Photographer: Alex Brandon / AP
Photographer: Alex Brandon / AP
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said any voting rights legislation must be bipartisan to be accepted as legitimate by U.S. voters, complicating the road to passing a bill that is one of the top goals of Democratic leaders. but who opposes the Republicans.
The issue is S. 1, the Senate’s counterpart to a House-approved bill, which Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said is crucial to countering Republic-led efforts to establish new limits on voter access.
While some Democrats say the Senate bill is so essential to American democracy that they are willing to force it to vote on the party line, Manchin said any revision of election laws would be it should be limited to what at least some Republicans also support.
“We shouldn’t try to do anything to get more distrust and division,” Manchin told reporters Wednesday. “So I think it’s good enough to bring us all together. We should work on that. “
The West Virginia Democrat independent streak poses challenges to Schumer in a 50-50 Senate split between parties as he tries to push through President Joe Biden’s agenda. Manchin has also resisted pressure to end the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to act in most legislations.
Schumer is eying voting rights legislation as a test case of how Republicans will use the filibuster to block democratic priorities. Senator Dick Durbin, Schumer’s deputy chief, has challenged Republicans defending the filibuster to show it can work by voting with Democrats over popular arms and infrastructure control bills among voters.
Read more: Businesses remain silent as GOP-led states rush to restrict voting
Manchin’s bipartisan demand came on the same day that Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared before the S. 1 Rules Committee, which would significantly facilitate voting, limit gerrymandering. of the districts of Congress and would require a third-party political policy. groups to reveal secret donors and review the Federal Electoral Commission, among other changes.
The Democratic-led House passed its version of the bill on March 3 with a 220-210 vote.
Schumer told the voting laws that Republicans proposed in Georgia, Pennsylvania and other states “felt Jim Crow raise his ugly head again.” He said the Senate voting rights bill could counter what he described as threats to democracy.
Speaking later in the Senate Chamber, Schumer hinted at his willingness to challenge Republicans in the filibuster on this measure.
“We will not let this be maintained,” he said about state laws restricting voting rights. “We will not allow this to continue. S. 1 will pass through this body “.
McConnell told the Rules Committee that the bill “is a solution to the problem,” as it comes after an election with record voter turnout. He said Democrats are trying to “rewrite by force” state and local laws with new approaches that give Democratic candidates advantages.
“This legislation is not ready for prime time,” the Kentucky Republican said. “It’s an invitation to chaos.”