Democratic US Senator Jeff Merkley gives marathon speech opposing Trump agenda
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A screenshot from a video posted to X of Senator Jeff Merkley delivering his marathon speech on the Senate floor.
SCREENSHOT: X/@SENJEFFMERKLEY
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- Senator Jeff Merkley delivered a marathon speech opposing President Trump's agenda during a government shutdown, calling it an "authoritarian takeover".
- Democrats are using long speeches to stall chamber work and spotlight issues because Republicans hold majorities in the House and Senate.
- Cory Booker and Hakeem Jeffries also gave long speeches this year, following a similar tactic to draw attention to issues.
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WASHINGTON - Democratic US Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon on Oct 22 was more than half a day into a marathon speech opposing Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda on the 22nd day of a government shutdown.
“I want to repeat my main mission statement for being here through the night, and that’s to ring the alarm bells... at this authoritarian takeover and of this strategy of doing authoritarian Bills in which families lose and billionaires win,” said Mr Merkley, who began speaking shortly before 6.30pm EDT on Oct 21 (6.30am on Oct 22 in Singapore).
Mr Merkley is the third congressional Democrat this year to deliver a marathon speech.
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey spoke for more than 25 hours
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York spoke on the House floor for nearly nine hours on July 3
Democrats in Washington have little power, with Republicans holding majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate.
But Senate Democrats and the House Democratic leader are able to hold the floor for as long as they can speak to call attention to issues and stall the chamber’s work.
Senate Democrats have also repeatedly used the chamber’s 60-vote threshold to block passage of a stopgap funding Bill passed by House Republicans - and one Democrat - on Sept 19. REUTERS
