The recent Supreme Court decision to undermine the Voting Rights Act-by weakening Preclearance in Section 5-is outrageous and appalling. However, one bright side is that it puts the GOP beyond a rock and a hard place. Another is that it might be a good time for Democrats to at least rethink how they want 'majority-minority' districts-this is part of what gives the GOP its gerrymandered advantage. True many state GOP Governors and legislatures are loving this as it gives them carte blanche to roll back voting rights as much as the John Roberts and company will let them get away with.
However, it also forces the GOP to really think about how things look. I've argued before-as has Josh Marshall-that the last thing the GOP wants is lots of video of Mitch McConnell and friends filibustering something called the Voting Rights Act. is
This is why while I was initially pessimistic about getting anything done regarding rewriting Section 4-as the SJC claims they want-during this Congress, I've begun to think that this is a great issue for Democrats to push in Congress-again, let's see McConnell filibuster it.
Indeed, House GOPers are talking about passing a VRA bill.
"House Republicans face a political dilemma as they consider how — and whether — to rewrite the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court neutered some of its most powerful provisions last week."
What is wanted is to rewrite it in a way that enables State GOPers to continue to deny minorities their right to vote. I will say this: the right man is leading the House GOP:
"A Republican aide familiar with negotiations said that “discussions among top Republicans and Democrats are already under way, with every intention of introducing a legislative solution,” but leadership has yet to commit to bringing a measure to the floor."
However, it also forces the GOP to really think about how things look. I've argued before-as has Josh Marshall-that the last thing the GOP wants is lots of video of Mitch McConnell and friends filibustering something called the Voting Rights Act. is
This is why while I was initially pessimistic about getting anything done regarding rewriting Section 4-as the SJC claims they want-during this Congress, I've begun to think that this is a great issue for Democrats to push in Congress-again, let's see McConnell filibuster it.
Indeed, House GOPers are talking about passing a VRA bill.
"House Republicans face a political dilemma as they consider how — and whether — to rewrite the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court neutered some of its most powerful provisions last week."
"Failing to act would undermine the party’s efforts to reach out to minority voters and potentially prompt a backlash that drives up Democratic turnout. But passing any law that reinstates federal preclearance of voting laws in some states would face a bruising battle in Congress."
"Lawmakers in any affected states would be almost certain to protest a rewrite, while Democrats have an incentive to insist on the broadest possible bill."
"Even with the difficult politics, Republicans seem willing to try."
http://blogs.rollcall.com/goppers/voting-rights-act/What is wanted is to rewrite it in a way that enables State GOPers to continue to deny minorities their right to vote. I will say this: the right man is leading the House GOP:
"A Republican aide familiar with negotiations said that “discussions among top Republicans and Democrats are already under way, with every intention of introducing a legislative solution,” but leadership has yet to commit to bringing a measure to the floor."
"Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin is leading the Republican charge to rewrite his own rewrite."
"In 2006, it was Sensenbrenner, then-chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who worked to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act a year early, before it expired in 2007, fearing that a different Congress would not be able to pass a reauthorization."
"After the court’s ruling last week, Sensenbrenner said the Voting Rights Act was “vital to America’s commitment to never again permit racial prejudices in the electoral process” and pledged that he and his colleagues “will work in a bipartisan fashion” to update the law."
"Sensenbrenner did warn, however, that it will “take time and will require members from both sides of the aisle to put partisan politics aside and ensure Americans’ most sacred right is protected.”
"An aide to Sensenbrenner said any solution must be “completely bipartisan” and “comply with the objections of the Supreme Court.”
"When asked by Salon.com in March whether Republicans would have the political will to update the law if the court struck it down, Sensenbrenner was blunt. “I’m gonna make them fix it,” he said at the time.
Congressman Sensenbrenner does have credibility on this issue, however. If anyone can 'make them fix it'-it's him.
Not everyone is so optimistic, despite the very positive experience that Cantor and John Lewis had in Selma last year.
“I’m not sure that’s doable given the partisanship in the House right now,” Feehery told CQ Roll Call on Monday. He said such a deal would probably require an agreement between the Congressional Black Caucus and House conservatives — a tall order.
"Still, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., already have a dialogue. Cantor recently visited Selma, Ala., with Lewis — a visit Cantor cited in his push last week for congressional action in the wake of the 5-4 Supreme Court decision."
“My experience with John Lewis in Selma earlier this year was a profound experience that demonstrated the fortitude it took to advance civil rights and ensure equal protection for all,” he said. “I’m hopeful Congress will put politics aside, as we did on that trip, and find a responsible path forward that ensures that the sacred obligation of voting in this country remains protected.”
"But putting partisan politics aside — especially when dealing with voting laws — is easier issued in a press release than written into law."
"Speaker John A. Boehner, who avoided issuing a release after the ruling, so far has been noncommittal. “We’re reviewing the decision and trying to make some determination about a pathway forward,” the Ohio Republican said. “But we haven’t made any decisions as of yet.”
"Perhaps no incident epitomizes the acidic politics surrounding the Voting Rights Act like last year’s exchange between Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., and Lewis."
"Broun offered an amendment cutting all funding for the enforcement of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act."
"Lewis came to the floor and said it was “hard and difficult and almost unbelievable” that Broun would do so."
“People died for the right to vote — friends of mine, colleagues of mine,” Lewis thundered.
"Broun apologized and withdrew the amendment."
My thought though is that there's absolutely no down side for Dems to push this as much as possible. It's the right thing to do and politically it can only embarrass the GOP. They really have no good answer for not doing anything. So by pushing it one of two things will happen.
1 .It gets done. The best case scenario of course.
2. It doesn't get done. In this case the GOP gets blamed for sinking the Voting Rights Act
The GOP may end u passing immigration and then being on record for killing the Voting Rights Act Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire!
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