In a contentious Capitol hearing on Wednesday, US Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Criticized Democrats for what he described as a “false narrative” about voter suppression allegations.
The Senate Rules Committee was debating the For the People Act, a federal proposal for voting rights sponsored by the panel’s chairman, American Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
“The bill simply tries to make voting easier,” said Klobuchar, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “The People’s Law is the best chance to prevent the reversal of voting rights.”
Senator Roy Blunt speaks on Capitol Hill in 2015. (Reuters)
But during the interrogation of witness Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, Blunt claimed that the proposal supported by Klobuchar was an attempt to federalize elections under the guise of trying to protect voters’ rights.
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Blunt said lawmakers have frequently introduced similar legislation over the years, only to see one plan after another fail to become law.
“It is a great excuse to overthrow a system that has served the country well for a long time,” said Blunt, referring to local control of the elections.
The senator then asked Waldman why his group suggested that a state’s effort to remove the names of dead people from the electoral roll would be an example of electoral suppression.
“Because there are often errors in the lists that are used in Social Security and others …” began Waldman, before Blunt interrupted.
“So, your opinion would be, the federal government is not able to tell the state which Social Security beneficiaries died and no longer receive a check, so we must hand over the entire election to a federal structure. I just don’t agree …”
Klobuchar then interrupted: “Senator Blunt, can we allow the witness to answer the question, please?”
“No,” replied Blunt.
“No, no?” Klobuchar replied.
Blunt then explained why he thought Waldman had properly addressed his question.
“The witness answered the question,” said Blunt. “Senator, the witness answered the question by saying that the federal government is often wrong in providing information to the states. That was the answer to the question ”.
At the same hearing, US Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said that Democrats planned to use automatic voter registration programs and on the same day so that “millions of illegal aliens” and “criminals” could obtain the right to vote, the Reporting by the Star Tribune.
Senate leaders, Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Entered into a brief confrontation over the Democrats’ plan.
“I would like to ask my Republican colleagues, why are you so afraid of democracy? Schumer asked, according to CNBC.” Why, instead of trying to win over voters, who you lost in the last elections, are you trying to stop them from voting?
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“Shame, shame, shame,” added Schumer.
“Talk about shame,” replied McConnell. “If someone should be feeling ashamed around here, it’s becoming FEC[Federal Elections Commission] in a party promoter. The majority controlled by the president’s party to harass and intimidate the other side – that’s what you should be ashamed of ”.
The Democratic-controlled House has already passed its electoral rights legislation earlier this month, without the support of Republicans.