Umair, I used to think the Democrats were the opposition party until the parliamentarian said they couldn't include a minimum wage increase with budget reconciliation. Then I read that Kamala Harris COULD HAVE overridden the parliamentarian but didn't. Why not? Because the Democrats don't WANT to raise the minimum wage. The Republicans usually give them cover for this type of thing, but in this case it was obvious that the party CHOSE to not include the minimum wage increase because they (or their donors) really don't want it. So that could be the reason the filibuster is still available to the Republicans -- so the Democrats can avoid passing progressive legislation and have someone to blame other than themselves.