THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT CANNOT SOLVE THE GOP’S ASSAULT ON VOTING
Manchin is reportedly working with Susan Collins on a bill that would strengthen the Electoral Count Act of 1887, correcting some of the flaws that nearly upended the Jan. 6 certification. While strengthening the Act is necessary, it doesn’t address the need that millions of people will be denied the vote in 2022. We need voting protections and must keep up this fight.
FRIDAY RECAP: January 21, 2022
Two days ago all 50 Senate Republicans and 2 Democrats refused to modify the filibuster and allow a vote on pending voting rights legislation. Afterwards, Senator Warnock stressed that, despite this major loss, “we cannot turn away. This will not be the last opportunity we get to fight for voting rights. We will meet the moment again, to try again. And again. Until we succeed”—making it more important than ever to keep reminding our Members of Congress that they cannot give up this fight.
DISQUALIFYING INSURRECTIONISTS FROM SERVING IN CONGRESS
The January 6 Commission, the Justice Department, and others are finding damning evidence of government officials and some candidates who aided the Trump coup attempt. The 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause prohibits people who’ve engaged in an insurrection against the United States from running for public office. Let’s use it.
VALUABLE LESSONS FROM THE FAILINGS OF THE SENATE
Senate Republicans and at least two Democrats are reportedly ready to kill voter protection laws. Denying the vote to people who would vote against them is part of the Republican war on our government. If the bills do indeed fail, it will deliver hard but essential lessons for the fight ahead.
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY AT HOME AND ABROAD
We are experiencing many of the same problems as those countries whose democratic institutions are withering away or have died. We must impress on Congress and President Biden the need to act quickly and decisively to reverse our slide into authoritarianism before it is too late.
FRIDAY RECAP: January 14, 2022
Democrats will be using a bicameral bill about NASA also containing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, that passed the House yesterday, to begin debating these voting rights acts with only a simple majority.
The first debate this Congresswill begin next week, culminating in a motion to end debate, which Republicans will filibuster. Dems will then try to modify the filibuster to allow for an up-or-down vote.
This is the closest to passage we’ve come, making it imperative that we continue calling.
WEST VIRGINIANS SUFFER AS MANCHIN PANDERS TO HIS DONORS
Democrat Joe Manchin is certainly not working for his voters. And in state after state, people of goodwill will find it impossible to get elected because the MAGA mobs have used the “Big Lie” to get GOP legislatures to pass laws to decide who can vote and who can win. We can negate these laws with Senate passage of pending voting rights legislation.
ENSHRINING THE RIGHT TO VOTE DETERMINES OUR COUNTRY’S DESTINY
While Biden has appointed great judges to the lower federal courts, the voters who made Trump president by staying home in 2016 allowed him to tilt the courts far to the right. These judges, especially the six ultra-conservative Supreme Court Justices, are sabotaging Biden’s agenda, intent on killing “the administrative state” and destroying our democracy. To stop this power grab requires protecting voting rights.
BIDEN BETS HIS PRESIDENCY ON DEFENDING ELECTIONS
States have enacted 33 laws designed to block likely Democrats from the ballot box. Biden is pulling all levers of his office to override these laws. Also, Senate Leader Schumer has pledged to defang the Republican nuke, the filibuster loophole, allowing votes on two bills to protect the will of the majority through fair elections.
FRIDAY RECAP: January 7, 2022
On the anniversary of the January 6 insurrection President Biden acknowledged our democracy’s in peril and called for Senate action on voting rights. Senators Wyden and Merkley also spoke forcefully of the urgent need to pass these bills, which Majority Leader Schumer’s again vowed to bring up for a Senate vote. To ensure this happens, we must keep calling daily.
Protecting our democracy also requires removal of those members who assisted the insurrection.
THE WAR ON OUR COUNTRY CONTINUES, SO FIGHT BACK
The MAGA militants, including many leading Republicans, are waging a slow-motion war against our country, weaponizing lies about vaccines and elections, inciting right-wing violence, and attacking our elections and even school boards, so they can rule for the wealthy and powerful few. You can help stop them.
COVID DISINFORMATION RADICALIZES TRUSTING PEOPLE
Covid can, and is being tamed. But not here in the US. Why? Because millions of Americans have been ruthlessly misled by people they trust, whose priority is not protecting lives. Republican politicians are driving this misinformation campaign, and it’s their constituents who are paying the highest price.
SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY MUST BE CONGRESS’ FOCUS
“Democracy is most likely to break down through a series of incremental actions that cumulatively undermine the electoral process, resulting in a presidential election that produces an outcome clearly at odds with the voters’ will. It is this comparatively quiet but steady subversion, rather than a violent coup or insurrection against a sitting president, that Americans today have to fear most.” Washington Post, Dec. 10, 2021.
Don't Privatize Medicare!
“Democracy is most likely to break down through a series of incremental actions that cumulatively undermine the electoral process, resulting in a presidential election that produces an outcome clearly at odds with the voters’ will. It is this comparatively quiet but steady subversion, rather than a violent coup or insurrection against a sitting president, that Americans today have to fear most.” Washington Post
“NO CHILD IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD SHOULD FACE HUNGER” –Rep. Ilhan Omar
The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 addresses US food insecurity by ensuring that all school children receive free meals regardless of income. It expands U.S. food programs and makes successful plans permanent.