Democrats close deal with Manchin to get party behind long-running vote review bill

by

The proposal, announced Tuesday by a group of Senate Democrats, comes after his party’s failed effort to open the debate on the issue in June. Although at the time they joined behind the procedural vote, Senate Democrats were not on the same page on politics, starting months of talks to get party factions behind the bill they will propose on Tuesday.
Still, the new proposal will almost certainly not exceed the 60 votes needed to break a Republican-led filibuster. Also, Democrats do not have the votes to change the rules and weaken the filibuster as many in their party want them to do, meaning the plan is expected to stop when the Senate issues a vote next week. of procedure.
The proposal, which will be introduced by Senate Rules Speaker Amy Klobuchar, also has the endorsement of Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat who had been the only member of his caucus to oppose the most deep reform of his party, known as the People’s Act, which passed the House earlier this year.

Other Democratic senators who are sponsors include Mr. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Jon Tester of Montana, Alex Padilla of California and Raphael Warnock, the first year Georgia to face a potentially tough re-election next year. Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who is arguing with Democrats, has also signed the bill known as the Freedom of Voting Act, according to the statement.

The new bill would make it easier to register to vote, turn election day into a holiday, ensure states had early voting for the federal election, and allow all voters to request votes by email. In addition, the measure would strengthen the security of voting systems, review how to redraw House districts, and impose new disclosures on donations to external groups active in political campaigns.

Democrats say legislation is needed to overcome the onslaught of Republican Party state laws to curb access to the vote, an effort they say has intensified following lies pushed by former President Donald Trump that they stole the 2020 election.

“After the 2020 election in which more Americans voted than ever before, we have seen unprecedented attacks on our democracy in states across the country,” Minnesota Democrat Klobuchar said in a statement. “These attacks demand an immediate federal response.”

But Republicans say Democrats’ plans have been a massive partisan of the federal government to tip the scales in the coming races.

Faced with opposition from the Republican Party, the Liberals have pushed Manchin to accept a “cut” and allow a change in Senate rules so that this voting legislation can move forward with a simple majority of 51 votes. But Manchin, along with a handful of other Democrats, has long opposed such a move, worrying that it would lead to a slippery slope and ultimately kill a tool designed to protect the rights of the minority party.

“The filibuster is permanent,” Manchin said Monday.

.Source