Obama calls for restoration of Voting Rights Act

[jpak]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — President Obama will mark the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act Thursday by calling on Congress to restore the law and urging people to register to vote.

Obama will discuss the landmark voting law at a national teleconference in the afternoon with Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and voting rights advocates.

In a civil rights speech in Selma, Ala. in March, Obama called the Voting RIghts Act "one of the crowning achievements of our democracy." But he also said the law "stands weakened, its future subject to political rancor."

The Supreme Court struck down a key provision of that law two years ago, ruling that jurisdictions with a history of discrimination are no longer required to have voting changes pre-approved by the Justice Department. Efforts to pass a fix to that provision have stalled in Congress.

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Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/08/06/obama-calls-restoration-voting-rights-act/31199889/

[lark]

1. Good idea, but the Repugs will not let this go through.

Voter suppression is their 3nd preferred tool to try to win the presidency. First is gerrymandering and 2nd controlling the media by outspending Dems with an avalanche of lying and extremely negative campaign ads.

[erronis]

2. But this is a great time to show the world what obstructionists the 'ugs have been.

I'm not sure it can't pass especially if there is some media (yes, I know M$M) attention to this.

If the Boners/McCons and their ilk won't give this a chance, then perhaps - only perhaps - the few wishy-washy centrists in all parties will understand the way this congress has subverted the people.

[jwirr]

3. We will be lucky if it even gets a floor vote.

[lark]

4. I doubt McTurtle will allow it to the floor.

[Fred Sanders]

5. Isn't the point to debate issues, such as a National Election Holiday, as someone you know may have suggested?

What are the odds that suggestion will be "brought to a vote"?? But still someone dared to suggest such a thing.

[jwirr]

6. If they do not bring it to the floor there will be no debate on it.

[lovemydog]

7. Heck to the yes.

And let's get a Congress that will pass this legislation!

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, jpak.

[JDPriestly]

9. K&R.