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Vice President Kamala Harris cant wait to end the filibuster. Surely, that could have no unforeseen consequences for Democrats in the coming years.

Speaking during the Democratic National Committees summer meeting, Harris said that she couldnt wait to end the legislative filibuster. You know, our president, Joe Biden, he's been clear, she said. He's kind of done with those archaic Senate rules that are standing in the way of those two issues. And, you know, for me, as vice president, I'm also president of the Senate. ... I cannot wait to cast the deciding vote to break the filibuster on voting rights and reproductive rights. I cannot wait! Fifty-nine days.

Harris seems to think that the midterm elections will land Democrats a large-enough Senate majority that they can finally abolish the filibuster. She is ignoring the fact that Republicans have just as good of a chance to take the Senate as Democrats do to hold it. Also, Republicans remain the favorites to take the House of Representatives. Democrats may not even have an opportunity to both abolish the filibuster and pass legislation.

But even if all goes well for them, as Harris is anticipating, Democrats will come to regret this decision before long. Who can forget when, in 2013, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gloated about abolishing the filibuster for most presidential nominations? Just one year later, Republicans flipped nine Senate seats for a 54-46 majority.

That set the stage for Republicans to confirm not one, not two, but three Supreme Court justices, shifting the balance of the court to the point that whiny Democrats have introduced court-packing as a solution. Democrats were powerless to object, especially after they had promised to abolish the filibuster against Supreme Court nominees just before a 2016 election they were so completely certain they were going to win.

Abolishing the legislative filibuster will lead to the same result.

Take abortion. Harris and Senate Democrats could legalize abortion up to birth by a 51-vote majority, sure, and then Republicans could outlaw it by the same threshold just two years later. Even an outright ban wouldnt be necessary: If Republicans limited abortion to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, California and New York would be forced to restrict abortion regardless of how loudly activists screamed in protest.

We are potentially just two years removed from Republicans having unified control of Congress and the White House with a 53-47 Senate majority. With those numbers, Republicans could put federal restrictions on abortion, reform union membership, abolish gun control measures in liberal states, defund Planned Parenthood and sanctuary cities, and much more. These arent simply guesses or suggestions: Most of this is what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has specifically promised.

McConnell lived up to his promise when he told Reid that Democrats would regret their decision sooner than they thought. He and Senate Republicans will do the same if they follow through on Harriss enthusiasm. Abolishing the filibuster will give Republicans the same power that Democrats themselves crave. If they haven't realized that by now, they will find out soon enough the next time Republicans take Congress.

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Democrats are aiming to score an own-goal by abolishing the filibuster - Washington Examiner