Manchin to support measured voting reform in lieu of sweeping Democratic proposal

[turbinetree]

Source: ABC News

He said election reform should be done in a bipartisan way to regain confidence.

ByAllison Pecorin andRachel Scott
May 12, 2021, 2:43 PM
• 8 min read

Sen. Joe Manchin is breaking with Democrats and throwing his weight behind a more measured voting rights bill in lieu of the sweeping Democratic voting reform bill that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has labeled a top priority of the caucus.

The Democrat from West Virginia told ABC News exclusively that he intends to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, a more narrowly tailored piece of voting rights legislation that he said he believes could muster bipartisan support even as voting legislation is becoming a flash point between the two parties.

"I believe Democrats and Republicans feel very strongly about protecting the ballot boxes allowing people to protect the right to vote making it accessible making it fair and making it secure and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, if we apply that to all 50 states and territories, it's something that can be done -- it should be done," Manchin told ABC News' Rachel Scott. "It could be done bipartisan to start getting confidence back in our system."

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/manchin-support-measured-voting-reform-lieu-sweeping-democratic/story?id=77646348&cid=social_twitter_abcnp

---

JFC...I need a drink...

[machoneman]

1. And this means? Anyone know?

[ColinC]

2. It seems to mean that some kind of voting rights legislation will pass IF

They can nix the fillibuster for the law, or pass a budget reconciliation exception for this instance -both are equally doubtful unless Manchin comes out in favor of one or the other.

[hedda_foil]

61. Any idea how this could qualify for budget reconciliation?

[ColinC]

64. Literally anything can qualify if a vote passes to exempt it as such.

But if they couldn't do it with min. wage, they won't be able to do it with this.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Except that republicans don't really care about regaining confidence!

Their stance is a mere smoke-screen to cover their obvious wish to disenfranchise those who vote against them.

How can he be so stupid?

[wryter2000]

4. How the F does he think he'll get it through the Senate

Unless he's willing to do something about the filibuster? Is he going to get 10 Republican votes? When he discovers he can't get even one will he wake up and smell reality?

Will someone please shut him up?

[speak easy]

17. It is open to the Majority Leader Schumer to invoke the nuclear option

to get S1. through the Senate. He can do so leaving rule XXII intact in other instances.

[wryter2000]

37. He has to have 50 votes to do that

If Manchin or Sinema won’t go along, the nuclear option won’t work.

[speak easy]

52. He has to have 50 votes to do anything.

[Ace Rothstein]

59. Once the nuclear option is invoked, the filibuster is dead.

[speak easy]

66. Please explain.

[Ace Rothstein]

67. Precedent

Pretty simple.

[speak easy]

68. Not an answer.

Explain yourself with reference to rule XXII.

[Ace Rothstein]

69. Rules can be changed at any time.

Just like how we changed the filibuster to 55 votes for judges and the Republicans in turn changed it to simple majority. Once anyone changes the filibuster for anything then it is done moving forward.

I'm not saying we shouldn't do it but if we do, the filibuster won't be there for us when we lose control.

[speak easy]

70. The nuclear option is not an amendment to the Senate Rules.

[Magoo48]

25. Schumer said, "Failure is not an option."

So, now is the time to dump or vastly reform the filibuster and secure our voting rights. Find a way to get it done.

[rsdsharp]

5. Jesus, Manchin, you seem unwilling, or incapable of learning. It's not going to be bipartisan.

The Republicans will water it down to the point where it’s virtually worthless, and STILL vote against it.

[pnwmom]

23. This is Manchin's PR. I think Manchin's just giving

the R's a chance to say they're for something.

Here's info about the bill. I'd like to know the differences between this and the Schumer bill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis_Voting_Rights_Act

[Joinfortmill]

6. He's a thorn in Joe Biden's side.

[mahina]

20. Trump won W V by 40 points. He is why we have

A majority and is the best we are going to get there.

And I agree w you.

[Tomconroy]

24. Have to agree with you.

It's sort of a miracle we have a Democratic senator in West Virginia.

[regnaD kciN]

38. If everything has to be rewritten in a Republican direction...

…to satisfy Joe, can we really be said to have a majority?

[msfiddlestix]

65. He's a Thorn in MY SIDE

I have words at the tip of my tongue, which I shall refrain from saying out loud.

(Trying to be a responsible citizen and keep my own council on my right to free speech, but it's hard to do sometimes!)

[elleng]

7. Ditto I need a drink,

and I rarely drink.

[turbinetree]

13. Me also but when I do I really need a gin and tonic (fever tree) with a lime

[elleng]

14. Sounds good.

[turbinetree]

19. They are when I have one.....and I think I need one....

now all I Have to do is go and buy the limes..........

[Midnight Writer]

8. Republicans will add poison pill such as Voter ID.

[hlthe2b]

9. In lieu of saying what most of us are thinking every time we read a headline like this...

I'll just let the following blank space suffice as the "venting zone" for those unexpressed thoughts:

[FoxNewsSucks]

11. Thank you! I appreciate it,

but the space provided was way too small.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

10. Can't say what I'm thinking.

[LenaBaby61]

51. "Can't say what I'm thinking."

