harris' Vote.

When asked to explain his stance, Manchin implied the Rules shouldn't be Changed because the 60-Vote Threshold is "what we've always had for 232 years." Manchin is Wrong.

The 60-Vote threshold required to invoke Cloture, which effectively ends Debate or a Filibuster, and signals a move to Vote, was established in 1975, not 232 years ago.

The current Threshold is itself a Reduction from the Original set in 1917, which required a Two-Thirds Majority to invoke Cloture. And it's worth noting that the "nuclear option" has also been triggered before.

The Senate already uses a simple Majority to End Debate in a few Specific Cases.

In 2013, after Republicans blocked Votes for several of President Obama's Nominees, Senate Democrats, led by then-Majority Leader Harry Reid, set a Precedent to require only a Simple Majority of those Voting to invoke Cloture on All Presidential Nominations, except those for the Supreme Court.

The Rules were Changed again during the Trump Administration to apply to Supreme Court Nominees, as well after, Democrats attempted a Filibuster to Prevent a Vote on Trump's First Supreme Court Nominee, Neil Gorsuch.

It's worth noting that Manchin's 232 years is Not an arbitrary number, as the U.S. Constitution went into effect roughly that long ago, in 1789.

However, the Filibuster is Not mentioned in the Constitution, nor are the Rules for it enshrined therein.

The Constitution does Outline a few situations, such as an Impeachment Trial, that require more than a Simple Majority Vote, but otherwise gives the Senate the Right to set its own Rules.

Under Senate Rules of the late 1700s, immediately after the Constitution went into effect, a Debate could be Ended with the Vote of a simple Majority.