Biden vows to work with Congress to 'refine' voting rights bill

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill


BY TAL AXELROD - 03/04/21 09:09 AM EST

President Biden early Thursday praised the House for passing a sprawling election reform and voting rights bill and said he will work with Congress to “refine and advance it,” a tacit acknowledgement of the uphill climb the legislation faces in the Senate.

Biden in a statement touted the legislation, which mandates states to offer mail-in ballots and a minimum of 15 days of early voting, calls for online and same-day voter registration and provide more federal funding to prevent foreign meddling in elections. However, it passed the House late Wednesday with no Republican support, a grave sign for its chances in an evenly split Senate where it will need to reach a 60-vote threshold.

“The right to vote is sacred and fundamental — it is the right from which all of our other rights as Americans spring. This landmark legislation is urgently needed to protect that right, to safeguard the integrity of our elections, and to repair and strengthen our democracy,” Biden said.

“I look forward to working with Congress to refine and advance this important bill. And I look forward to signing it into law after it has passed through the legislative process, so that together we can strengthen and restore American democracy for the next election and all those to come.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/541574-biden-vows-to-work-with-congress-to-refine-voting-rights-bill

[JohnSJ]

1. and what they need to do is see if they can change the filibuster rule to exclude bills relating

to voting rights not allowed to be filibustered

[appmanga]

2. I continue to wonder why...

...if keeping the filibuster is so important why Manchin and Sinema don't use their leverage against Republicans instead of against Democrats? They need to be threatening Mitch McConnell and his caucus that they'll have to change their minds on the filibuster if he and his caucus continue to obstruct in ridiculous ways.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Interesting question. Actually the best question all day.

[Bayard]

3. Where would we be without Ossoff and Warnock

Still trying to operate under McConnell's thumb. At least now, we have a fighting chance on bills like this one.

[slightlv]

5. Could Biden do this?

Couldn't Biden, by Executive Order, declare a Federal Holiday for voting? Don't know if it only can come from Congress or not? What say you?