Same here, because almost everytime I criticize that man who shall remain nameless from West Virginia, I'm reported and or my post is removed. He must have some loving fans on this site, because I can almost guarantee that he doesn't care about Dems nor about anybody who deserves to earn a living wage or about unemployment benefits or whose loved one needs help with ovoids., He only cares about himself, and HIS family, friends and the 'feelings' of his GQP "buddies," and that they're deserving of bi-partinship from Democrats.

Friends who moved away from West Virginia told me about Mr. Nameless & his family a LONG time ago, and nothing they're ever said was wrong.

Let me go have some Vegan cookies I baked this morning and a glass of cold Coconut milk.

[stillcool]

12. Seems to be the only line he knows...

ah well. West Virginia stands in the way of progress. Kind of appropriate.

[JudyM]

15. Who's he answering to?

If it’s actually his constituents, we need to go full-bore on W.VA messaging.

[MOMFUDSKI]

16. Jesus

40-some repub state houses are suppressing votes and this asshole is talking bi-partisanship? You can't make this shit up.

[JustAnotherGen]

18. Not a single GOP Senator will vote for it

He's delusional.

[Mr. Evil]

21. Joe Manchin is a DINO.

I don't care if I get flagged or not for calling him what I think. A Democrat is for decency, good governance, humane laws and policies, et al. Joe Manchin has shown absolutely no decency or anything resembling good governance with regards to voting rights. Did radical fascist Mitch McConnell promise him some Rubles to take over as obstructionist-in-chief? Just why is he doing this? I want answers! And I sure as hell don't give a diddly damn about bi-partisanship. Like most Americans, I want results. If bi-partisanship actually mattered at least 10 republicans with any remaining shred of decency would vote 'yes' for HR1 but, we all know the likelihood of that.

Here's another article I just read about this mess he's happily creating. https://www.rawstory.com/joe-manchin-declares-he-will-not-support-critical-voting-rights-legislation-possibly-hr1-for-the-people-act/

This is disgusting.

[pnwmom]

22. Before we dismiss the John Lewis Voting Rights bill out of hand,

I'd like to know the differences between it and Schumer's bill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis_Voting_Rights_Act

116th Congress[edit]


The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Terri Sewell on February 26, 2019 as H.R. 4. Originally planned to have been included in the For the People Act, Democratic leadership decided to keep it separate because of anticipated court challenges.[20] The bill had 229 co-sponsors. The bill passed the House of Representatives (228-187) as the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 on December 6, 2019. All Democrats voted in favor of the legislation, and all but one Republican voted against it.

The bill was introduced in the Senate as S.4263 by Senator Patrick Leahy after John Lewis' death in July 2020. The bill received 47 co-sponsors. All Democrats in the Senate had co-sponsored the bill.[c] The only Republican to co-sponsor the bill was Lisa Murkowski. The Senate, which was controlled by Republicans, did not bring the bill up for a vote.

The bill was originally titled the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019, but was renamed the John Lewis Voting Rights Act one week after his death in 2020.[25] No Senator had introduced the bill into the Senate at the time of his death, so when it was introduced in the Senate, it took his name. The bill had already passed the House of Representatives under its former name before John Lewis' death. H.Con.Res.107 was agreed to in the House to change the short title of the bill to the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act.

[Tomconroy]

26. Very good point.

[Mr. Evil]

29. I never mentioned John Lewis.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Act (HR4) seeks to restore the VRA of 1965 with some new provisions. It only applies to certain states. HR1 covers the entire nation.

This page provides a brief but, good explanation and a graph of the John Lewis VRA (HR4). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis_Voting_Rights_Act

Check it out. It takes less than 5 minutes to read.

For the record, John Lewis was an exceptional member of congress. He conducted himself with honor, dignity and decency among a plethora of other personal and professional accolades. He is sorely missed.

[Tomconroy]

33. Seems like a decent bill.

[pnwmom]

35. The OP certainly did.

I believe Democrats and Republicans feel very strongly about protecting the ballot boxes allowing people to protect the right to vote making it accessible making it fair and making it secure and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, if we apply that to all 50 states and territories, it's something that can be done -- it should be done," Manchin told ABC News' Rachel Scott. "It could be done bipartisan to start getting confidence back in our system."

[dsc]

39. I think the OP thinks no GOP will support this either

and I agree with that analysis.

[pnwmom]

48. As long as Manchin and Sinema (sp?) do, that's what matters.

They could agree to dispense with the filibuster on voting rights bills, and Harris could be the 51st vote.

[dsc]

57. Manchin also said in that same interview that he was opposed to

having a voting rights exception to the filibuster.

[pnwmom]

58. So? That's how he feels now. When the R's uniformly fail to support his

compromise bill, he would be fully justified in changing his mind.

