Iowa Republicans approve fast-track dramatic election bill

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


DAVID PITT,
Associated Press
Feb. 24, 2021
Updated: Feb. 24, 2021 8:19 p.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa House Republicans cast the final vote needed Wednesday to send a bill to the governor that sharply limits early voting in the state, months after a general election overseen by a Republican secretary of state resulted in record turnout and overwhelming victories by GOP candidates.

The bill passed with only Republican votes just a day after it similarly passed the Senate. Supporters of the legislation cited fraud concerns as the reason early voting must be reined in. However, like in many other Republican-led states where similar steps are being considered, there historically haven't been widespread concerns about irregularities in the election system.

“When we go back home and talk to people in the gas stations, at the grocery stores and at the hardware stores there is no disputing there are tens of thousands of Iowans that tell this Republican caucus every single week when we go home we emphatically support this bill, we want this bill, we think this bill is necessary and we support it,” said Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, who managed the bill in the House.

Democrats who are outnumbered in both chambers were left aghast but in no position to stop the changes. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump, has indicated she'd consider them.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Iowa-Republicans-fast-tracking-dramatic-election-15976302.php

[COL Mustard]

1. Can They Take It To Court?

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Change the narrative: Fantasy bill targets problem that doesn't exist

Complete waste of time to soothe the paranoia and fear of the GOP. This is targeting land sharks.

Democrats have to be inventive here. They are flummoxed by this issue in red states. The bill feeds a political fantasy.

[bullwinkle428]

3. This state is turning into a bigger and bigger shithole every day.

[benfranklin1776]

4. This is why it's imperative to pass the "For The People Act"

And the John Lewis Voting Rights Restoration Act, as both would guarantee every person in America the right to vote freely and fairly without enduring the ever tightening iron yoke of voter suppression that these treasonous bastards, who have demonstrated they clearly hate the concept of democracy and seek to impose fascist rule by any means, are furiously attempting to forge in order to strangle our most basic human right of self determination.

So I say blow up the damn filibuster if we have to in order to pass both of them, as it is as undemocratic as these voter suppression laws are, and, if we don’t, we may not have a democracy left when these enemies of America use these laws to take power and destroy what’s left of our democracy.

[Demsrule86]

7. I want the filibuster gone too, but we don't have the votes...maybe if we work our asses off

and this time some of us don't blame Biden for not getting what is not possible...holding the House and gaining Senate seats, we will have enough Democrats for getting rid of the filibuster. In the meantime, do what you can in reconciliation. Fix the ACA and get the Covid bill out fast...very unhappy with the optics of hearings about 1/6 while people continue to wait for relief.

[mdbl]

5. I hope it backfires and ends up suppressing more repug votes

that would be karma.

[Rebl2]

6. Hopefully it does

[modrepub]

8. Keep Taxes Local!

Let the Repubs have their "control". Just don't let them appropriate blue area taxes for red area deadbeats. Happens at all levels. If you won't share the power then we shouldn't share the taxes.

[SharonClark]

9. The gop in Iowa, like many states, is batshit crazy.

They're making it harder to vote, mandating guns rights in the state constitution, banning abortion, micromanaging county election officials and threatening them with jail, and retroactively punishing the Des Moines Public schools for following CDC guidelines and not the trumpster governor.

And they lie, lie, lie...

“When we go back home and talk to people in the gas stations, at the grocery stores and at the hardware stores there is no disputing there are tens of thousands of Iowans that tell this Republican caucus every single week when we go home we emphatically support this bill, we want this bill, we think this bill is necessary and we support it,” said Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, who managed the bill in the House.

[sakabatou]

10. Republicans keep on cheating

[Maxheader]

11. Bing! Bing!

Constitution violations...Bing! Bing!..