Weekly Opinion Editorial
by Steve Fair
House Resolution #7296 (HR#7296) aka the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act is legislation establishing new federal requirements for voter registration and identification. HR#7296 proposes to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 requiring documented proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It passed the U.S. House, along Party lines, 218-213, but faces strong Democratic opposition in the Senate. Republicans currently lack the 60 votes needed in the Senate to invoke cloture, overcome a traditional filibuster, and bring HR#7296 to a floor vote.
Some Republicans have urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune, (R-SD), to force the D's to physically hold the floor to sustain their obstruction- a 'talking filibuster.' Remember "Mr. Smith goes to Washington?" Thune and others believe doing that could backfire and delay other legislation. Three observations:
First, the U.S. Constitution gives joint power of elections to states and the federal government. By its terms, Article I, Section 4, Clause 1, referred to as the Elections Clause, says state legislatures will establish the times, places, and manner of holding elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate, subject to Congress making or altering such state regulations.
State authority to regulate the times, places, and manner of holding congressional elections has been described by the Supreme Court as the ability to enact the numerous requirements as to procedure and safeguards to ensure elections for federal offices are fair and honest and orderly. Therein lies the problem- some states don't want fair, honest and orderly elections. All of those states are governed by Democrats.
Second, Democrats should be forced to physically filibuster. They have done it before to block important legislation. In 1964, a group of Democrat Senators blocked the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for 60 days. During that debate, Senator Robert Byrd, (D-WV) spoke for 14 hours and 13 minutes. But that's not the record for one person holding the Senate floor. In 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond, (D-SC) spoke against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 in an attempt to prevent its passage for 24 hours and 18 minutes. To sustain his speech, he read the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and Washington’s Farewell Address. If the American people are made aware of the absurdity of letting non-citizens vote in elections, they will rise in mass against the practice. Let the Ds take the stage.
Third, HR#7296 is just common sense. Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote is not unreasonable. Only cheaters oppose making sure those who vote are Americans. Requiring voters present a valid government-issued ID to cast a ballot is not obstructive. Only tricksters oppose confirming a voter is who they say they are. Requiring state election officials to regularly purge their voter rolls is not being difficult. Only thugs oppose making sure voter rolls are current and correct.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-NY) said HR#7296 would force Americans to register to vote in person- something he claims only about 5% of Americans do today. He's wrong- it's about 11%, but the truth is voters should be required to register in person. When Schumer was a member of the House back in 1996, he supported voter ID. He said requiring IDs was just 'common sense.'
What happened in the last 30 years? Democrats became dependent on non-citizen votes. The Ds can't win without cheating, so Schumer flip flopped.
Let the Democrats take the stage! GOP Senate leaders should make them physically hold the Senate floor. Make them sell Americans on their plan to have non-citizens vote to elect our leaders.
TAKE THE STAGE & SELL THE IDEA TO CHEAT!Click the headline to read this full article, TAKE THE STAGE & SELL THE IDEA TO CHEAT!, at FAIR AND BIASED
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