The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for July 13, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)
Today’s Links now below the script
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
The American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act sounds harmless enough. But cloaked in the bill introduced Monday in the U.S. House is an effort to nationalize mail-in voting restrictions modeled by Florida, Georgia, Texas and other voter suppression states.
The omnibus ACE Act bill includes text from 50 bills previously introduced in the House fueled by 2020 election disinformation. Among its scores of provisions are nationwide restrictions on mail-in voting and drop boxes, changes to the Real ID system to include citizenship status on the card, and new voter access restrictions in the District of Columbia. It provides funding for state-level post-election audits, but outlaws private foundation funding for election administration without adding badly-needed federal support.
Aiming to keep the special interest money flowing, the bill would codify the elimination of aggregate individual campaign donations limits, following the Supreme Court’s 2014 McCutcheon decision. And it directs the IRS not to enforce rules on 501c nonprofits engaging in political activity and not disclosing donors – one of the Dark Money tools used to hide political contributions for special interests.
While it’s not likely to pass the U.S. Senate, it’s an alarming reminder of how suppression in the name of election integrity is being wielded to keep eligible Americans of color, new Americans, the elderly and disabled, students, Native Americans, and others from the polls.
We have a link to the bill text, articles and analysis at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. House Committee on House Administration – Summary of the American Confidence in Elections Act
U.S. House Committee on House Administration – Text of the American Confidence in Elections Act
The Hill – House GOP introduces election reform bill
Associated Press – Deep partisanship will be on display as Congress releases competing voting bills
NBC News – House Republicans unveil ‘election integrity’ bill
League of Women Voters US and the LWV DC – Joint Statement on the Introduction of ACE Act
Groups Taking Action:
Declaration for American Democracy, League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters DC
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