Murkowski on Board With Jan. 6 Commission As Schumer Announces Intentions For Vote ‘This Week’

On Tuesday, U.S. Sen Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said that she will support a House-passed bill to establish a commission to investigate the events that occurred on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol.

Murkowski is now the second Senate Republican, along with U.S. Sen Mitt Romney (R-UT) to announce their support for the commission, which passed the House with 35 Republican votes.

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on Tuesday about the bill that “We hope to vote this week” and he has pledged several times over the past week to force Republicans to vote on it.

In order for it to pass, however, the measure needs 60 votes, or the support of at least 10 Republicans, to overcome an expected filibuster – assuming that all the Democrats are on board, which it appears they are.

U.S. Sen Susan Collins (R-ME) has expressed support as well, noting, “I see a need for a commission and am working to correct flaws in the House bill. I strongly support a commission.”

On the floor Monday, Schumer lobbied for the legislation and said, “The formation of the commission is more important now than it’s ever been. In the months since Jan. 6, Washington Republicans have tried to rewrite history and recast the attack of Jan. 6 as little more than peaceful protests that got out of hand.”

From The Hill:

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is another Republican who has said he is inclined to support the establishment of a bipartisan commission to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol by a mob angry over President Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.

Cassidy said Tuesday he agrees with Collins that changes should be made to the House bill.

“I know it’s going to take a little bit of evolution, so I’d like to see what that evolution looks like,” he said. “I think we could address concerns and make it a lot easier for folks to support it.”

Other key Republicans, such as Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who voted to convict Trump on an article of impeachment in Feb., are undecided about whether to support the House bill to set up a bipartisan commission.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), another Republican who voted to convict Trump, has said he opposes the House bill. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called the House bill a “slanted and unbalanced position” last week, setting the course for most Republicans in his conference.