Imagine legal abortions through all nine months of pregnancy paid for by the federal government, nationwide gender-neutral bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers, a “progressive” climate policy that could cripple our economy, and a trampling of religious freedom protections. All these policies could become a reality in 2021, as Democrat leaders are devising a plan to eliminate the Senate filibuster if they take control of the White House and the Senate.

United States senators have the ability for unlimited debate on a bill, and when debate is used to block or delay a vote it’s known as a filibuster. Filibustering has been around since the early days of Congress — however, back in 1917, the Senate passed a rule that allowed a two-thirds majority vote to end debate. Decades later, in 1975, they amended that rule even further to make the threshold for ending debate at 60 votes. This current Senate rule, which requires 60 votes to end debate on a bill and move it forward to a vote, is what slows the legislative process down and requires a greater consensus among Congress to be able to pass legislation.

Since the Senate filibuster is the only thing standing in the way of passing a radical progressive agenda, Democrat leaders have apparently set up a “war-room” to eliminate this procedural hurdle if they retake control of the chamber. This coalition, working under the name Fix Our Senate, is made up of former Senate Democrat staff, liberal policy groups, and even Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who is working inside the Senate to convince his colleagues of the benefits of removing the filibuster. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who is facing increasing pressure to push a progressive agenda if his party takes back control of the Senate, said, “We have a moral imperative to the people of America to get a whole lot done if we get the majority, which God willing we will, and keep it in the House, and Biden becomes president, and nothing is off the table. We will do what it takes to get this done.” If the laws that have governed our country for centuries are so easily ignored by mayors and rioters destroying cities across America, then a longstanding Senate precedent will stand no match against the politicians that support them.

The cordial and deliberate nature of the Senate, with its rules protecting against dramatic policy changes, could all be gone as soon as next year. The ability for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Republicans to stop a potential Biden administration from passing the Equality Act or the Green New Deal would essentially be gone if Democrats take back the Senate and vote to remove the filibuster. This plan being devised by Democrat strategists to radically shape our country is unlike anything we have ever seen before. At stake in this election is not just the difference of a few executive actions or policy preferences but rather the difference between a country in which all human life is valued, families flourish, and religious liberty thrives or one that seeks to destroy innocent life, undermine families, and is hostile towards religion.

Originally published here.

This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.