That’s how Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT, photo) describes the Democrats’ voting rights bill.
“Written in hell.” That’s how Sen. Lee, one of the most strident members of Congress, and other GOP senators, feel about American citizens exercising their right to vote.
He added, “I disagree with every single word in H.R. 1, including the words ‘but,’ ‘and,’ and ‘the.’ Everything about this bill is rotten to the core.” This is voting he’s talking about.
H.R. 1 just passed the House “as dozens of bills to restrict voter access are making their way through state legislatures across the country. That includes a slew of Republican-backed bills in Georgia,” The Hill reported (here). Former President Jimmy Carter said he’s “disheartened, sad and angry” over GOP efforts to restrict voting in Georgia, his home state (story here).
Democrats probably have the votes to pass H.R. 1 in the Senate, which would preempt many of the anti-voting laws Republicans are passing in state legislatures, but only if they either ditch the filibuster or go around it by reconciliation or some other means. As Sen. Lee’s comments show, the parties’ conflict over voting rights is irreconciliable, and it’s no use negotiating or even talking with them about it; a federal voting rights bill must be imposed on them.
The GOP’s claims that the bill infringes on states’ rights is specious and hypocritical. In January, the GOP sought to overthrow state election results in Congress. They only care about states’ rights when it serves their selfish interests. Their real aim is to “win” elections by keeping the other side from voting. That’s the stuff of tyranny.
I think there are good parts in the bill such as allowing felons to vote. I think no one should even lose the right even while serving a prison sentence. Now if only the bill insisted 3 parties will participate in the Presidential debates … [This comment has been edited.]