Required to realistically Renew Democracy in the USA with Republican-controlled states trying to disenfranchise non-white voters:
A. For the People Act, HR1 2021
1. Uniform Voting Rights for all states – Republican or Democratically Controlled.
a) Automatic voter registration.
b) Election day a federal holiday.
c) Voting rights for felons completing prison terms.
d) Early voting for 15 days.
e) Restrict purging of voters.
2. Election security – paper ballots backup, voting machine security: made in USA.
3. Campaign finance reform – overturn Citizens United (corporations as people), money out of politics, transparent campaign contributions, etc.
4. Ethics – Pres & VP disclose 10 yrs of tax returns, restricts use of taxpayer money,
restricts inauguration funding.
5. Statehood for DC, unhampered by Congressional oversight.
6. Thwart Gerrymandering districts.
7. Make the Federal Election Commission (FEC) independent and composed of only 5 members.
B. Not likely for Electoral College to be eliminated by Constitutional Amendment. One Alternate is:
National Popular Vote Compact (NPVC) bill enacted into law by states possessing 196 electoral votes requiring each NPVC state’s electors to choose candidate with a majority of national popular votes. To eliminate ability to reject current tendency to elect a president with only electoral majority, need more states to make up 270 electoral votes to enact this law.
As of the end of 2020, it has been enacted into law in 16 jurisdictions possessing 196 electoral votes, including 4 small states (Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont), 8 medium-sized states (Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington), 3 big states
(California, Illinois, New York), and the District of Columbia.
C. Means to accomplish these needs:
1. The two houses of Congress are now controlled by Democrats – simple majority can pass legislation in the House but filibuster enables minority party to stop things in the Senate. Two pieces (this session) of budget legislation can be passed by a simple majority since time of Nixon. They are called reconciliation bills. One will be the COVID relief measure which in effect cannot include a $15 minimum wage. Should HR1 be the other? Biden is leaning toward
infrastructure bill.
2. Because Mitch McConnell used the filibuster to sabotage all Democratic legislation, many Democrats want to get rid of the filibuster in the Senate. Joe Manchin of WV does not, and possibly others.
3. It is certain that no matter what polls show Americans want COVID relief. Polls at 76% approval for $1.9T, even 60% GOP. All Congressional Republicans will vote against it. So reconciliation and eliminating the filibuster seem only option to do needed things for Americans.
