Democrats Advance Effort to Secure Voting Privileges for Hurricane Victims

[MADem]

Wednesday, Oct. 12; 04:57pm

A Democratic-led effort to ensure voting privileges for the displaced residents of the Gulf Coast region appears to be picking up steam in Congress, with legislation now filed in the House and Senate that would provide Hurricane Katrina refugees with the same voting privileges granted to other absentee residents.

The Displaced Citizens Voter Protection Act of 2005 was introduced in the House by Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.) one month ago and Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) dropped a similar version in the Senate last week. Davis and Feingold are planning to hold a news conference on Capitol Hill next week to highlight the legislation.

The bill would grant residents of hurricane-ravaged areas who have temporarily relocated to other addresses the ability to vote absentee — the same way college students, military personnel and overseas voters do — in the 2006 federal elections.

...Davis’ bill currently has 33 co-sponsors in the House, all of them Democrats and primarily members of the Congressional Black Caucus. It has been referred to the House Administration Committee. Davis said that he has talked with some Republicans about the bill and that he is hopeful that the “good government” measure will eventually be able to garner bipartisan support. ....
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/10815-1.html (sub req)

If you suffer under a GOP congressman, CALL THEIR OFFICE NOW AND TELL THEM TO SUPPORT THIS BILL!!! NOTHING will happen unless the GOP can be shamed into cosponsoring it!

[BrklynLiberal]

1. How will the Repukes try to block it? Let me count the ways..

100, 200, 300, 400, 500,..........

[MADem]

5. They won't sponsor it, unless they are shamed into it nt

[primavera]

9. They'll just bury it in committee...

...along with every other decent bill that gets introduced. No need to suffer the accountability of publicly voting against it that way, you see, it just disappears down the committee black hole...

[MADem]

10. Not if people make a stink

This is a 'small thing' in the big media picture, I do not expect the talking heads to cover it at all. But if a few GOP reps get on the bandwagon, it might get out of committee. Especially if those reps are vulnerable, the leadership might try to give them a 'win' in order to give them a small leg up. And with the current disarray amongst the GOP right now, they sure are not marching in lockstep, so now is as good a time as any to secure a few wins for the people.

So again, I ask anyone who has a GOP congo rep to pick up the phone and give their office a call, and politely ask them to support this measure. If enough people call, write, email, this thing might have some life in it. Otherwise, we can count on the GOP-ification of NOLA and that is NOT GOOD for us from a national perspective...

[NorthernSpy]

2. what are "voting PRIVILEGES"?

Voting is a RIGHT! The reporter's use of the word "privilege" is inaccurate -- isn't it?

:think:

[stepnw1f]

3. No Shit! Grrrrr..... (nt)

[MADem]

4. Don't worry about the word, worry about the LEGISLATION

This will NOT MOVE FORWARD without GOP help, which is why I say if you are repped by a GOP cretin, CALL THEIR OFFICE and tell them you want them to back this bill.

[NorthernSpy]

6. well, of course I'll be calling my Reps to support this...

It's just that sometimes the language itself seems to be grinding its own little axe of sorts:

'Look who wants the refugees to have voting privileges -- the Democrat Party!'

Like how the press kept referring to charges of "voter fraud", even when the alleged fraud was not claimed to have been the work of voters.

Ticked me off!

[mestup]

7. Agree, "voter fraud" is a terrible term!

It suggests swarms of evildoers infiltrating the polls with big fat magic markers.

Geez!

[Der Blaue Engel]

8. Sadly, no

That's why we need a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote.

[pearl]

11. We need to start a list of republicans

who we can call for these kind of things.

I say we bum rush their phones in their home districts.
including: Denny Hastert
Mark Kirk
Judy Biggert

Republicans from the region

[MADem]

12. Kick, please call your congressman

Call AND WRITE if he or she is GOP!!!!!!