Some reform to start your fall right!
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Hi Friend,

 

It’s the first Three Things of what’s certain to be a busy September
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.

 

Over the course of September, Congress is set to debate the For the People
Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, consider raising the debt ceiling, pass
a reconciliation bill, and debate the Senate bipartisan infrastructure bill.

 

For a body known for its dysfunction, it’s certain to be divisive — and
difficult. 

 

Thanks to the hard work of advocates right now, reform promises solutions to
make legislating more productive and less combative. 

 

Here are three things to think about this week. 

What happened in Texas
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Texas took a step backwards this week, passing some of the most restrictive
voting laws in the nation.The bill includes hefty penalties — both legal and
civil — for election administrators, unprecedented legal protections for
partisan poll watchers to accessalmost any part of polling places
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, and significant rollbacks on the state’s fledgling absentee and drive thru
voting systems. With the passage of the bill, Texas cements its status as one
of the most difficult states to cast a ballot. 

 

It’s a major step backwards for voters and activists — but it’s by no means
the end of the fight. Our friends and partners are continuing to fight to put
voters first, and to make voting safe, secure, and accessible. You can join
them.Contact your state representatives <[link removed]>
and tell them to put voters first.



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“
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The enemy of my enemy is my friend"
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Representative Adam Kinzinger (R) of Illinois may be in the fight of his
political life
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ahead of next year’s midterms. As a Republican in a blue state, not only does
he face the significant risk of being gerrymandered out of office by the
Democratic legislature, but since voting for impeachment earlier this year,
Kinzinger has been the target of his own party’s ire, attracting primary
challengers trying to take him out of office. 

 

It’s a tragic example of the primary problem
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Kinzinger is facing fire from both sides despite his best efforts to put
country over party and serve his constituents. The political system will punish
Kinzinger, rather than reward him. 



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How do we avoid another insurrection?
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It’s hard to underplay the level of chaos that occurred on January 6th, 2021.
While Congress sat counting the electoral votes, a violent mob was encroaching
on the chamber, determined to stop the vote. But for the bravery and
clear-mindedness of the majority of legislators, staffers, and the vice
president of the United States, January 6th could have spelled the death of our
democracy. 

 

Now, the National Task Force on Election Crises is sounding the alarm on how
to prevent another January 6th insurrection — and it starts bymodernizing the
Electoral Count Act of 1887 <[link removed]>.
If January 6th proved anything, it’s thatthe fate of our democracy needs more
protection than even the members of Congress can provide. Updating the ECA to
be more specific and to allow for less leniency for member preference are
simple steps that ensure that it’s our vote — not politically motivated
politicians — that determine the winner of the presidential election. 



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Brett
__
Brett Maney
Senior Communications Manager
Unite America
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