Election Security Bills Face the GOP

Election security legislation hits wall on Capitol Hill despite special advocate Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan Mueller Kamala Harris states that his Justice Department would have "no other choice" but to prosecute Trump for obstruction. Kamala Harris claims that her Justice Department would have "no choice" but to prosecute Trump for obstruction. Demobilization committees gain new powers to investigate Trump PLUSThe 448-page report details Russia's attempts to interfere in the country's last presidential fight.

The stalemate is frustrating, the Democrats, who say President TrumpDonald TrumpDC 's Board of Trustees rejects the Trump Hotel' s complaint to dismiss the Alcohol Permit Withdrawal claim on the "character" of the Trump Board of Trustees. pressure on migrants MOREThe remarks made to ABC News on the fact that he would be open to accept information about a political opponent inviting further interference in the upcoming elections.

"I can not believe Senator McConnell is not adopting any electoral security measures at this time. … We do not have much time left, "Sen said. Dick DurbinRichard (Dick) Joseph Durbin Hill's Morning – Trump and House Democrats Resume Fight Hill's Morning – House Democrats Resume Fight Trump's Border Funding Returns more deaths (D-Ill.), The Democratic Senate No. 2.

The House has passed a comprehensive bill on ethics and electoral reform, which includes a requirement for paper voting and early voting standards. It also includes unrelated issues, such as tougher campaign finance laws, the requirement for a president and vice-president to publish their tax returns, and the use of independent boards to draw cards. of distribution.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellNight Defense: Trump claims Iran has attacked tankers | Iran calls alarms "alarming" | A senior nuclear officer quietly leaves the Pentagon | Pelosi promises that Congress will block the sale of Saudi weapons Night Defense: Trump claims Iran would have attacked tankers | Iran calls alarms "alarming" | A senior nuclear officer quietly leaves the Pentagon | Pelosi promises that Congress will block the sale of Saudi arms McConnell defends Trump in a burst of shock: "He is chosen every day" (R-Ky.) He promised not to have a vote and was called a "law on the protection of Democratic politicians".

McConnell is disputed during an interview with the Fox News newspaper Laura IngrahamLaura Anne IngrahamMcConnell Defends Trump Against Critics: "It's Selected Every Day" McConnell Defends Trump Against Measures: "He's Selected Every Day" Ebola Epidemic in Africa Spreads False News in America MORE that he was concerned about the security of the elections but that the Senate would not consider a law that would attempt to shield elections from the supervision of elections by state and local governments.

"I am ready to consider legislation, but it must be directed in such a way that it does not compromise the control of elections by the state and at the local level. Democrats … would like to nationalize everything. They want the federal government to take a large part of the electoral process because they think it would be good for them, "McConnell said. "I am very interested in election security, but we need to make sure that the subject is election security."

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi Strikes Trump on Health Care: Her "Cruel Hypocrisy Has No Limits" Pelosi Strikes Trump on Health Care: Her "Cruel Hypocrisy Has No Limits" On The Money: The JJ offers legal advice supporting refusal to publish Trump tax returns | Centrist Democrats worry about minimum wage | Trump denigrates Powell before the crucial meeting of the Fed | Design leaks for Harriet Tubman PLUS invoice (D-Calif.) Announced after Trump's comments that Democrats in the House would introduce a new package of electoral safety laws, saying the president had been "so cavalier at ignoring the situation, to remain indifferent to the law and to everything as a country to say that it would invite foreign interventions ".

According to Pelosi, the package will include legislation requiring campaigns to report contacts of foreign nationals to the FBI, force states to use paper ballots and eliminate "foreign currency loopholes".

The House Intelligence Committee should also consider "targeted" legislation aimed at combating Russian interference. And the Democrats in the House seek to clarify the wording of what is considered a "thing of value." Campaigns are currently prohibited from accepting money or "something else of value" from foreign nationals.

But it is unlikely that these bills will be considered in the Senate.

Vice-Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerTrump puts GOP in a difficult position with remarks on the foreign "dirt" Trump puts GOSS in a difficult position, with remarks on the "dirt" Hillicon Valley: Tim Cook visiting the White House | Hearing of the House grappling with a serious threat | Bill and Melinda Gates launch a lobbying group | Tech turns to K-Street to fight antitrust | Prosecution represents major threat to T-Mobile / Sprint PLUS merger (D-Va.) Attempted this week to pass a law demanding a campaign to contact the Federal Election Commission and the FBI about attempts to influence foreign nationals to influence an election, including by attempting to donate or coordinate with the campaign.

But he was blocked by Sen. Marsha BlackburnMarsha BlackburnTrump puts GOP in a difficult position with remarks on the foreign "dirt" Trump puts a GOSS in a difficult position with remarks about the "dirt" in the Senate The bill on the Senate GOP requires the campaigns to report the foreign electoral assistance campaigns MORE (R-Tenn.), Who argued that the bill was too broad. She added in a subsequent statement that the effort to pass the bill by unanimous consent was a "blatant political blow".

The Senate will hold an information meeting of all members on election security, McConnell confirmed at a weekly news conference this week. But he avoided the question of whether the Senate will pass a bill. A spokesman said Friday that he had made no announcement in this regard.

