McConnell: HR1 "doesn't pass the laugh test"

[Badger]

Voting rights? LMAOOOOO!

Talking about Republicans and voting rights always reminds me of a description of Ankh-Morpork, the major city in Terry Pratchett's Discworld books, which is ruled by the Patrician (essentially a fairly enlightened and benevolent dictator).  It was said: "Ankh-Morpork had the one-man, one-vote system.  The Patrician was the man.  He had the vote."

Lord Vetinari was an infinitely better leader than Turtle Boy.

I genuinely think McConnell's face wohld break if he tried laughing.

[Antonio the Sixth]

McConnell's existence doesn't pass the laugh test.

[Sestak]

McConnell's existence doesn't pass the laugh test.

[cinyc]

Another thought: if there's an objection to adding another holiday, well, there are already two federal holidays around that time of year, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.  Why not move one of them to the second Tuesday of November so elections would always be on the holiday?

Because, as I said before on another thread, studies have shown that that moving election day to or away from a weekend has no impact on turnout. Moving one of those holidays would alienate Hispanic and Italian-Americans or veterans. And making election day a holiday might actually hurt those people who have to go to work (which, for a minor holiday is usually most people who don’t work for the government), by forcing them to find childcare for their kids, which would likely be even more expensive due to the holiday.

No one would be offended by moving it to Columbus Day and you know it.

Moving what to Columbus Day? Election day? That's a non-starter. All primaries would have to move up, too.

Moving or getting rid of Columbus Day to November? Many Italian American and Hispanic Groups would be up in arms about it. Plus, we'd end up with 3 holidays in November, only one of which most people in the private sector got off (Thanksgiving).

[GeorgiaModerate]

Another thought: if there's an objection to adding another holiday, well, there are already two federal holidays around that time of year, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.  Why not move one of them to the second Tuesday of November so elections would always be on the holiday?

Because, as I said before on another thread, studies have shown that that moving election day to or away from a weekend has no impact on turnout. Moving one of those holidays would alienate Hispanic and Italian-Americans or veterans. And making election day a holiday might actually hurt those people who have to go to work (which, for a minor holiday is usually most people who don’t work for the government), by forcing them to find childcare for their kids, which would likely be even more expensive due to the holiday.

No one would be offended by moving it to Columbus Day and you know it.

Moving what to Columbus Day? Election day? That's a non-starter. All primaries would have to move up, too.

Moving or getting rid of Columbus Day to November? Many Italian American and Hispanic Groups would be up in arms about it. Plus, we'd end up with 3 holidays in November, only one of which most people in the private sector got off (Thanksgiving).

OK, just move Veterans Day up a few days to the 2nd Tuesday in November.  That removes all of those objections.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Regardless of the merits, unless they've been carefully worded which is unlikely since HR 1 is a political statement rather than a serious proposal, the provisions involving voter registration are going to be unconstitutional for the same reasons Congress had to pass the 26th Amendment rather than simply pass a law. Congress does not have authority to force States to have certain people be on the voter rolls except for disqualification due to race, gender, or age. Any efforts to encourage the States can only use the carrot, not the stick.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

From what I've read, including people like Rick Hasen, this gives Congress leeway for things like AVR, so long as it's worded right. Also, Congress already regulates in this manner, such as forcing states to offer registration opportunities at certain state agencies and maintaining accurate registration lists.

It does that by offering carrots - i.e. certain funds that are only available if the States do what Congress wants.  But Oregon v. Mitchell makes it clear that while Congress can require the States to allow certain voters be registered for Federal elections, it can't require States to do the same for State and local elections.  Considering that computers make having separate voter lists for Federal and non-Federal elections trivially easy, it's pretty much impossible for Congress to get States to do things they really don't want to so.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Another thought: if there's an objection to adding another holiday, well, there are already two federal holidays around that time of year, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.  Why not move one of them to the second Tuesday of November so elections would always be on the holiday?

Because, as I said before on another thread, studies have shown that that moving election day to or away from a weekend has no impact on turnout. Moving one of those holidays would alienate Hispanic and Italian-Americans or veterans. And making election day a holiday might actually hurt those people who have to go to work (which, for a minor holiday is usually most people who don’t work for the government), by forcing them to find childcare for their kids, which would likely be even more expensive due to the holiday.

No one would be offended by moving it to Columbus Day and you know it.

