Texas Tribune
WASHINGTON — Despite high hopes and desperate pleas from Texas Democrats, the U.S. Senate failed to move federal voting rights legislation before leaving for summer recess. And it was a Texas Republican – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz – who blocked the last attempt to vote on a bill before the Senate left town.
During that overnight final session, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-New York, requested unanimous consent from the Senate to immediately consider the For the People Act, a sweeping overhaul of federal elections that would preempt attempts from states to restrict voting access, would overhaul campaign finance laws and would end congressional gerrymandering, among other provisions.
Only one senator is needed to block a unanimous consent request – a procedural move typically reserved for items that aren’t controversial – and Cruz jumped at the opportunity.
“This bill would constitute a federal government takeover of elections.... It would strike down virtually every reasonable voter integrity law in the country,” Cruz said.
Schumer proposed unanimous consent for two more proposals that would address redistricting and campaign finance, and Cruz also objected to those as motions.
The great hope among many of the more than 50 Texas Democrats who had decamped to the nation’s capital this summer was that the U.S. Senate would make tangible progress toward a federal voting rights bill before Congress’ annual August recess period. The Texas Democrats, who busted the state Legislature’s quorum to block GOP voting legislation for the past month, pinned their hopes on Congress because they are the minority party in all branches of state government.
Few Capitol Hill observers anticipated the Senate would vote on a voting access bill this week, and Schumer’s motions were perceived as a symbolic nod to voting rights groups.
This quiet period comes as some Texas state House Democrats remain in Washington. The once-bustling city that allowed them to hobnob with and lobby the nation’s most powerful leaders is now a legislative ghost town. Earlier in the summer, Texas Democrats met with pivotal senators, congressional leaders and Vice President Kamala Harris. As of Wednesday, they had yet to meet with President Joe Biden.
Capitol Hill leaders are still expected to address voting rights legislation when the Congress returns after Labor Day, and there is some speculation the U.S. House may return to Washington earlier than planned, in late August. For now, the Senate is expected to return in mid-September.
Chances are slim that the For The People Act will pass the Senate in its current form. But there remains hope among some Texas and Capitol Hill Democrats that a scaled-back bill might have a shot at becoming law.
During that overnight final session, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-New York, requested unanimous consent from the Senate to immediately consider the For the People Act, a sweeping overhaul of federal elections that would preempt attempts from states to restrict voting access, would overhaul campaign finance laws and would end congressional gerrymandering, among other provisions.
Only one senator is needed to block a unanimous consent request – a procedural move typically reserved for items that aren’t controversial – and Cruz jumped at the opportunity.
“This bill would constitute a federal government takeover of elections.... It would strike down virtually every reasonable voter integrity law in the country,” Cruz said.
Schumer proposed unanimous consent for two more proposals that would address redistricting and campaign finance, and Cruz also objected to those as motions.
The great hope among many of the more than 50 Texas Democrats who had decamped to the nation’s capital this summer was that the U.S. Senate would make tangible progress toward a federal voting rights bill before Congress’ annual August recess period. The Texas Democrats, who busted the state Legislature’s quorum to block GOP voting legislation for the past month, pinned their hopes on Congress because they are the minority party in all branches of state government.
Few Capitol Hill observers anticipated the Senate would vote on a voting access bill this week, and Schumer’s motions were perceived as a symbolic nod to voting rights groups.
This quiet period comes as some Texas state House Democrats remain in Washington. The once-bustling city that allowed them to hobnob with and lobby the nation’s most powerful leaders is now a legislative ghost town. Earlier in the summer, Texas Democrats met with pivotal senators, congressional leaders and Vice President Kamala Harris. As of Wednesday, they had yet to meet with President Joe Biden.
Capitol Hill leaders are still expected to address voting rights legislation when the Congress returns after Labor Day, and there is some speculation the U.S. House may return to Washington earlier than planned, in late August. For now, the Senate is expected to return in mid-September.
Chances are slim that the For The People Act will pass the Senate in its current form. But there remains hope among some Texas and Capitol Hill Democrats that a scaled-back bill might have a shot at becoming law.
16 comments:
Thank you Senator Ted Cruz.
Portland protests see clashes between far-right, far-left groups
Its becoming more common
After 10 days of sulking over being called the writer of middle School term papers, Blogger Diego "True Wimp" Garcia, III today posted the shallowest of stories on Elon Musk. What an amateurish name-dropper.
True Wimp Diego, who bears some resemblance to Da Blimp, needs to find another calling, like maybe working at a Stripes. ðŸŒðŸŒðŸŒ
He's no newsman; he's no writer (same scribbler as Jim "Manteca" Barton).
Filemon Vela is not running for re-election. 1/5 is Eddie Lucio lol district. Bozo Lucio was part of the redistricting. That was his campaign to get re-elected.
Eddie Lucio lol running for us senate. Thanks to bozo daddy redistricting ghost towns for eddie munster lol Lucio. Don't worry you spent 20 times more on your re-election 700,000.00 dollars compared to Erin Gamez 60,000.00. That makes Lucio a loser, suck ass punk munster.
They are all a bunch of ghost towns for Eddie Lucio lol to run for US Senate. No different than his district 38.
Oh get over it! I bet if the democrats had done this, it'd be okay!
Africanized chicanos just want to be second class to blacks.
So it is ok to dilute Republican Voters but not ok to dilute Democratic voters. Democrat Filemon Vela sees the Red Wave coming and is bowing out after his lackluster performance as our US Cogressman. F.V. will most likely go back to being Republican and live comfortably in Corpus Christi, Texas.
I disagree with you 99.9% of the time. But in this case, I'm with you. Gerrymandering is a corrupt bunch of BS.
Cubanos llorones y mamones todos...
Damn the Brownsville City Commissioner's still don't see what is happening at the Brownsville Police Department. FELIX "El Chapo" Sauceda-Bernal has No Clue WTF he is doing..The guy is so clueless he has allowed his Life Partner El Rata Bernal to run the Police Department..
With Criminal Indictments falling left and Right for Officers and one coming for El Chapo Sauceda-Bernal. Chief Sauceda- Bernal has made the Police Department and extremely Hostile work environment.
#worstchiefever...
If it weren't for the politiqueras and voter fraud, the valley would never have had these shit ass Democrats who aren't even Democrats. They aren't even Republicans, corrupt votes for sale to lobbyists. How does one even put together 700K to run a race when you live in one of the poorest areas of the country? Clearly the money did not come from the constituents here.
I HOPE THAT THIS 'FOR THE PEOPLE ACT' FAILS IN ALL ASSPECTS IN WASHINGTON DC...DEMOCRATS ARE SCARED THAT THIS IS THE END TO THEIR CONTROL OF PEOPLE!!!! REPUBLICANS WILL RETAKE THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE PRESIDENCY IN 2022 AND IN 2024 BECAUSE OF ALL OF DEBACLES THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE CAUSED TO MAKE AMERICA BAD AGAIN JUST LIKE JIMMY CARTER DID IN THE 70S!!!!
I AM A CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT AND I AM ASHAME IN WHAT DIRECTION THIS COUNTRY IS HEADING UNDER DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP HERE IN THIS STATE AND IN WASHINTON....
August 25, 2021 at 10:04 AM
idiota.
Pendejo eating some ropa vieja free of course
August 23, 2021 at 8:30 PM
Red wave? you mean red ass pendejo trump lost or did you forget idiota!
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