Trying to introduce a bill could trigger negative reactions from Trump, who rented Blackburn Friday "for fighting the obstructionist Democrats led by Cryin & # 39; Chuck SchumerA women's football team Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerUS reiterates his pressure for equal pay The Blue Dogs seek to advance their infrastructure project A Democratic strategist declares that the Republicans are transforming the debate on the issue. 39, immigration to "political football" PLUS. "

The New York Times reported earlier this year that the acting chief of staff Mick MulvaneyJohn (Mick) Michael MulvaneyOn The Money: Pelosi does not plan to raise the debt ceiling before the conclusion of an agreement on spending ceilings | McConnell lobbies White House to reach budget deal | Warren's bill would wipe out billions of student debt | The Senate passes the IRS reform bill on money: Pelosi does not plan to raise the debt ceiling before the conclusion of an agreement on spending ceilings | McConnell lobbies White House to reach budget deal | Warren's bill would wipe out billions of student debt | Senate Passes the IRS Reform Bill A New Poll Reveals GOP Negative to Spending Reductions on Selected Federal Programs MORE warned the former Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen NielsenKirstjen Michele Nielsen – Trump's administrative program sends asylum seekers in the expectation of a claim in Mexico, despite fears of violence: report The Trump administrative program sends claimants back home. asylum pending a request in Mexico, despite fears of violence: report Juan Williams: A cloud of illegitimacy hangs over Trump PLUS not to inform Trump about possible interference in the upcoming elections. Another official told CNN that it was like "gritting his teeth" to try to get the White House to prepare for potential interference in the 2020 election.

But several Republican senators have supported the bill to strengthen the country's electoral infrastructure, prevent future interference or punish attempts to interfere.

"I hope we will approach the electoral cycle. I mean, we have to do it regardless of the year 2016, "Sen said. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioThe Morning's Morning – Brouhaha after Trump's defense of foreign defense against candidates The Hill's Morning Report – Debate after Trump's defense for foreign defense against candidates, Trump puts GOP in a difficult position with his remarks on foreign "dirt" MORE (R-Fla.) In response to a question about the likelihood of the Senate passing legislation. "We must follow the tactics."

Rubio and Sen. Chris Van HollenChristopher (Chris) Van HollenDemocrats ask the Fed to probe the links of the Deutsche Bank Trump Democrats ask the Fed to probe the links of the Deutsche Bank Trump Legislators raise security concerns about the construction in Trump China New York Subway Cars MORE (D-Md.) Has legislation that would impose sanctions on Russia if it gets involved in the next elections and describes the actions that any foreign government or any foreign player could take that would "provoke retaliation" from the US United. But the bill was stuck in limbo, and Rubio told The Hill that he had not seen any change in the bill.

The Senate has adopted more modest measures such as the DETER or the defense of the elections against the trolls of enemy regimes, the law of Durbin and Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin Graham McConnell defends Trump in the aftermath: "He's picked every day" McConnell defends Trump in the aftermath: "He is selected in every day" The Hill's 12:30 Report – Presented by MAPRx – Biden, Sanders share the first stage of the match DNC debate MORE (R-S.C.) Earlier this month. The Senate Judiciary Committee has also passed legislation that would criminalize the hacking of any voting system used in a federal election, but the bill has not yet been called.

Meaning. James LankfordJames Paul Lankford – Night Defense: Trump salutes D-Day veterans in Normandy | Trump, Macron minimizes fracture on Iran | Trump mourns the death of a West Point cadet in an accident | The Pentagon closes the review of a deadly ambush in Niger, Trump greets the veterans of D-Day in Normandy: "You are the pride of our country" Hillicon Valley: Mueller's words highlight the projects of electoral security law | US asks visa applicants for information on social media | Tech explodes Trump's tariffs on Mexico PLUS (R-Okla.) And Amy KlobucharAmy Jean KlobucharHillicon Valley: Hacker Group Targets Power Grid | Democrats in House Lobby CBP About Facial Recognition Program | Senators Propose Bill to Protect Health Data | Groups File FCC Complaint Regarding Operator Use of Hillicon Valley Location Data: Hacker Group Targets Power Grid | Democrats in House Lobby CBP About Facial Recognition Program | Senators Propose Bill to Protect Health Data | Groups file a complaint with the FCC regarding the use of location data by carriers. It's time to let Medicare negotiate the price of drugs. MORE (D-Min.) Should re-introduce election security law, although two officials said Friday that they are still negotiating changes to the law.

Lankford, which consulted the White House, said late last month that the new version of the bill would not include state funding to improve their electoral security practices, but would require all jurisdictions to implement audits if they wanted future funding.

The White House opposition had refused the bill at the last Congress, when it was abruptly withdrawn from the Rules Committee following the GOP's rejection.

Lankford legislation divided Senate Republicans, with Graham and Senate Committee Chairman Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrTillis avoids the main challenge of NC Tillis avoids the main challenge of NC Trump Jr. after testifying: "Glad it's finally over" CONTINUATION (CN). Supporting him, even as part of the leadership resistance. Lankford seemed to draw a dividing line between his bill and a law that would extend federal election control.

"The federal government has no reason to tell each state how to organize its local elections, but we must encourage these states to have a system that they can check and verify," he said. he declared.

Sen. Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntMcConnell increases pressure on the White House to reach a budget deal McConnell increases pressure on the White House to get an agreement on the McConnell budget: the Senate will hold an election security briefing MORE (R-Mo.), The Chairman of the Regulatory Committee, said at a hearing this year that he was not planning to legislate on electoral safety because "I think the head of the majority is simply convinced that this debate leads to no conclusion. . "

When asked about Mr. Lankford's plan to reintroduce his bill, he repeated that "I have nothing new to say about it".

"I do not think we can propose a bill that further federates the electoral process," said Blunt. "Our goal will be to ensure that we support the state and local governments that have held and will be the best people to hold elections."

Mike Lillis contributed.