In news that deals a potentially lethal blow to Democrats’ For the People Act, moderate Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says he will not vote for a bill that delivers a “partisan advantage” in elections.
“Of course, some in my party have argued that now is the time to discard such bipartisan voting reforms and embrace election reforms and policies solely supported by one party,” Manchin wrote in Sunday in the Charleston Gazette-Mail. “Respectfully, I do not agree.
“I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For the People Act.”
With the Senate split 50-50 with Republicans, Manchin’s decision sinks Democrats’ hopes of forcing the voting reform bill through the Senate by doing away with the filibuster that requires 60 votes and Republican support.
“This more than 800-page bill has garnered zero Republican support,” Manchin wrote. “Why? Are the very Republican senators who voted to impeach Trump because of actions that led to an attack on our democracy unwilling to support actions to strengthen our democracy? Are these same senators, whom many in my party applauded for their courage, now threats to the very democracy we seek to protect?
“The truth, I would argue, is that voting and election reform that is done in a partisan manner will all but ensure partisan divisions continue to deepen.”
Read more at NEWSMAX.
{Matzav.com}
Way to go Joe!
חזק וברוך