A top White House official confirmed Sunday that President Biden
Joe BidenThe 10 races that will decide the Senate majority Bidens: Desmond Tutu's legacy will 'echo throughout the ages' Media love bad news; you don't have to MORE remains opposed to ending the filibuster and pointed to the administration's success in passing the COVID-19 relief package as evidence that it can get its priorities through Congress.
Communications director Kate Bedingfield
Kate BedingfieldBiden aides offer praise for Harris after critical CNN report 'Finally, infrastructure week!': White House celebrates T bill Tucker Carlson mocks Buttigieg over paternity leave MORE told CNN's Jake Tapper
Jacob (Jake) Paul TapperCOVID-19 cases in UK exceed 100K for first time Clyburn tests positive for COVID-19 in breakthrough case GOP lawmaker opens door to funding bill to combat omicron MORE on "State of the Union" that Biden remains committed to winning Republican support even after no GOP lawmakers broke with their party in either chamber to vote for the $1.9 trillion relief bill.
"It is still his position [that the filibuster should be preserved]," Bedingfield said. "He wants to work with Republicans, to work with independents. He believes that, you know, we are stronger when we build a broad coalition of support."
White House communications director Kate Bedingfield says President Biden's preference is not to end the filibuster: "He wants to work with Republicans, to work with independents. He believes that, you know, we are stronger when we build a broad coalition of support" #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/6O3Ew5p0aR
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 7, 2021
Tapper then asked Bedingfield how the administration will address other issues, such as its push to raise the minimum wage, that cannot be passed via the Senate's 50-vote budget reconciliation threshold. She responded that GOP voters and Americans at large would rally behind the administration's agenda.
"We also got it done with the support of 75 percent of the American people, including over 50 percent of Republicans," she said. "We were able to pass this legislation with massive bipartisan support across the country."
Her comments come as progressives in the House have reissued their calls for the filibuster to be scrapped or for Vice President Harris to overrule the Senate parliamentarian over which legislation can be passed through the reconciliation process, ideas that have seen little support from party leadership.
Moderates in the Senate such as Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinFour environmental fights to watch in 2022 Harris acknowledges 'frustration' during Charlamagne tha God interview Let's be honest: 2021 wasn't all bad MORE (D-W.Va.) have also indicated their opposition to using the reconciliation process to get around opposition from GOP senators, citing an unwillingness to break tradition and a desire for bipartisanship in the chamber.
"I'm not willing to go into reconciliation until we at least get bipartisanship or get working together or allow the Senate to do its job," Manchin said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."
