DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Senate GOP blocks three election security bills for second day

Senate Republicans blocked three election security bills on Wednesday, marking the second time in as many days they've stymied legislation.

Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) asked for unanimous consent to pass three election-related bills.

But they were blocked by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who noted that the unsuccessful attempt was the latest by Democrats to pass election security bills in the Senate ahead of 2020.

“You know, it’s not a good sign if you’re doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result," Blackburn said.

Under Senate rules, any one senator can ask to vote on or pass a bill. But because it requires unanimous support, any one senator can also block their requests.

Election security has become a point of contention during the Trump era. House Democrats have passed several election-related bills, including a sweeping ethics and election reform measure, but they've hit a wall in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Warner, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, tried to pass legislation that would require campaign officials to report contacts with foreign nationals who are trying to make donations or coordinate with the campaign to the Federal Election Commission, which would notify the FBI.

“The alarm bells are going off and what are we doing? We’re running out of time to do something about it," Warner said from the Senate floor.

Warner added that if a foreign government offers to interfere to help a campaign "the appropriate response is not to say thank you. The appropriate response is to call the FBI."

House Democrats are in the middle of an impeachment inquiry focused on President Trump asking Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, and whether or not he held up aid to try to build pressure.

Klobuchar, a 2020 White House hopeful and the top Democrat on the Rules Committee, on Wednesday tried to pass legislation requiring campaigns to report “illicit offers” of election assistance from foreign governments or individuals to both the FBI and the Federal Election Commission, and take steps to ensure that political advertisements on social media are subject to the same stricter rules as ads on television or radio.

"It’s about protecting our election hardware and infrastructure but it is also about protecting us from this disinformation campaign, all of this really bad stuff," Klobuchar said.

The legislation, known as the SHIELD Act, is expected to get a vote in the House on Wednesday.

Wyden, meanwhile, tried to pass legislation, known as the SAFE Act, that would authorize more funding for the Election Assistance Commission and includes language that would ban voting machines from being connected to the internet and being produced in foreign countries.

Blackburn also objected to that bill.

“I just find it stunning that the Republican Party continues its wall-to-wall campaign of obstruction against election security," Wyden countered.

The back-and-forth on the Senate floor came after Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) blocked an attempt by Democrats to pass legislation on Tuesday.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4671...VcbxHSM2mgKq7I4

With Pelosi's and the Democrat Congress's attitude of no longer working together for the good of America, why would you expect cooperation?

You are on your own, just like you wanted.

-No USMCA trade bill.
-No help with Border Security.
-No help with ICE or Border Control.
-No Transparency on Impeachment.
-Support of Sanctuary Cities defying Federal Law.
-America be damned because they don't want to give Trump any victories.

So don't 'protect our elections' over that? How unPatriotic.

Well considering he got help from the Russians in 2016 and has openly lobbied for help from both Ukraine and China in 2020, it's obvious the GOP are protecting their boy. And people like you approve of it.

Seems like par for the course.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed to add $250 million for election security.

Care to discuss that?

I'd care more to discuss the 400+ Bills Moscow Mitch is sitting on - but you don't want to discuss that because it's more proof of how messed up the GOP is under Trump and Moscow M.

Once you actually discuss the original topic I'd be glad to.

Somehow you seem to indicate that money will solve the problem in and of itself. Once you actually address the topic of the thread, I'd like to see what actions the bill had in it far more than the money involved. Money without having the proper laws and guidelines in a bill is meaningless.

So now Mitch, Tulsi, Jill Stein AND Trump are all Rooskies?

Oh you paranoid Dems!

Nah, Mitch pitches for China.

rofl Oh you paranoid Dems!

paranoid? the gop backs Putin’s puppet and allows Russia to control Syria and Turkey to kill innocents and push their borders into Syria 20 miles all while freeing hundreds of Isis fighters. And trump uses US forces to protect syrian and Saudi oil fields? Yeah, what could possibly go wrong or blow up over there.

Moscow Mitch earned his comradeship and nickname. . . please don't belittle his accomplishment. In an era of name calling and labels that Trump started with Lyin Ted, Dummy Beto and Crooked Hilary we need appropriate names for the sham Republicans. Puppet is probably good for a slew of them - Puppet Bar, Puppet Nunes, Puppet Pompeo ....

