Lawmakers Respond To Democracy Spring Protests With Call For Democracy Hearings
Almost 100 lawmakers are asking for hearings on five bills.
WASHINGTON — The recent Democracy Spring protests in which 1,400 activists were arrested this month have prompted nearly 100 members of Congress to call for hearings on voting rights and campaign finance reform legislation.
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), a leading proponent of campaign finance reform in Congress, organized fellow Democratic lawmakers to send a letter to the Committee on House Administration and to the House Judiciary Committee, asking them to hold hearings on five pieces of legislation: the Voter Empowerment Act, Government By The People Act, Democracy for All Amendment, Automatic Voter Registration Act and Voting Rights Advancement Act. The measures are intended to create a public financing system for congressional elections, overturn Citizens United v. FEC and other campaign finance-related court decisions, and expand voting rights.
In recent years, Republicans have staunchly opposed campaign finance reform. They have also advanced legislation at the state level to make voting more difficult while refusing to update the 1965 Voting Rights Act after it was gutted by the conservative Supreme Court majority in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision.
Lawmakers Respond To Democracy Spring Protests With Call For Democracy Hearings
Watching US politics from Canada.
Almost 100 lawmakers are asking for hearings on five bills.
WASHINGTON — The recent Democracy Spring protests in which 1,400 activists were arrested this month have prompted nearly 100 members of Congress to call for hearings on voting rights and campaign finance reform legislation.
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), a leading proponent of campaign finance reform in Congress, organized fellow Democratic lawmakers to send a letter to the Committee on House Administration and to the House Judiciary Committee, asking them to hold hearings on five pieces of legislation: the Voter Empowerment Act, Government By The People Act, Democracy for All Amendment, Automatic Voter Registration Act and Voting Rights Advancement Act. The measures are intended to create a public financing system for congressional elections, overturn Citizens United v. FEC and other campaign finance-related court decisions, and expand voting rights.
In recent years, Republicans have staunchly opposed campaign finance reform. They have also advanced legislation at the state level to make voting more difficult while refusing to update the 1965 Voting Rights Act after it was gutted by the conservative Supreme Court majority in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision.
Lawmakers Respond To Democracy Spring Protests With Call For Democracy Hearings
Watching US politics from Canada.