Tag: For the People Act

Sen. Klobuchar Statement on the For the People Act

Klobuchar Banner


WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) issued the following statement on the For the People Act:

“While I am disappointed by Senator Manchin’s announcement, I will not give up the fight for voting rights reform. The For the People Act includes many broadly popular provisions that both Democrats and Republicans across the country support, including setting basic national standards to make sure all Americans can vote in the way that works best for them. This fight is not over, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to get critical voting, ethics, and campaign finance reforms passed in the Senate.”

Manchin to vote against election overhaul bill

The Hill logo

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he will vote against a sweeping bill to overhaul elections, dubbed the For the People Act, putting the fate of the legislation in jeopardy in the evenly split Senate.

In an op-ed published early Sunday morning in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Manchin, one of the Senate Democratic Conference’s most conservative members, zeroed in on the partisan nature of the legislation, which has not attracted any Republican support.

“I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening blinds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For The People Act,” Manchin wrote. Continue reading.

Senate panel deadlocks in vote on sweeping elections bill

The Hill logo

A key Senate panel deadlocked Tuesday on sweeping Democratic legislation to overhaul elections after an hours-long, often heated debate.

The Senate Rules Committee evenly split 9-9 on the For the People Act, the top legislative priority for Democrats heading into the 2022 election.

Though the tie means Democrats aren’t able to formally advance the bill to the floor, that won’t stop the party from moving forward with it. Continue reading.

Top Dem lawyer blasts CBS News: ‘Do you really need to both-sides democracy?’

AlterNet Logo

Attorney Marc Elias, who coordinates Democratic Party lawsuits to protect voting rights, blasted CBS News on Saturday. 

“Senate committee to hold markup on controversial voting bill,” read a headline by CBS News.

“The Senate Rules Committee will hold a markup Tuesday of the For the People Act, a massive voting and elections bill. Democrats claim the bill is necessary to counter new voting restrictions being considered by multiple states, while Republicans decry it as federal overreach,” reported Grace Segers Continue reading.

New poll confirms the GOP’s fears on voting rights

AlterNet Logo

Zero GOP lawmakers have backed the For the People Act, congressional Democrats’ comprehensive plan to strengthen U.S. democracy by making it easier to vote, curbing partisan gerrymandering, and limiting the influence of money in politics.

Republican voters, however, support many of the proposals in the 800-page bill, according to a new poll released Monday.

The survey (pdf) of 1,138 likely voters across the country—conducted from April 16 to April 19 by Data for Progress on behalf of Vox—found that, when presented without partisan cues, the voting rights and election reform bill is popular with voters across party lines. Overall, 69% of the electorate supports the For the People Act, including 52% of Republicans, 70% of Independents, and 85% of Democrats. Continue reading.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar faces down GOP barrage on voting rights act

Star Tribune logo

Republicans decry “false narrative” in push to guarantee ballot access. 

WASHINGTON – The debate over a massive federal voting rights act erupted in tense exchanges Wednesday as Sen. Amy Klobuchar faced withering GOP criticism that the changes would cause chaos and undermine states’ rights.

The Minnesota Democrat, a lead sponsor of the For the People Act, said at a hearing of the Rules Committee she chairs that the measure is essential as GOP legislators in states across the country have drafted more than 250 measures to restrict voting access. She pointed to the chaos of hourslong waits at polling places, new limitations on early voting and new restrictions on who can cast mail-in ballots.

“The bill simply tries to make it easier to vote,” Klobuchar said. “The For the People Act is the best chance to stop the rollback of voting rights.” Continue reading.

Momentum Grows for Bold Democracy Reform

Center for American Progress logo

The For the People Act Is Poised To Become Law in 2021

The United States is the world’s oldest democracy. However, as President Joe Biden noted in his inaugural address, democracy itself is precious and fragile.1 The nation recently witnessed a deadly insurrection designed to stop the peaceful transition of presidential power, built on months of rampant disinformation about the election results. These challenges were compounded by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustices aimed at Black Americans, rampant voter suppression, and a second impeachment of former President Donald Trump. In order to avoid a downward spiral into a political system unable to fairly represent the views of its citizens, far-reaching structural reforms are immediately needed to protect our democracy.

Recognizing that democracy reform is a foundational issue, the Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are prioritizing passage of the For the People Act of 2021 (H.R. 1/S. 1), arguably the most consequential people-empowering legislation since the Civil Rights Act of 1965.2 Not only would this sweeping set of structural solutions help Americans build trust in government, it would produce long-lasting change so that everyone, including Black and brown communities, has a meaningful shot at achieving the American dream.

Background on the For the People Act

In March 2019, the House passed the For the People Act before then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blocked the legislation in the Senate.3 In the following two years, the imperative for democracy reform has only grown. Continue reading.

Phillips, Freshman Dems Call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to Hold a Vote on Historic Government Reform Bill

The For The People Act, the first bill Rep. Phillips co-sponsored in Congress, reduces the power of special interests and secures our elections from foreign influence

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03)  joined fellow freshman Democrats who helped lead the charge to prioritize and pass the For The People Act to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow debate and an up or down on the floor of the Senate.

“Leader McConnell stands in the way of ending the era of bought and sold politicians,”said Rep. Phillips. “Refusing to even hold a vote on the For The People Act keeps our government in the pocket of special interests and keeps our elections open to foreign attacks. It’s wrong, it’s dangerous, and it should concern every single American. It’s time for McConnell to put country over party and bring H.R.1 to the floor.”

You can video of the full press conference HERE. Continue reading “Phillips, Freshman Dems Call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to Hold a Vote on Historic Government Reform Bill”

Five things to know about Democrats’ sweeping election reform bill

House Democrats approved on Friday a sweeping elections reform measure that would reshape campaign finance rules, impose new voter registration requirements and compel presidential candidates to release their personal tax returns.

The legislation, H.R. 1, is in many ways a direct response to what Democrats have alleged is potential impropriety on the part of President Trump and his 2016 White House campaign.

But the bill, which spans nearly 700 pages, also has the potential to reshape voting, campaigning and government ethics.

View the complete March 8 article by Max Greenwood on The Hill website here.