Former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) on Sunday said it was time to “stand up” to Senate Republicans who seek to abolish the filibuster.

The filibuster, unique to the Senate, is more than 200 years old. The rule allows for debate until 60 votes are gathered to invoke cloture and end debate, a high bar when neither party controls 60 seats.

“I’ve always been independent. But now, stand up. You need at least 10 or at least five Democrats right now to sign a pledge that we will not, absolutely under no way, shape or form, will we vote to get rid [of the filibuster],” Manchin said during an appearance on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.”

Manchin said nixing the filibuster would “kill the soul” of the Senate, diminish the government’s global reputation and make the upper chamber a “flip-flop glorified House” that changes every two years.

The former West Virginia senator argued the filibuster “protects” the minority party and works against passing bills without bipartisanship.

“It gives the minority a chance to participate. That’s all to hear from the minority, which makes us the most deliberate, unusual body in the world, because when we pass legislation, Chris, it’s hard. It’s even harder to get rid of it,” Manchin told host Chris Stirewalt.

“So, the bottom line is we have stability. We have predictability in the world,” he added.

Senators have reconsidered the usefulness of the filibuster in recent weeks as GOP lawmakers work to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act ahead of midterm elections.

House Republicans have urged their counterparts in the upper chamber to use a “talking filibuster” to get the bill over the line. The measure would require Democrats to hold the floor physically to block the SAVE America Act from passing.

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