The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Friday that would enact voting system reform and new ethics rules for officeholders.
The vote was 234-to-193.
Republicans criticized the legislation as a power grab by Democrats.
The legislation would require states to create a system for automatic voter registration, featuring an opt-out system. It would also restore voting rights for felons after serving their sentences.
The legislation would ban Congressional lawmakers from sitting on corporate boards, require US presidents to disclose their tax returns, and create an ethics code for the US Supreme Court.
Rep. Larry Bucshon released the following statement after voting against the measure:
“The Democrat Politician Protection Act (H.R. 1) is a radical attempt to hijack our free and fair election system and limit the voices of the American people. Democrats are proposing the public financing of elections, which would force American’s hard-earned tax dollars to be used to subsidize political campaigns that they do not support – limiting Constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms of speech and association. Furthermore, this one-size-fits all, federal takeover of the election process will open the door for voting irregularities through federal mandates on voter registration and voting practices that will be forced on states. Last time I checked, voting happens at the state level and are the right and responsibility of state and local governments. Democracy is a participatory sport, and I am in full support of increased voter registration and participation in our election process. Unfortunately this legislation goes far beyond increasing voter participation and instead is a misguided attempt to rig our nation’s electoral systems for the exclusive benefit of the Democrat party by telling Americans once again that the federal government and Washington bureaucrats know better than they do.”
