Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) (left) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) (right) talk during a June 13, 2022 session of the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
'Siding With Insurrectionists,' 203 House Republicans Vote No on Coup Prevention Bill
The Presidential Election Reform Act, which aims to prevent another January 6-style insurrection, passed with the support of every House Democrat present—but only nine Republicans.
House Democrats on Wednesday took aim at the overwhelming majority of their Republican colleagues in the lower chamber who voted against proposed legislation that aims to prevent another attempt to use Congress to subvert presidential elections.
"It comes as no surprise that only nine Republicans voted to ensure the integrity of the electoral vote count."
The Presidential Election Reform Act, written by Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), seeks to prevent presidents from manipulating the Electoral Count Act like former President Donald Trump attempted to do as part of his effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden.
The measure passed by a vote of 229-203, with every House Democrat present voting in favor. Only nine House Republicans joined them. All nine are leaving Congress after this term, either because they lost primary challenges or are retiring.
In addition to Cheney, they are Reps. Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Jamie Herrera Beutler (Wash.), Chris Jacobs (N.Y.), John Katko (N.Y.), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Peter Meijer (Mich.), Tom Rice (S.C.), and Fred Upton (Mich.).
"To all those who oppose this legislation, I ask you, how could anyone vote against free and fair elections--the cornerstone of our constitution?" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)--who leads a party that has repeatedly fought to keep more progressive challengers off ballots and out of debates across the country--said Wednesday on the House floor.
"How could anyone vote against our founders' vision: placing power in the hands of the people?" she added. "How could anyone vote against their own constituents, allowing radical politicians to rip away their say in our democracy?"
In a swipe at Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) tweeted that the newly passed bill "eliminates loopholes insurrectionists tried to exploit on January 6th--even for those who only spent 'a couple seconds' trying to overthrow democracy."
Speaking of his 203 GOP colleagues who voted against the bill, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), chair of the House Rules Committee, told Politico that "the idea that they're siding with insurrectionists, they're siding with people who are trying to undermine our democracy is really disgusting."
Politico reports that some House Republicans could be open to supporting a Senate version of the legislation introduced in July by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), which might include provisions of the lower chamber's bill.
Manchin's office said Wednesday that his bill has 10 Republican co-sponsors--enough GOP votes for filibuster-free passage.
This post has been updated to clarify that Rep. Mark Pocan's tweet was directed at Sen. Ron Johnson.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
House Democrats on Wednesday took aim at the overwhelming majority of their Republican colleagues in the lower chamber who voted against proposed legislation that aims to prevent another attempt to use Congress to subvert presidential elections.
"It comes as no surprise that only nine Republicans voted to ensure the integrity of the electoral vote count."
The Presidential Election Reform Act, written by Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), seeks to prevent presidents from manipulating the Electoral Count Act like former President Donald Trump attempted to do as part of his effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden.
The measure passed by a vote of 229-203, with every House Democrat present voting in favor. Only nine House Republicans joined them. All nine are leaving Congress after this term, either because they lost primary challenges or are retiring.
In addition to Cheney, they are Reps. Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Jamie Herrera Beutler (Wash.), Chris Jacobs (N.Y.), John Katko (N.Y.), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Peter Meijer (Mich.), Tom Rice (S.C.), and Fred Upton (Mich.).
"To all those who oppose this legislation, I ask you, how could anyone vote against free and fair elections--the cornerstone of our constitution?" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)--who leads a party that has repeatedly fought to keep more progressive challengers off ballots and out of debates across the country--said Wednesday on the House floor.
"How could anyone vote against our founders' vision: placing power in the hands of the people?" she added. "How could anyone vote against their own constituents, allowing radical politicians to rip away their say in our democracy?"
In a swipe at Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) tweeted that the newly passed bill "eliminates loopholes insurrectionists tried to exploit on January 6th--even for those who only spent 'a couple seconds' trying to overthrow democracy."
Speaking of his 203 GOP colleagues who voted against the bill, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), chair of the House Rules Committee, told Politico that "the idea that they're siding with insurrectionists, they're siding with people who are trying to undermine our democracy is really disgusting."
Politico reports that some House Republicans could be open to supporting a Senate version of the legislation introduced in July by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), which might include provisions of the lower chamber's bill.
Manchin's office said Wednesday that his bill has 10 Republican co-sponsors--enough GOP votes for filibuster-free passage.
This post has been updated to clarify that Rep. Mark Pocan's tweet was directed at Sen. Ron Johnson.
House Democrats on Wednesday took aim at the overwhelming majority of their Republican colleagues in the lower chamber who voted against proposed legislation that aims to prevent another attempt to use Congress to subvert presidential elections.
"It comes as no surprise that only nine Republicans voted to ensure the integrity of the electoral vote count."
The Presidential Election Reform Act, written by Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), seeks to prevent presidents from manipulating the Electoral Count Act like former President Donald Trump attempted to do as part of his effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden.
The measure passed by a vote of 229-203, with every House Democrat present voting in favor. Only nine House Republicans joined them. All nine are leaving Congress after this term, either because they lost primary challenges or are retiring.
In addition to Cheney, they are Reps. Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Jamie Herrera Beutler (Wash.), Chris Jacobs (N.Y.), John Katko (N.Y.), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Peter Meijer (Mich.), Tom Rice (S.C.), and Fred Upton (Mich.).
"To all those who oppose this legislation, I ask you, how could anyone vote against free and fair elections--the cornerstone of our constitution?" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)--who leads a party that has repeatedly fought to keep more progressive challengers off ballots and out of debates across the country--said Wednesday on the House floor.
"How could anyone vote against our founders' vision: placing power in the hands of the people?" she added. "How could anyone vote against their own constituents, allowing radical politicians to rip away their say in our democracy?"
In a swipe at Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) tweeted that the newly passed bill "eliminates loopholes insurrectionists tried to exploit on January 6th--even for those who only spent 'a couple seconds' trying to overthrow democracy."
Speaking of his 203 GOP colleagues who voted against the bill, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), chair of the House Rules Committee, told Politico that "the idea that they're siding with insurrectionists, they're siding with people who are trying to undermine our democracy is really disgusting."
Politico reports that some House Republicans could be open to supporting a Senate version of the legislation introduced in July by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), which might include provisions of the lower chamber's bill.
Manchin's office said Wednesday that his bill has 10 Republican co-sponsors--enough GOP votes for filibuster-free passage.
This post has been updated to clarify that Rep. Mark Pocan's tweet was directed at Sen. Ron Johnson.