VP Kamala Harris said to cast her tie-breaking vote that has stood for some 191 years dating back to John C. Calhoun (SC) this past Wednesday. Calhoun had 31 tiebreaking votes during the presidencies of John Adams and Andrew Jackson (1825-1832). VP Harris placed her vote during the nomination of Kalpana Kotagal as a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. As VP with no voting rights in the chambers, the Constitution gives her the one-vote ability to submit and break a tie. And that’s exactly what she has done during her period as President Biden’s VP. Her tie-breaking vote has prevented partisan gridlock and ensured that bills and nominations can move forward.
Today’s politics has stressed the confidence of US citizens. Diminished their faith in the government doing the “right thing.” Going back to 2008 with the election of Barack Obama as President, Majority Senate Speaker McConnell commented that “he would make sure Obama was a 1-term President.” Switched the policies on electing Supreme Court Justices twice so the majority of the court would be conservative. All while the House and Senate were mostly held by Republican majorities during these periods. That has had long-term effects and probably will for the next two generations. Partisan politics affect us all and only the few gain. Those in political power, lobbyists, big business, billionaires, and our adversaries throughout the world. And yes, the VP casting the deciding vote does represent the current administration’s views.