Senate Democrats introduce comprehensive election bill that would limit GOP’s efforts to restrict access to the vote

Senate Democrats introduce comprehensive election bill that would limit GOP’s efforts to restrict access to the vote

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The For the People Act, or S1, aims to expand access to suffrage nationwide. Democrats have said the legislation will improve accountability and transparency in Washington, while Republicans have argued that the legislation restricts political speech and is a federal power grab that Democrats are advancing in an effort to gain an advantage in elections.

Although passed in the House, the legislation is likely to hit a roadblock in the Senate, where it is not clear that there will be enough Republican support to overcome a filibuster.

Senate leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that he will bring the Senate version of the For the People Act to the floor after the March 24 hearings. The New York Democrat also limited the GOP’s efforts to restrict access to voting by state legislators. they were similar to the laws of Jim Crow.

“It’s not democracy if you exempt people from Jim Crow laws. It’s not democracy – it’s dictatorship, and that’s where our Republican friends seem to be headed,” he said.

The consideration of the package in Congress comes from the GOP-led state legislators across the country to introduce efforts to restrict voting rights. In February, state legislatures in 43 states introduced more than 250 restrictive bills, according to a version from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.

“If you lose an election, that’s what you’re doing in a democracy, trying to win over the people who did not vote for you, and not prevent them from voting. It’s autocratic, it’s anti-democratic. “It’s anti-American, and it’s nothing but despicable, filthy – and in many cases racist,” Schumer said.

But under current Senate rules, the legislation is unlikely to progress. According to the rules, 60 votes are needed to end the debate or end the ‘filibuster’ of legislation, which gives the Republicans who are now in the minority a powerful tool to block the suffrage measures and other democratic priorities. The chamber has a 50-50 party division with Vice President Kamala Harris in a position to break ties.

President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that he would support bringing back the talk filibuster, which requires a senator who wants to block legislation to keep his word without taking a breather. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has issued a stern warning that Republicans would bring the House to a halt if filibuster rules were changed, leading to a ‘completely scorched earth Senate’.

Schumer challenged Republicans to work with Democrats to support the legislation, warning that “failure is not an option.”

“We will see if our Republican friends join us,” he said. “If they do not join us, our caucus will come together and decide that the appropriate course of action is on the table. Failure is not an option.”

When asked if the filibuster reform would be necessary to pass the bill, Schumer stressed that “everything is on the table.”

The voting rights package is largely the same as the version passed during the last congress. This would prevent states from restricting the ability to vote by mail, and, among other things, require states to use independent redistribution commissions to create district boundaries. The new bill also contains measures to protect against foreign interference in elections.

Progressive groups hope the launch of a new $ 30 million campaign will help persuade senators to pass the legislation.

The plan by End Citizens United / Let America Vote and the National Democratic Redistricting Committee is to spend $ 20 million on a television and digital advertising campaign and $ 10 million on a groundbreaking effort to pass the legislation.

The advertising campaign is expected to initially expand to Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Maine and Pennsylvania, and eventually to 12 to 15 states. The grassroots level is expected to include calls and emails to senators, outreach to local activists and funding for national and state-based partners to mobilize their members.

Adam Bozzi, vice president of communications for End Citizens United / Let America Vote, told CNN earlier this week that the group’s efforts will be aimed at Democrats as well as Republicans, but he reiterates that their ultimate goal is to ensure the bill is passed. , whether or not it provides dual support.

“We’re going to make a comeback with Republicans,” Bozzi said, “but whether it’s with 60 votes or a procedural change, we need to put this bill in a position to pass.”

Sara Murray, Fredreka Schouten, Annie Grayer and Clare Foran of CNN contributed to this report.

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