It didn’t take long for a supposedly bipartisan compromise on voting rights legislation that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is floating to get dumped on by a key Republican.
Utterly disgusting that getting back to 2006 is considered “radical” by Republicans. Ironically, they are far from the “Radical Republicans” of Lincoln’s day.
Hopefully Manchin is beginning to realize that the Rethugs have absolutely no interest in being bipartisan. None whatsoever! And it is high time that Joe get with the Democratic game-plan so that some progress can be effected.
Just one time, I would like to see Manchin use his voting power against the Republicans. Just tell Cornyn that there’d better be 10 Republican votes for this or Manchin is going to nuke the filibuster.
“It didn’t take long for a supposedly bipartisan compromise on voting rights legislation that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is floating to get dumped on by a key Republican.”
There’s an old saying about negotiating with terrorists…
“I have it on good authority that Ms. Clarke will try to approve election policy changes that guarantee fair access and voting, a concept myself and my Republican colleagues cannot abide.”
Mitch’s position is predictable and Manchin knows (or should’ve known) this. Mitch will not offer 10 GOP votes for anything to break a filibuster. McConnell seems deathly scared that Manchin will, in fact, break the filibuster to support top Dem priorities as set by the Majority Leader. The fact that Manchin floated John Lewis VRAA suggests that he would be willing to break the filibuster to get it passed, as there’s no way that bill can come to the floor otherwise. I could concoct an argument to put S1 through reconciliation or as an amendment to a budget bill. I don’t think such an argument exists for the John Lewis VRAA.
Mitch is telling Manchin that he either folds on his filibuster principles to support his party or he becomes the person responsible for stopping the Dem agenda. It’s not being done from a position of strength, but he’s trolling Manchin. It’s an empty threat, imho.
Manchin is an underdog for re-election in 2024 with or without S1. S1 is popular so he might as well support it. WV folks won’t care about the intricacies of the filibuster. Manchin did not support changing the filibuster rule in 2013 and 2017 to confirm judges/SCOTUS justices. However, his vote wasn’t required to get those changes passed. His vote is required here. Party guys tend to give votes for the party on big priorities. Schumer has made this a big priority, so I think there will likely be an intra-party negotiation on S1. McConnell’s fear is that if Manchin is willing to pas JLVRAA, Dems can push him to go for the whole enchilada with S1. Here’s my proposed compromise:
Add John Lewis VRAA to a greatest hits package of S1. JLVRAA only works if you have a Dem DOJ and cooperative courts. You really need S1 to make real reforms and to limit the ability of states to arbitrarily change rules on voters after every election.
The greatest hits from S1 imho are: VBM, in person EV, election security, streamlining and limiting voter eligibility requirements and practices like vote caging/purging.
I don’t rank gerrymandering as a high priority item because John Lewis VRAA can take care of that and Dems really aren’t at a big risk in this decade thanks to court rulings in PA/NC/VA and a redistricting commission in MI.
I would also add to the bill a phased in voter ID requirement. That would kill the GOP and protect red state Dems.
So this claim of “federalizing elections is BS”. The Constitution sets the date, sets the requirements of who can run for federal office, and that the Electoral College votes for President. There’s the 15th Amendment, to the Constitution, which is rules of the Federal Government.
Not having read the John Lewis Voting Rights Act does expand or contract how states can run the elections? Am I being too literal in the Republican objections?