WASHINGTON (SPECTRUM NEWS) — Democrats are hoping Wisconsin’s primary could shift priorities in Congress’s next plan for addressing the coronavirus pandemic.
While lawmakers want work quickly on a phase four federal COVID-19 response, party leaders seem to be approaching an impasse after blocking competing proposals in the Senate this week.
“This does not have to be, nor should it be contentious,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky. “We don't have to divide along the usual lines so soon after we came together for the country.”
But Democrats believe Republicans are looking to push though another aid package without their approval as a political stunt.
"It will not address the immediate need of small businesses in the legislation that we have passed,” said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland.
This comes on the heels of partisan fights in Wisconsin around postponing its spring election.
Two eleventh-hour court rulings not only reinstated in-person voting but also blocked attempts to expand absentee voting.
Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison says he’s working to ensure the next COVID-19 legislative package prevents that from happening in November.
“Oregon does a vote by mail program. They have one of the highest turnout in the nation,” said Rep. Pocan. “I think we can do that across the country and do it safely and securely but have that in place now for November because we don’t know exactly what the environment will look like for November.”
Pocan and the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California outlining the priority of securing safe elections in future relief legislation.
CPC’s recommendations for ensure safe elections:
- Enact a vote-by-mail requirement for 2020 federal elections while maintaining access to in-person voting for those who do not have access to mail voting.
- Ensure the protection of voting rights through the passage of core pieces of the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
- Invest in state election integrity efforts by appropriating at least an additional $3.6 billion for state-administered elections.
But that seems to be where Republicans are drawing the line.
“I think we have to be very careful of a federal government takeover of a state-by-state election system that overall serves quite us well,” said Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Janesville. “I think some of these broader policy objectives should be thoughtfully reviewed, should be debated, should be discussed and should not be moved quickly and expeditiously to try to gain political advantage.”
President Trump also weighed in this week on the idea of expanding absentee voting.
He said he doesn’t trust it and said it was potential for fraud.
Rep. Pocan called the president’s claims hypocritical considering Trump voted by mail in the last election.