The Senate’s growing reliance on cloture does not prove that major legislation cannot pass without 60 votes. It shows instead leaders’ reliance on cloture to manage debate, block unwanted amendments, and avoid difficult votes.

Efforts to change the rules often reflect politics more than procedure.

Democrats could have already voted to begin debate on the voting rights bill if they spent less time complaining about the Senate’s rules and more time using them to achieve their goals.