In a marathon hearing today, the Senate Rules Committee held a markup for S.1, the Senate version of the "Corrupt Politicians Act." The hearing covered a variety of topics, but one thing is abundantly clear: the Corrupt Politicians Act is a partisan power grab, and Democrats will do whatever they can to gain as much power as possible. As Senator Hagerty put it, S.1 is a "power grab in search of a crisis." The vote to advance the bill was tied at 9-9, but under Senate rules, the legislation will advance to the floor for consideration.
"I don't think this is a solution in search of a problem. I think this is a power grab in search of a crisis." 🔥🔥🔥 @SenatorHagerty #CorruptPoliticiansAct
— RNLA ⚖️ (@TheRepLawyer) May 11, 2021
Prohibits states from requiring ID to vote?
— Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) May 11, 2021
Legalizes + expands ballot harvesting?
Automatically registers folks to vote even if they’re not eligible?
Gives felons the right to vote?
THIS BILL ISN'T ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS.
This bill is about one-party rule. pic.twitter.com/KNqwKsRfKR
Some notable moments from the hearing:
Ranking Member Blunt noted that the Corrupt Politicians Act undercuts voting as a bedrock principle of democracy by making is "easier to cheat and harder to detect."
RM @RoyBlunt: "The Democratic Party thinks it’s wrong to allow states to verify who is still eligible to vote and who is no longer eligible to vote." #CorruptPoliticiansAct
— RNLA ⚖️ (@TheRepLawyer) May 11, 2021
S.1 makes it easier to cheat and harder to detect. @RoyBlunt #CorruptPoliticiansAct
— RNLA ⚖️ (@TheRepLawyer) May 11, 2021
Several Senators, including Leader McConnell, highlighted the detrimental effects that the Corrupts Politicians Act would have on the country's campaign finance system and the FEC.
Democrats want to rewrite the rules of our elections and restrict Americans’ free speech on a purely partisan basis.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) May 11, 2021
Hard to imagine anything that would shatter public confidence in our democracy more dramatically than a transparent partisan power grab. pic.twitter.com/bjrCh4tFeW
Fact check: True. https://t.co/QhTqHQiV6m
— Casey Mattox (@CaseyMattox_) May 11, 2021
Thank you RNLA Board Members and former FEC Chairs @michaeletoner, Lee Goodman and Matt Petersen for standing up for FEC Bipartisanship and opposing S1. https://t.co/L1k4epH4zJ
— RNLA ⚖️ (@TheRepLawyer) May 11, 2021
On multiple occasions, Senator Capito presented amendments that highlighted the fact that the Corrupt Politicians Act would make it impossible for innovations at the state level. Even Democrats on the committee recognized that their approach was hurting groups like disabled voters.
Federal Takeover. One state's prospective losses of autonomy. https://t.co/F74pue0BeQ
— Ken Cuccinelli (@KenCuccinelli) May 11, 2021
Dems keep suggesting that amendments be proposed to provide exceptions to their one-size-fits-all approach in the #CorruptPoliticiansAct because problems are emerging for states that are seeking solutions to problems. Why not just leave elections to the states as they are now?
— RNLA ⚖️ (@TheRepLawyer) May 11, 2021
Senator King broke with Democrats to vote for a Republican amendment offered by Senator Hyde-Smith that gives states the option to withhold voting rights from felons convicted of crimes against children.
.@SenAngusKing has broken with the Democrats to vote for @SenHydeSmith’s amendment to the #CorruptPoliticiansAct giving states the option to withhold voting rights from felons convicted of crimes against children. The Senator cited being a parent as his reason.
— RNLA ⚖️ (@TheRepLawyer) May 11, 2021
.@SenHydeSmith doesn't want FELONS who commit crimes against children and NEITHER👏 DO 👏 WE 👏
— Heritage Action (@Heritage_Action) May 11, 2021
In fact, check out our new video⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IDi0mLfxSD
Senator Cruz successfully negotiated the passage of an amendment that removed an unconstitutional religious test that RNLA previously highlighted.
Here's a breakdown of S.1's unconstitutional religious test that @SenTedCruz's amendment struck from the #CorruptPoliticiansAct. https://t.co/UbC8TLCHW8
— RNLA ⚖️ (@TheRepLawyer) May 11, 2021
Today's markup can be watched in its entirety here.
The American people deserve to know what is in the Corrupt Politicians Act, but today's hearing showed that Democrats will do what they can to twist the reality of the legislation and have their tech and media allies covering for them.
Same here! #CorruptPoliticiansAct https://t.co/n6kUk5W6SI
— RNLA ⚖️ (@TheRepLawyer) May 11, 2021
To learn more about the Senate version of the Corrupt Politicians Act and the Rules Committee's markup, join RNLA for our weekly webinar happening this Friday at 2 p.m. ET. Register here today!