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Some Republican state officials already are using Trump's Big Lie as cover to pursue new laws to make it harder to vote--in other words, new voter suppression laws. (Photo: PRE-COVID/Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Republican State Officials Are Already Using Trump's Big Lie as Cover To Pursue New Laws To Make It Harder To Vote
Congress must move quickly to enact H.R. 1, the For The People Act, and H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Jan 14, 2021
There are two new Republican Members in the House--Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO) and Rep. Madison Cawthorn (NC)--who insist on being able to carry guns in the Capitol complex.
There is a new QAnon-enthralled Republican Member, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), who said "On January 21, 2021, I'll be filing Articles of Impeachment against Joe Biden for abuse of power."
In six days we will be rid of the worst, most dangerous, and most unhinged President in our nation's history. But, that will not end the extraordinary damage Trump has done to the country.
The Capitol and surrounding areas will be filled with 20,000 National Guard soldiers for the Biden Inauguration. Soldiers are sleeping on the floors of the Capitol building for the first time since the Civil War.
In six days we will be rid of the worst, most dangerous, and most unhinged President in our nation's history. But, that will not end the extraordinary damage Trump has done to the country.
This starts with the seditious invasion and desecration of the Capitol by an insurrectionist mob created and incited by President Trump, for which he was impeached yesterday.
Also at the top of the list is Trump's grossly incompetent mishandling of the federal government's response to the coronavirus, which has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the country. As President, Joe Biden will deal with the coronavirus and its aftermath as his top priority.
Among other fundamental problems Trump has caused is the grave damage he has done to our democracy and the legitimacy of our elections, Trump has conned tens of millions of Americans into believing, through his blatantly false claims and lies, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him through massive voter fraud.
Some Republican state officials already are using Trump's Big Lie as cover to pursue new laws to make it harder to vote--in other words, new voter suppression laws.
That is why Congress must move quickly to enact H.R. 1, the For The People Act, and H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
H.R. 1 incorporates the comprehensive voting rights reform legislation that the late iconic Rep. John Lewis began introducing in 2012. H.R. 1 is ready to go to the floor now for a House vote. (H.R. 4 will take more time in Congress because of the need to build an evidentiary record to overcome the Shelby County Supreme Court decision.)
Hearings were held on H.R. 1 in the last Congress and the legislation passed by a 234-193 vote. H.R. 1 in this Congress is basically the same bill as in the last Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has labeled H.R. 1 a top priority for quick action in 2021.
Congress must move H.R. 1 fast if its provisions to ensure every eligible voter can vote and to protect the integrity of our election process are to be in place for the 2022 elections.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Fred Wertheimer
Fred Wertheimer is the founder and president of Democracy 21, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that seeks to promote government accountability and integrity.
authoritarianismdemocratic partyjan 6 insurrectionmarjorie taylor greenepoliticsqanonrepublican partytrumpismus congressvoting rights
There are two new Republican Members in the House--Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO) and Rep. Madison Cawthorn (NC)--who insist on being able to carry guns in the Capitol complex.
There is a new QAnon-enthralled Republican Member, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), who said "On January 21, 2021, I'll be filing Articles of Impeachment against Joe Biden for abuse of power."
In six days we will be rid of the worst, most dangerous, and most unhinged President in our nation's history. But, that will not end the extraordinary damage Trump has done to the country.
The Capitol and surrounding areas will be filled with 20,000 National Guard soldiers for the Biden Inauguration. Soldiers are sleeping on the floors of the Capitol building for the first time since the Civil War.
In six days we will be rid of the worst, most dangerous, and most unhinged President in our nation's history. But, that will not end the extraordinary damage Trump has done to the country.
This starts with the seditious invasion and desecration of the Capitol by an insurrectionist mob created and incited by President Trump, for which he was impeached yesterday.
Also at the top of the list is Trump's grossly incompetent mishandling of the federal government's response to the coronavirus, which has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the country. As President, Joe Biden will deal with the coronavirus and its aftermath as his top priority.
Among other fundamental problems Trump has caused is the grave damage he has done to our democracy and the legitimacy of our elections, Trump has conned tens of millions of Americans into believing, through his blatantly false claims and lies, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him through massive voter fraud.
Some Republican state officials already are using Trump's Big Lie as cover to pursue new laws to make it harder to vote--in other words, new voter suppression laws.
That is why Congress must move quickly to enact H.R. 1, the For The People Act, and H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
H.R. 1 incorporates the comprehensive voting rights reform legislation that the late iconic Rep. John Lewis began introducing in 2012. H.R. 1 is ready to go to the floor now for a House vote. (H.R. 4 will take more time in Congress because of the need to build an evidentiary record to overcome the Shelby County Supreme Court decision.)
Hearings were held on H.R. 1 in the last Congress and the legislation passed by a 234-193 vote. H.R. 1 in this Congress is basically the same bill as in the last Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has labeled H.R. 1 a top priority for quick action in 2021.
Congress must move H.R. 1 fast if its provisions to ensure every eligible voter can vote and to protect the integrity of our election process are to be in place for the 2022 elections.
Fred Wertheimer
Fred Wertheimer is the founder and president of Democracy 21, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that seeks to promote government accountability and integrity.
There are two new Republican Members in the House--Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO) and Rep. Madison Cawthorn (NC)--who insist on being able to carry guns in the Capitol complex.
There is a new QAnon-enthralled Republican Member, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), who said "On January 21, 2021, I'll be filing Articles of Impeachment against Joe Biden for abuse of power."
In six days we will be rid of the worst, most dangerous, and most unhinged President in our nation's history. But, that will not end the extraordinary damage Trump has done to the country.
The Capitol and surrounding areas will be filled with 20,000 National Guard soldiers for the Biden Inauguration. Soldiers are sleeping on the floors of the Capitol building for the first time since the Civil War.
In six days we will be rid of the worst, most dangerous, and most unhinged President in our nation's history. But, that will not end the extraordinary damage Trump has done to the country.
This starts with the seditious invasion and desecration of the Capitol by an insurrectionist mob created and incited by President Trump, for which he was impeached yesterday.
Also at the top of the list is Trump's grossly incompetent mishandling of the federal government's response to the coronavirus, which has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths in the country. As President, Joe Biden will deal with the coronavirus and its aftermath as his top priority.
Among other fundamental problems Trump has caused is the grave damage he has done to our democracy and the legitimacy of our elections, Trump has conned tens of millions of Americans into believing, through his blatantly false claims and lies, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him through massive voter fraud.
Some Republican state officials already are using Trump's Big Lie as cover to pursue new laws to make it harder to vote--in other words, new voter suppression laws.
That is why Congress must move quickly to enact H.R. 1, the For The People Act, and H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
H.R. 1 incorporates the comprehensive voting rights reform legislation that the late iconic Rep. John Lewis began introducing in 2012. H.R. 1 is ready to go to the floor now for a House vote. (H.R. 4 will take more time in Congress because of the need to build an evidentiary record to overcome the Shelby County Supreme Court decision.)
Hearings were held on H.R. 1 in the last Congress and the legislation passed by a 234-193 vote. H.R. 1 in this Congress is basically the same bill as in the last Congress and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has labeled H.R. 1 a top priority for quick action in 2021.
Congress must move H.R. 1 fast if its provisions to ensure every eligible voter can vote and to protect the integrity of our election process are to be in place for the 2022 elections.
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