House Passes Voting Rights Bill Despite Near Unanimous Republican Opposition

[SummerMadness]

House Passes Voting Rights Bill Despite Near Unanimous Republican Opposition

The House voted on Friday to reinstate federal oversight of state election law, moving to bolster protections against racial discrimination enshrined in the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil rights statute whose central provision was struck down by the Supreme Court.

Representative John Lewis, Democrat of Georgia, who was beaten in 1965 while demonstrating for voting rights in Alabama, banged the gavel to herald approval of the measure, to applause from his colleagues on the House floor. It passed by a vote of 228 to 187 nearly along party lines, with all but one Republican opposed.

[T]he last time the Voting Rights Act was updated, the measure passed overwhelmingly in the House, where large majorities of both parties supported it, unanimously passed the Senate, and was signed into law by a Republican president, George W. Bush.

Sad.

 

[pdudgeon]

Very interesting. Where I live we have the opposite problem. We are ruled by Democrats, and have been for several years, so I guess we are the ones who "should get over it." We can vote, but we have no voice.

 

[SummerMadness]

Very interesting. Where I live we have the opposite problem. We are ruled by Democrats, and have been for several years, so I guess we are the ones who "should get over it." We can vote, but we have no voice.

What does that have to do with voting rights?

 

[Larniavc]

We can vote, but we have no voice.

How can you say that you have no voice? Your vote is your voice.

 

[hislegacy]

The measure is a direct response to the 2013 Supreme Court decision in the case of Shelby County v. Holder, in which the justices invalidated a key portion of the law. They asserted that the federal oversight of elections was no longer necessary in nine states, mostly in the South, because of strides made in advancing voting rights since passage of the 1965 law.


Done during the Obama regime by a liberal majority court. Hmmmm....

 

[Hank77]

The House has passed a bill to restore key parts of the Voting Rights Act

For those who can't read the NYT article because of the pay-wall.

 

[Fantine]

Some parts were permanent, some had expiration dates. The recent rash of voter suppression laws convinces me that racial discrimination protections must continue.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The measure is a direct response to the 2013 Supreme Court decision in the case of Shelby County v. Holder, in which the justices invalidated a key portion of the law. They asserted that the federal oversight of elections was no longer necessary in nine states

Not quite. The majority said [incorrectly in my view as Ginsburg points out in her dissent] the old coverage formula for which areas required federal preclearance was too old. Congress could pass a new one. "To serve that purpose, Congress—if it is to divide the States—must identify those jurisdictions to be singled out on a basis that makes sense in light of current conditions."

Which it has now with this bill.

Done during the Obama regime by a liberal majority court.

Only if you count Reagan-appointee Anthony Kennedy as a liberal.

 

[pdudgeon]

n/m

 

[durangodawood]

Normally that is very true. But when the districts are drawn so as to silence one side in favor of another, voices are silenced.
It is what it is, so we must be patient. Thank you for your post.

There is no guarantee that a given region will be a swing district. Nor should there be. Some regions are simply more blue, or more red.

I do agree that districts engineered to represent nothing more than an electoral outcome are not legit.

 

[SummerMadness]

Normally that is very true. But when the districts are drawn so as to silence one side in favor of another, voices are silenced.
It is what it is, so we must be patient. Thank you for your post.

The Supreme Court decided that partisan gerrymandering is okay and your rights are not being impeded. You can thank the Republican-backed Supreme Court justices for that. If you want fairer maps, you only have the Republican Party for fighting that. Nonetheless, that has nothing to do with the Voting Rights Act.

 

[Larniavc]

But when the districts are drawn so as to silence one side in favor of another, voices are silenced.

Fair point, well made.

 

[pdudgeon]

n/m

 

[hislegacy]

The Supreme Court decided that partisan gerrymandering is okay and your rights are not being impeded. You can thank the Republican-backed Supreme Court justices for that. If you want fairer maps, you only have the Republican Party for fighting that. Nonetheless, that has nothing to do with the Voting Rights Act.

You will note:

The Supreme Court ruling that this legislation is trying to overturn was implemented during the Obama Administration and from a Democratic backed Supreme Court justices. They are the ones to thank for this.

 

[iluvatar5150]

You will note:

The Supreme Court ruling that this legislation is trying to overturn was implemented during the Obama Administration and from a Democratic backed Supreme Court justices. They are the ones to thank for this.

What are you talking about?

Shelby County v. Holder - Wikipedia

Majority Roberts, joined by Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, Alito
Concurrence Thomas
Dissent Ginsburg, joined by Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan

Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito were all appointed by Republicans.

 

[Arcangl86]

What are you talking about?

Shelby County v. Holder - Wikipedia



Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito were all appointed by Republicans.

Some people love calling Kennedy a liberal because he supported gay rights.

 

[Fantine]

Only five states, it seems, have a fair method of drawing lines for congressional and legislative districts.

The five with fair processes for drawing congressional districts: Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii, New Jersey (bipartisan commission) and California (citizens' commission). 11 states have fair procedures for drawing state district lines.

There are a number of referendum petitions circulating around the country. Obviously, if the courts won't protect us, we have to protect ourselves!

Redistricting - FairVote

Don't let partisan state legislatures take away the power of your vote. Take charge.