Moving what to Columbus Day? Election day? That's a non-starter. All primaries would have to move up, too.

Moving or getting rid of Columbus Day to November? Many Italian American and Hispanic Groups would be up in arms about it. Plus, we'd end up with 3 holidays in November, only one of which most people in the private sector got off (Thanksgiving).

No one would be offended, much less up in arms except Republican hacks.

[Progressive Pessimist]

McConnell's existence doesn't pass the laugh test.

Yes it does. He has been a serious player in the country's slow conversion into a right wing dystopia.

[Sir Mohamed]

This again brings me to the point that the Majority Leader is too powerful. Put it on the floor and see what happens.

Hope the dude gets primaried in 2020. I'd rather have Ted Cruz/Tea Party style backbencher than McConnell who is a partisan hack.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

This again brings me to the point that the Majority Leader is too powerful. Put it on the floor and see what happens.

Hope the dude gets primaried in 2020. I'd rather have Ted Cruz/Tea Party style backbencher than McConnell who is a partisan hack.

Elaine Chao works for Trump, they will neverbackbench McConnell

[cinyc]

Another thought: if there's an objection to adding another holiday, well, there are already two federal holidays around that time of year, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.  Why not move one of them to the second Tuesday of November so elections would always be on the holiday?

Because, as I said before on another thread, studies have shown that that moving election day to or away from a weekend has no impact on turnout. Moving one of those holidays would alienate Hispanic and Italian-Americans or veterans. And making election day a holiday might actually hurt those people who have to go to work (which, for a minor holiday is usually most people who don’t work for the government), by forcing them to find childcare for their kids, which would likely be even more expensive due to the holiday.

No one would be offended by moving it to Columbus Day and you know it.

Moving what to Columbus Day? Election day? That's a non-starter. All primaries would have to move up, too.

Moving or getting rid of Columbus Day to November? Many Italian American and Hispanic Groups would be up in arms about it. Plus, we'd end up with 3 holidays in November, only one of which most people in the private sector got off (Thanksgiving).

No one would be offended, much less up in arms except Republican hacks.

You severely underestimate how much Italian-Americans in particular would be up in arms if you tried to get rid of Columbus Day - or any holiday for that matter. Every one has a constituency.

[Suburbia]

Another thought: if there's an objection to adding another holiday, well, there are already two federal holidays around that time of year, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.  Why not move one of them to the second Tuesday of November so elections would always be on the holiday?

Because, as I said before on another thread, studies have shown that that moving election day to or away from a weekend has no impact on turnout. Moving one of those holidays would alienate Hispanic and Italian-Americans or veterans. And making election day a holiday might actually hurt those people who have to go to work (which, for a minor holiday is usually most people who don’t work for the government), by forcing them to find childcare for their kids, which would likely be even more expensive due to the holiday.

No one would be offended by moving it to Columbus Day and you know it.

Moving what to Columbus Day? Election day? That's a non-starter. All primaries would have to move up, too.

Moving or getting rid of Columbus Day to November? Many Italian American and Hispanic Groups would be up in arms about it. Plus, we'd end up with 3 holidays in November, only one of which most people in the private sector got off (Thanksgiving).

No one would be offended, much less up in arms except Republican hacks.

You severely underestimate how much Italian-Americans in particular would be up in arms if you tried to get rid of Columbus Day - or any holiday for that matter. Every one has a constituency.

[Suburbia]

Mitch McConnell says HR1 doesn't pass the "laugh test."

...

...

...

Yes, this is so ridiculous to McConnell that he laughs at it:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I'm glad McConnell finds this so "funny" it doesn't pass his "laugh test."

If he thinks this is a "power grab" by the Democrats... then maybe they should change the Republican Party so it's not utterly dependent of voter suppression, gerrymandering, questionable election integrity, corporate donations, shady spending by campaigns and elected officials, systemic favoring of rich candidates over middle-class/poor candidates, insider corruption, and ethically-questionable Supreme Court decisions?

Maybe?

Just a thought?

Creating a automatic voter registration won't help Democrats win either. Most Americans don't check on politics, you can't force people to vote.

If you have a good message, you win. You don't have anything to offer, you lose. Period.

You can't force a fairly apathetic nation to vote.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Parts of this will be struck down by the centerist Roberts anyways. But, making it a Holiday, returning $50 in contributions, and making PR a state, not DC, will survive.  The ban on PACS was already struck down.