Schumer, McConnell spar as GOP prepares to block voting bill
By Jordain Carney - 06/22/21 01:38 PM EDT
enate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sparred Tuesday on the upper chamber's floor ahead of a vote on a sweeping bill to overhaul federal elections.
The back-to-back floor speeches come as Republicans are poised to block the For the People Act, a top Democratic priority. Democrats are waiting to see if Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) will give them a symbolic victory and vote with them to try to advance the bill.
Schumer characterized the vote as a referendum on democracy as Democrats raise red flags over new legislation proposed, and in some cases enacted, in GOP-controlled states.
“Do my Republican colleagues believe that voting rights ... is that worthy of debate? Of course it is,” Schumer said from the Senate floor.
“Will our colleagues stand up for what generations of Americans have fought for, marched for and died for or will they just slink away and say we’re not going to even debate this?” he added.
But the ultimate outcome of Tuesday’s vote was never in doubt amid entrenched Republican opposition to the For the People Act and a slimmed-down list put out by Manchin as a potential compromise.
Democrats would need the support of 10 GOP senators to advance the election bill over an initial procedural hurdle on Tuesday. Every Republican is expected to vote against it.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/559620-schumer-mcconnell-spar-as-gop-prepares-to-block-voting-bill
