I wondered how the anti-democracy party pushed all those voting restriction bills out so quickly

[EleanorR]

In late January, a small group of dedicated volunteers from the conservative Heritage Action for America met with Republican legislators in Georgia, delivering a letter containing detailed proposals for rolling back access to voting. Within days, bills to restrict voting access in Georgia began flooding the Legislature.

Of the 68 bills pertaining to voting, at least 23 had similar language or were firmly rooted in the principles laid out in the Heritage group’s letter and in an extensive report it published two days later, according to a review of the bills by The New York Times.

The alignment was not coincidental. As Republican legislatures across the country seek to usher in a raft of new restrictions on voting, they are being prodded by an array of party leaders and outside groups working to establish a set of guiding principles to the efforts to claw back access to voting.

Heritage, for instance, has claimed credit for a new Arizona law, signed last week by Gov. Doug Ducey, that requires the secretary of state to compare death records with voter registrations. The state representative who sponsored the bill thanked one of the Heritage volunteers in a Facebook post after it passed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/23/us/politics/republican-voter-laws.html

[elleng]

1. They've been prepared for years,

seems to be their motto, at least their 'm o.'

[UpInArms]

2. Of course they did

Where’s ALEC ... they are usually involved in the blanketing of bills

[EleanorR]

3. They are, of course, involved

Heritage, through its politics arm Heritage Action for America, is planning to spend $24 million across eight states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, Texas and Wisconsin. An internal document described a “two-year effort” to work closely with allies like American Legislative Exchange Council (known as ALEC) and the libertarian State Policy Network to “produce model legislation for state legislatures to adopt” and hire lobbyists in “crucial states.” (A copy of the plan was obtained by Documented, a watchdog group, and reviewed by The New York Times.)

[The Wizard]

4. Page one

in the play book.

[crickets]

5. Of course Heritage Action is a sister organization of The Heritage Foundation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Action

Heritage Action for America, more commonly known simply as Heritage Action, is a conservative policy advocacy organization founded in 2010.[2] Heritage Action, which has affiliates throughout the United States,[3][4] is a sister organization of the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation.[4][5] Heritage Action has been called a "powerhouse in a new generation of conservative groups"[6] and "perhaps now the most influential lobby group among Congressional Republicans."[7] The organization has been led by executive director Jessica Anderson since April 2020.[8] [snip]

Heritage Action was first announced in April 2010 by Ed Feulner, the then president of The Heritage Foundation. He stated the purpose of the organization was to harness "grassroots energy to increase the pressure on Members of Congress to embrace The Heritage Foundation’s policy recommendations." He also said it would not be involved in election campaigns.[9] Heritage Action's goal was to expand the political reach of The Heritage Foundation and advance the policies recommended by its researchers.[10]

The organization was launched primarily as a response to The Heritage Foundation's growing membership, and the fact that The Heritage Foundation is not allowed to back legislation due to its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Heritage Action fulfills this role and provides a link between the think tank and grassroots conservative activists.[11]

This is just a loophole for The Heritage Foundation's desire to back (and write) legislation. Grassroots, my ass.

[Duppers]

6. Thank you!

Just as I suspected.


I despise The Heritage Foundation. (My dh's RW ex-boss' son works for them.)

[Wounded Bear]

7. Between all the think tanks and ALEC, they have cookie cutter shit just waiting...

for the 'right time' to spring on us.

[EleanorR]

8. Given Stone launched Stop the Steal not after the 2020 election but before the 2016 election

I suspect the plan was to begin voter suppression efforts after Hillary won or at least lay the groundwork by spreading distrust of the system.