[Mr. Evil]

53. Yes, but,

Manchin has stated he'd be inclined to support the John Lewis VRA (HR4) but, he recently stated that he won't support the For The People Act (HR1) which has sweeping campaign finance reform, automatic voter registration and covers all 50 states and US territories. It has many other voting rights benefits and would literally kill the republican's state by state efforts to suppress voting rights.

I would certainly hope they pass the John Lewis VRA (HR4) but, I really hope they can get the FTPA (HR1) to at least a vote. It would be the best overall solution.

[Tomconroy]

30. There are no DINOs in the Democratic Party.

There are fellow Democrats that you may disagree with.

[Mr. Evil]

32. We'll agree to disagree.

There are no legitimate reasons for Joe Manchin to refuse to support HR1.

[Tomconroy]

34. The fact that it can't pass the Senate under present Senate rules is one.

[kacekwl]

27. NAMES Joe we need to see names

of republicans you have that will VOTE for the John Lewis voting act. Not wishes not assumptions not thoughts but actual votes. Please proceed senator.

[PortTack]

31. This is good..per usual manchin postures and then comes around.

Yes, it’s not the full package but it will put an end to a lot of the nonsense the qgop are pulling on the state level.

And, a lot of what remains in these horrible state laws will be struck down by the courts

[regnaD kciN]

40. But will it be enough to prevent Republicons from rigging 2022/2024...?

My guess is that, if it’s “bipartisan” enough to satisfy Joe’s scruples, the answer is “no.” Because the Republicons will never allow anything that will prevent them from winning by being able to choose the voters, rather than having the voters choose them.

[TomDaisy]

36. this is going to strip me of my last measure of sanity

[LudwigPastorius]

41. Is Manchin an idiot?

Just asking, because McTurtle has said that 100% of his effort will be to block any proposal from Biden and the Democrats.

[lagomorph777]

44. And McCarthy just consolidated support for the Big Lie in the House GQP caucus.

[pnwmom]

49. No, he's strategic. This will give Manchin a reason to go along with the Democrats,

when the R's refuse to go along with even the "compromise" bill.

[LudwigPastorius]

54. Hunh..

...and here I was thinking that someone who calls himself a Democrat, runs, and is elected, as a Democrat, wouldn't need to manufacture a reason to vote with the Democratic party.

[pnwmom]

55. You must not be aware that that Democrat comes from the state

with the highest vote for Trump in the whole country, both in 2016 and 2020.

It's a minor miracle that West Virginia elected a Democrat to the Senate.

[Polybius]

60. Second most

Wyoming was the first. In 2020 Trump won 69.94% to 26.55%, vs. West Virginia's 68.62% 29.69%.

[pnwmom]

63. Okay, fine. 1st in 2016 and second, by 1%, in 2020. The point remains.

People who think we can simply elect a progressive Democrat in WV don't know the state.

[lagomorph777]

42. It's obvious there will be no bipartisan support for voting rights.

The GQP proved it today: they intend to steal the next election, and are still trying to steal the one they just lost.

Manchin needs to be forced to do his job: extortion, bribery, whatever it takes. Just do it.

[Jon King]

43. Hold the Senate in 2022 and the Presidency in 2024.

The House will be hard due to redistricting, but the Senate must be held and then the Presidency in 2024. The Senate is doable as the Repugs have more at risk races than the Dems in 2022.

But the Presidency is for all the marbles. It must be held in 2024. Past that the demographics will have swung so far in the contested states it will be very hard for a Repug to win unless the party changes completely.

So 2024 is the big one. Hold the Presidency and save the country. Local organizers in PA, WI, MI, AZ, GA, NC, VA must start working now to counter all the suppression attempts.

[Fiendish Thingy]

46. How to counter suppression if the state legislatures can reject election results they don't like? NT

[Fiendish Thingy]

45. Fuck bipartisanship, and Fuck Jim Crow Joe. Nt

[littlemissmartypants]

47. So give Manchin the job of getting the Republican votes nailed down.

I want him to be personally responsible for getting the names of all of the Republicans he has written commitments from.

Make him responsible for making that happen. Let's see how many friends he has on the other side of the isle who are ready to make the bipartisan commitment to the bill.

Make him the prime negotiator if he's so sure bipartisanship is possible let's put him in charge and see how long it takes for that pipe dream to go up in smoke.

If you're not a part of the solution, then you're part of the problem, Joe. Actions speak louder than words.

[Efilroft Sul]

50. Someone tell him voter suppression isn't a bipartisan effort.

His inability to do the right thing by democracy will cost the Democrats control of Congress in 2022, and there will still be people on DU Manchinsplaining to the rest of us.

[Deminpenn]

56. The John Lewis VRA would stop a lot of the nonsense

because it would apply to Texas and Georgia and the other states of the former Confederacy. Presumably the VRA update addressed the issue that caused the pre-clearance section of the 1964-65 VRA to be tossed by SCOTUS.

It's a good first step to be passed.

[róisín_dubh]

62. That's my senator! Woohoo!

God he sucks so badly.