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“I think it’s going to be a challenge,” Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said. “You have Democrats made clear that they’re going to line up pretty much, with no exception to Senator Joe Manchin.”
“It’s very difficult to get to 60,” the Alaskan senator added.
Murkowski’s frank assessment underscores how any legislation to reform voting laws is unlikely to pass the Senate by 50-50 over the next two years given the stiff resistance that Manchin and a handful of other Democrats have expressed about changing the disruption rules so that the legislation can advance along the straight party. lines.
The move comes as Democrats try to define their strategy on this key issue knowing that they lack votes but face an onslaught of Republican-led efforts to scale back rules that have facilitated access to voting during the pandemic.
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a much narrower and less comprehensive election bill than Act For the People, a signature bill to vote reform that is a key priority for Democrats, but restores key parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, including a provision requiring states to Consult with the federal government before making major changes to their voting rules.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledged Tuesday that the House will work to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. In a letter to House Democrats, Pelosi wrote that “it is imperative that HR Act 4, John Lewis’ Voting Rights Enhancement Act, becomes law. When we pass HR 4, we must do so in a constitutionally strict manner,” adding, “HR must be bypassed.” 4, but it won’t be ready until fall.”
Pelosi wrote in her letter to Democrats that John Lewis’ voting bill “is not a substitute” for comprehensive voting reform legislation, saying the voting bill “must pass now.”
In a recent opinion piece explaining why he would not vote for a bill for the people, Manchin argued in favor of the John Lewis bill, saying that there was bipartisan support behind it and noting that Murkowski had joined him in his call. It is passed through the regular system.
But there is no indication that there will be 10 Republican senators willing to vote for her to overcome the blockage, with some Republicans already throwing cold water on the prospect of passing such a bill. Manchin has also made clear that he does not support removing the opt-out requirement to lower the voting threshold for passing.
Manchin told reporters Tuesday morning that his meeting with the NAACP and other civil rights activists was “constructive,” calling them “the most respected group I’ve spoken to in a long time,” but the discussion did not change his mind about S1.
“I don’t think anyone has changed their positions on that, we’re just learning where everyone is coming from,” Manchin said.
“They helped me, very helpful,” he added.
CNN’s Daniela Diaz contributed to this report.
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