President Joe Biden’s hopes for bipartisanship hit a major roadblock Tuesday as Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have created an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol..
The vote, 54-35, fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation, with all but five Republicans in opposition. The outcome was a setback for Biden, who has repeatedly called for unity and cooperation in Washington..
The commission would have been tasked with investigating the events leading up to the Jan. 6 attack, including the role of former President Donald Trump and his allies in inciting the violence. Republicans who opposed the bill argued that it was unnecessary and partisan, and that existing congressional committees were already investigating the attack..
Democrats accused Republicans of trying to whitewash the events of Jan. 6 and prevent accountability for those responsible. They argued that an independent commission was necessary to ensure a full and impartial investigation..
The vote on the commission came as the House of Representatives prepare to vote on a separate bill that would establish a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack. The select committee would be formed by a vote of the House, and would not require the support of Republicans..
However, the select committee would face limitations in its ability to subpoena witnesses and documents, as those powers are controlled by the House speaker, who is a Democrat. Republicans are likely to use their power to obstruct the select committee’s investigation, and the committee’s findings could be dismissed as partisan..
The failure of the Senate to pass the independent commission bill and the partisan nature of the House select committee are major setbacks for Biden’s hopes for bipartisanship. They also raise questions about whether Congress will be able to conduct a full and impartial investigation into the Jan. 6 attack..
In addition to the Jan. 6 commission, Biden has also called for bipartisanship on other issues, such as infrastructure, immigration, and climate change. However, Republicans have been largely uncooperative, and it is unclear whether Biden will be able to achieve his goals without significant concessions to the GOP..
The lack of bipartisanship in Congress is a major obstacle to Biden’s agenda. It is also a source of frustration for the American people, who are increasingly divided along partisan lines. If Biden is unable to find common ground with Republicans, it will be difficult for him to make progress on the issues that matter most to the country..
