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McConnell backs Senate’s Electoral Count Act bill
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday that he supports the Electoral Count Reform Act, which aims to protect future elections by making changes to the 1887 Electoral Count Act.
McConnell’s support gives a big boost to the legislation led by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), in part a response to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol that took place as Congress was trying to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.
“I strongly support the Collins legislation as introduced, and assuming that we make no changes here today, or at the most technical changes, I’ll be proud to vote for it and to help advance it,” McConnell said in a floor speech prior to the Rules Committee markup of the bill.
McConnell is taking on former President Trump by backing the bill. Trump has pressed Republicans to oppose the legislation, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) voted against a House version of the bill approved last week.
The Electoral Count Reform Act would clarify some procedures described by the 1887 law, including the roles of the vice president as well as state lawmakers in verifying the election of a president.
A similar bill was introduced and passed by House lawmakers last week after it was forwarded by two members of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.).
The House’s Presidential Election Reform Act was approved in a 229-203 vote on Wednesday.
The nine Republicans who backed the bill included the two members of the party on the Jan. 6 committee, Cheney and Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), as well as others who have been critical of the 2021 insurrection.
The Senate and House proposals differ in a few ways, including a provision in the House bill that would require one-third of each chamber to back a vote to challenge a state’s electoral results.
McConnell referred to the House bill as a “non-starter” in his speech on Tuesday but did not explain why he took that view.
thehill.com
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday that he supports the Electoral Count Reform Act, which aims to protect future elections by making changes to the 1887 Electoral Count Act.
McConnell’s support gives a big boost to the legislation led by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), in part a response to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol that took place as Congress was trying to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.
“I strongly support the Collins legislation as introduced, and assuming that we make no changes here today, or at the most technical changes, I’ll be proud to vote for it and to help advance it,” McConnell said in a floor speech prior to the Rules Committee markup of the bill.
McConnell is taking on former President Trump by backing the bill. Trump has pressed Republicans to oppose the legislation, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) voted against a House version of the bill approved last week.
The Electoral Count Reform Act would clarify some procedures described by the 1887 law, including the roles of the vice president as well as state lawmakers in verifying the election of a president.
A similar bill was introduced and passed by House lawmakers last week after it was forwarded by two members of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.).
The House’s Presidential Election Reform Act was approved in a 229-203 vote on Wednesday.
The nine Republicans who backed the bill included the two members of the party on the Jan. 6 committee, Cheney and Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), as well as others who have been critical of the 2021 insurrection.
The Senate and House proposals differ in a few ways, including a provision in the House bill that would require one-third of each chamber to back a vote to challenge a state’s electoral results.
McConnell referred to the House bill as a “non-starter” in his speech on Tuesday but did not explain why he took that view.
McConnell gives big boost to Senate’s Electoral Count Act bill
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday that he supports the Electoral Count Reform Act, which aims to protect future elections by making changes to the 1887 Electoral Count …
thehill.com
