U.S. Senate Democrats set to advance partisan election law changes
After a long day of sometimes rancorous debate between Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, the deep divisions were evident by the panel s 9-9 vote on approval. No Republican voted yes.
Written By:
Richard Cowan / Reuters | 6:40 pm, May 11, 2021 ×
Voting rights activists gather during a protest against Texas legislators who are advancing a slew of new voting restrictions in Austin, Texas, on May 8, 2021. REUTERS/Mikala Compton/File Photo
WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday pushed forward sweeping legislation on political campaigns and elections they argued would expand access to voting, even as Republican-controlled states rushed to impose new restrictions.
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Just a month ago it seemed that Joe Bidenâs remaining legislative agenda was dead.
Sure, he passed a massive COVID stimulus bill, but any goal that came after seemed logistically impossible. He needed Republican support, particularly in the Senate, to move on a bunch of items that were important to him and his Democratic supporters. The problem: no Republican appeared ready to agree to anything.
After all, none had even voted for the COVID relief bill, which polls said at the time was very popular.
The lack of Republican support was a critical problem given that while Democrats do control both the House and the Senate, it is by the slimmest margins in decades.
U.S. Senate Democrats, Republicans clash over election law changes
By Richard Cowan
Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A battle over U.S. political campaigns and elections erupted in the Senate on Tuesday as Democrats tried to advance a sweeping bill they argued would expand access to voting, even as Republican-controlled states rushed to impose new restrictions.
The Senate Rules and Administration Committee braced for a day-long fight over an 886-page bill written by Democrats, with the input of some state elections officials.
Among its provisions are requirements that states expand mail-in voting that was used widely in last year s presidential election because of the coronavirus pandemic. It also would lengthen the hours of in-person balloting.
By Syndicated Content
By Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) â Democrats who narrowly control the U.S. Congress will confront twin threats to advancing President Joe Bidenâs agenda as they return to Washington from a break this week: United opposition from Republicans and bickering in their own ranks.
They need near-total unity on goals and tactics to advance Bidenâs proposed $4 trillion in spending packages, after passing a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief measure in March with a maneuver that skirted Senate rules requiring a supermajority for most legislation.
An expanded child tax credit, which passed as part of that package, is one issue that could fracture their tight 218-212 majority in the House of Representatives and shakier 50-50 split in the Senate, where Vice President Kamala Harris holds the tie-breaking vote.