Soon we will regain something we have not seen for almost two years. It is a world in which The Democratic Party shares in the power of government. House Democrats are about to unveil their first bill of the coming year: H.R. 1
House Democrats are set to unveil their first piece of legislation for the newly elected Congress, a bill they’re symbolically calling H.R. 1, that aims to expand voting access.
After an election marked in large part by voting rights issues, including Stacey Abrams’ refusal to concede in the Georgia gubernatorial race and the passage of Amendment 4 in Florida, which expanded voting rights to more than 1 million ex-felons, the House Democrats’ first bill reportedly creates a national voter registration system and would expand access to early online voting.
According to The Washington Post, Democrats will unveil the bill Friday. In addition to the focus on voting rights, the bill would also reportedly create new donor disclosure requirements for political organizations and provisions for public financing for elections, including a system that would multiply small dollar donations to campaigns.
The Post also reported that it would end most first-class travel for federal officials and mandate a new ethical code for the Supreme Court, though the outlet did not report details about what the code would include.
Finally, the bill would include a requirement that presidents release their tax returns, something President Trump has refused to do…
Inserted from <Think Progress>
Of course, it will never see passage in the Senate, but the elements have one thing in common. Republican Senators will have to go on record for opposing them, demonstrating to voters which party favors them and which doesn’t.
RESIST!!
12 Responses to “H.R. 1”
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Nancy Pelosi and John Sarbanes outlined their plans for H.R. 1 in a WaPo Op-Ed a few days ago.
I like it … A LOT!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-democratic-majoritys-first-order-of-business-restore-democracy/2018/11/25/9aeb3dbe-ece2-11e8-96d4-0d23f2aaad09_story.html?utm_term=.a9b7f8dfd3be
Better voting will lead to better candidates. The real reason Abrams didn’t win in Georgia is Kemp cheated with voter suppression, first with voter roll purges and then by sitting on 53,000 new registrations.
Yup. We have for too long shrugged our shoulders over legislation not getting introduced and rationalized, “Oh, well, it would never have passed” Clearly it’s time to take the opposite tack, and introduce legislation on EVERYTHING we want Even if we can’t get it passed, we can put an end to the lie that Democrats have no plans and no platform.
Woohoo! GO Dems!!!
I agree with you . . . get it on record that the Republicans are the obstructionists of the will of the people, not Democrats. Show voters that the Democrats have a progressive plan to return the People’s House to the people. Getting the Senate moving in the correct direction will take a little longer. But if the Dems can keep the House by demonstrating their commitment, the Senate should follow. Power to We The People!
Sounds wonderful! Putting the GOPIGS against the wall with presumed votes of “nay!” may pay off, but at least the bill will be on the record, and in the memory.
We have struggled long enough. It’s about time the Democrats finally start leading the pack and taking back the control.
I’m always flabbergasted by American bills, which are hardly ever one bill addressing one particular subject or even two or three very closely related bills addressing the same subject. H.R.1 brings a large number of diverse bills to the table, some to do with voting and therefore somewhat related, but some are a bill on their own (presidents are required to release their tax returns). Don’t get me wrong, each and everyone is an excellent idea for an area that desperately needs good democratic legislature – as a layman I couldn’t possibly determine if they’re good bills as such. But if they’re all put together, won’t there be a bill or two that couldn’t possibly pass the Republican Senate, making H.R.1 doomed to fail in the Senate? If true, wouldn’t that be a little like the games Republicans used to play in the Obama era? Wouldn’t the Democratic base be happier with a good bill passing after all these years?
Oh well, what do I know about American politics? Both you and I should be glad I can’t vote in the US.
I have argued for years that there should be one issue per bill, but I know I’ll never win that one.
I can see why you are glad … but I can still wish you could.
You are right, it will never pass the Senate, but some of those Republicans will lose in the next election when they vote against the bill.
Thanks all. Pooped hugs.