Should Congress mandate new voting, campaign finance, and ethics rules?
H.R. 1, For the People Act, demands systemic reform of the institutional processes of American democracy, in the interest of improved equality, accessibility, and representation. Proposed reform measures are categorized into three categories -- voting, campaign finance, and ethics. If passed, the bill would, for instance, require automatic voter registration in all states, end partisan gerrymandering, and encourage small-dollar campaign donations, among many reforms. The bill targets ‘big money’ donations and foreign interference as eroding to our democracy’s foundation. Additional overhaul of the Office of Government Ethics is intended to tighten the ethical standard for government officials.
Sponsor: Rep. John Sarbanes (Democrat, Maryland, District 3)
A detailed section-by-section summary may be found here: https://democracyreform-sarbanes.house.gov/sites/democracyreform.house.gov/files/SIMPLE-SECTION-BY-SECTION_H.R.-1_FINAL.pdf
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How do you feel?
Opponents say
• “Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues are advertising it as a package of urgent measures to save American democracy. What it really seems to be is a package of urgent measures to rewrite the rules of American politics for the exclusive benefit of the Democratic Party." Source: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican, Kentucky)
Proponents say
• "H.R. 1 will protect the right to vote, ensure the integrity of our elections, hold elected officials accountable and end the era of big, dark, special-interest money in our politics...Our historic reform effort will clean up decades of dysfunction in Washington, return power to the people and build a more just, equitable and prosperous country for all Americans." Source: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California, District 12)