For the second time, Republicans in the United States Senate have used the filibuster to block a bill to restore parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act gutted by the Supreme Court eight years ago. On Wednesday, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski was the sole Republican to join 49 members of the Democratic Caucus voting in favor of opening debate on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The 50-49 majority was not enough to overcome the 60 votes needed to break a Republican filibuster.