McConnell says bill that would make Election Day a federal holiday is a ‘power grab’ by Democrats

Washington Post ^

[Sub-Driver]

McConnell says bill that would make Election Day a federal holiday is a ‘power grab’ by Democrats (C-Span) 4-5 minutes

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Jan. 30 that the bill that would make Election Day a federal holiday would also "victimize" taxpayers.

Felicia Sonmez

National reporter on The Washington Post's breaking political news team

January 30 at 5:17 PM

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday that a Democratic bill that would make Election Day a federal holiday is a “power grab,” sparking a fierce backlash online.

McConnell was speaking about H.R. 1, legislation that Democrats have made a centerpiece of their agenda since retaking the House earlier this month.

In remarks on the Senate floor, McConnell (R-Ky.) said Democrats “want taxpayers on the hook for generous new benefits for federal bureaucrats and government employees,” including making Election Day a “new paid holiday for government workers.”

“So this is the Democrats’ plan to ‘restore democracy,’” McConnell said, describing the legislation as “a political power grab that’s smelling more and more like what it is.”

The far-reaching legislation would also prohibit the purging of voter rolls, require presidential and vice-presidential candidates to release their tax returns, compel states to adopt independent redistricting commissions and create a matching system for small-dollar donations to congressional campaigns, among other changes.

In his Wednesday remarks, as well as in a Washington Post op-ed earlier this month, McConnell mocked the legislation as the “Democrat Politician Protection Act.”

“H.R. 1 would victimize every American taxpayer by pouring their money into expensive new subsidies that don’t even pass the laugh test,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.

His remarks prompted a wave of criticism by Democrats, some of whom argued that McConnell was acknowledging that Republicans want to make it more difficult for Americans to vote.

[Sub-Driver]

Move it to April 15th........

[lgjhn23]

“...Move it to April 15th........ “
Yep....agreed. Even better yet, make April 16th so that the tax-paying “unwashed masses” have a day/night to stew over it before they cast their votes.

[Daaave]

Too easy. EVERYTHING democrats do is a power grab.

[TomGuy]

One of the biggest culprits is ‘early voting’. That gives the opposition (usually Dems) an opportunity to see how many votes they need to manufacture to win certain districts.

Dems flubbed that in 2016, but learned how to do it better in 2018.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Do it on a Saturday. Allow seniors to vote on Friday for 8 hours to clear any logjam that might develop. No more early voting without I.D. + fingerprinting. Fingerprinting for all.

[Vendome]

Enough holidays

If you have to go, go vote.

[LostInBayport]

Yep....agreed. Even better yet, make April 16th so that the tax-paying “unwashed masses” have a day/night to stew over it before they cast their votes.

I used to agree with that, but during the so-called shutdown emphasis was placed upon tax refunds being delayed. I hear people talk about "when I get my tax refund." I know of a few people that rub their hands with glee because it is Earned Income Tax Credit time. Money from the sky! These people are happy at tax time.

The only people pissed off at tax time are those who pay quarterly, and that group is already motivated to vote.

I say make it a federal holiday, on a Friday, and stop all early voting. The uninspired will find "better things" to do with their long weekend than stand in line at a polling place, and that works to our favor.

[JudgemAll]

So that federal workers can volunteer and stuff ballots...

[JudgemAll]

A government shutdown democrats can agree with, so that their deep state workers can volunteer and take over elections.

[Flaming Conservative]

Isn’t it illegal to refuse to let an employee go to vote, if the polls are only open during their work hours? (Thinking of people on 12 hour shifts, or very long commutes). We shouldn’t need a federal holiday for that. Besides, absentee voting is a literal joke, anymore. Anyone can do it for any reason. No need for time off.

[originalbuckeye]

Democrats never cease in their attempts to give themselves an advantage. A holiday was not considered before because not everyone bothers to vote. Let’s see, we have ballot harvesting, early voting, ranked choice, paying people to cast the vote requested (in Chicago they used to give out cigarettes for a completed ballot voting for Dems), and at one time the Dems wanted to penalize anyone who didn’t vote...........and now a Holiday? We want those LEGALLY ALLOWED TO VOTE. We don’t want those not allowed to vote to do so as that negates legal votes!

[TheNext]

Symbolism over substance.

It is a distraction so Democrats do not have to ban their fraudulent elections.

[gibsonguy]

Actually I am ok with this. The non workers and union a-holes have the day off already let productive citizens have it off too, we might have better turnout. I think this might backfire on the Rats.

[Liz]

Pelosi and all her Democrat suck-ups have completely abandoned any pretense at governing.

The very last thing Democraps want is to do the right thing for the American people.

Nanzi’s cockamamie activities illustrate they are plotting and colluding to sow confusion among the electorate.

They believe that’s the only thing that will put them back in total power over us.

Forget reasoning, compromise, negotiating......that aint in the Dems bag of tricks.

REMEMBER THIS The Democraps are an invading army waging war on a peaceful people........
the young, able-bodied males streaming across the border are the Dems' foot-soldiers.

============================================

CIRCA 2016---PELOSI DEMEANS AMERICAN CITIZENS WHILE ON FOREIGN SOIL
BEFORE TRUMP GOT THE NOM AND GOT ELECTED BY 63 MILLION AMERICANS

Here's Pelosi in Mexico telling Mexican officials Trump is speaking to an "insecure minority," who maybe lost their job and think it was because of immigration, of trade. I think it's putting too much weight on all this. He only has one half of one half, 25%."

The 2016 Mexico delegation also included Democrat Reps. Norma Torres, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Pete Aguilar and Linda Sanchez (Calif.); Beto O'Rourke and Henry Cuellar (Texas); Ruben Gallego (Ariz.); Michelle Lujan Grisham (N.M.); and Republicans Michael Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and Richard Hanna (N.Y.).

SCHADENFREUD Beto sucked-up bigtime for latino votes....but still lost his Texas race against Cruz.

===================================

Pelosi pledges her loyalty to Mexico---demeans American citizens to foreign dignitaries

At a 2016 meeting in Mexico City, Pelosi told the Mexican president and his entourage: “We come here as a bipartisan and large delegation to express our respect for the people of Mexico and the country of Mexico; to acknowledge our shared border and our shared values and to learn more about how we can work together for the bright future for not only our two countries but for our hemisphere.” Pelosi said the delegation had a busy time in Mexico City. “We heard a sermon on the importance of workers in Mexico, a view we share. We’ve met with members of the American Chamber of Commerce. We had a very beneficial meeting with Director General Zapata on the subject of the economy and on the subject of TPP (trade pact) especially.

"And then we had a glorious meeting, a really very thorough exchange of subjects and views – again about our shared values and our shared border – with the President [of Mexico]......with Members of the Federal Deputies – Mexican Federal Deputies – and Senators. And this evening we will have a dinner meeting with the Foreign Minister,” Pelosi said.

[ml/nj]

So they're proposing we have another one day government shutdown? (An annual one at that!)

ML/NJ

[afterhoursarmory]

bwahaha... Yup. Been wishng for that for years.

[Sacajaweau]

Make it two days long...a weekend.

[aimhigh]

I agree, a voting holiday would result in more Republican votes. This assumes everyone is voting once. A day off does give Dems more time to vote twice.

[Osage Orange]

How about we make TERM LIMITS for Sinators..and Crapmentors?

[IDFbunny]

Why not make election day the same as Veterans Day?