I think we would be far better off not allowing illegals and dead people to vote in our elections.

Do something about that, then we can talk, otherwise, buzz off. Nothing else to talk about.

Note...buzz off is simply a term or expression. It isn't meant to be derogatory in a personal way..

Just so you know - there's been boatloads of rhetoric from the republicans about voter fraud. But you know who has actually been found to actually be doing voter fraud on a larger scale? Yeah - wasn't the Dems.... but over all that voter fraud stuff was just stuff to whip up some frenzy and the hate.

No offense taken Peen, we're cool. But you know how people say we start to resemble our dogs after a while?



Your dog can't hunt. I mean that in a non-derogatory non-personal way too. Have a good weekend

So why is that so important to you now? The deplorable dude you voted for won. Whatcha worried about? A few illegals and others gaming the system? You think the voting fraud that exists is just one sided? You guys never mention how the gop gerrymandering effects voting districts more than the voting fraud you speak of. Do something about that and we’ll talk.

It’s nearly impossible to get back up on that ledge once you’ve jumped off it right?

You do realize that by and large even Trump had to give up the theory that such things are wide spread, right?

Report: Trump commission did not find widespread voter fraud

https://www.apnews.com/f5f6a73b2af546ee97816bb35e82c18d

So that's the stuff you're resting your laurels on to ignore foreign interference in our elections?

I only read one of these security bills which was all about the voter turning in a paper copy.

Not sure how it's done elsewhere, but here we use a touch screen to place out votes, it then prints a paper copy, that we take to the voter staff, who then watches as we place it in a scanner, verify on the screen that the scan is correct, and then place the paper copy in a locked box.

I didn't understand how that is any different than what the bill was proposing.

Of course this may have changed as since the last Presidential election I have voted by mail.

I think the problem is there is no single standard. Some states like yours have a good method but it doesn't hold true nationally. That's what I think they are trying to accomplish there.

What's in these bills that Republicans don't want?

Honest politics. Just like why they are against ending gerrymandering.

Republicans find it funny that Democrats won't protect our Nations borders but cry to protect our elections.

Trump figured out how to slow down the invasion, now it is your turn to figure out the elections.

Republicans already know the elections are safe.

Safe? Really? Do explain how having RUssians meddling year after year makes us safe? I'll wait.

Perhaps Trump should tell Putin to send us millions of Russians, have them cross our borders, and we will pay for their Welfare and Healthcare, have them move to Lib States which will issue them drivers licenses, as long as they agree to vote REPUBLICAN and TRUMP!!!

Then we could take Conservative towns and cities inside Liberal States declaring them Rooskie Sanctuary Towns and Cities so no one can touch our new Rooskie friends!

Now isn't that how you undermine and destroy a Nation?
We learned fast from the Libs.

But alas, we are Republicans and Patriots.
We would never stoop to destroying our Nation for the sake of power.

That's sad and pathetic, I feel for you 40, that you actually believe these things is disturbing. I used to think that maybe you were hurt by somebody in your life, but now I see that you are just pretty much clueless and afraid.

So since every security agency knows Russia interfered in our elections.....

And since Trump asked Russia to find Hillary's emails.......

And since Trump just asked both Ukraine and China to investigate Biden....

You really have no excuse for the GOP stopping election security.

So all you can do is change the subject. That's just so you....

That's freakin idiotic.

First, Dems aren't against Border Security.. Go look at the stats under Obama and if you can pull yourself away from FOX news, you'll find that it was getting under control.

And again, if you look at the stats, Trumps actions didn't slow anything down. It's worse now than what it was under Obama. Do the fact checking

A whole bunch of our security and policing agencies in the US have determined that the elections ARE NOT SAFE.

How stupid do people have to be to not get that.

Your arguments don't hold water,, all one has to do is research, and you'll find out.

He knows bro, but that don't work with his efforts to troll.

I don't think he knows.. He listens to what comes from FOX and out of Trumps mouth.. He hears nothing else from any other source... So no, I don't think he knows anything...

That's why you can have a lively debate/discussion with an informed conservative, but get nowhere talking to a "FOXdoop®"

Ain't that the truth

Our elections aren't even safe from our own media tampering and manipulating.