This is Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United // Let America Vote -- which has worked closely with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and other key allies to protect democracy.
As you know, yesterday was a big day for the For the People Act. All 50 Senate Democrats voted to begin debate of the bill. Republicans filibustered the vote, kicking off the summer-long fight to pass the bill in the Senate.
I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on the state of play and what we expect from here.
Through paid advertising in the states and working with the PCCC and other allies to engage Capitol Hill, we’ve passed the bill in the House, navigated a successful committee process in the Senate, and are beginning the final phase of this campaign: the fight in the Senate.
With the Republicans filibustering the bill, they again proved they are not acting in good faith. Meanwhile, the full Democratic Caucus is unified on the need to pass a bill that protects the freedom to vote and limits the influence of Big Money.
The Path Forward:
Senator Manchin has said, “inaction is not an option.” He‘s searching for Republican support, but when it turns out that there are not 10 Republicans for any iteration of any voting rights bill, he and every Senator will have to decide whether protecting the right to vote is truly a priority.
We believe Democrats will protect the vote and take on big money in our politics. But this summer will be intense. More ads, more Capitol Hill engagement, more activism will be needed. Your support of groups like End Citizens United and the PCCC will be key -- please chip in what you can.
The combination of the anti-voting bills being passed in state legislatures, Republicans' unwillingness to even debate in the Senate, and continued pressure by groups and advocates inside and outside of the Capitol will make inaction untenable.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has also said failure is not an option and has set an August deadline for passage. Yesterday’s vote was an expected step in the process -- and happening in June, it means we are ahead of schedule.
Working with groups like the PCCC, we’ll continue our campaign pressuring the Senate to pass the bill, even if it means a change in Senate process that bypasses the filibuster.
Despite the cynicism of the pundits and the press, we’ve had a plan that is on track and on a timeline that works in our favor. This fight was never going to be easy, but it remains one that we can and will win.
Thank you for all your support during this campaign.
-- Tiffany Muller, Executive Director, End Citizens United // Let America Vote
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