“Moscow Mitch” McConnell’s Dereliction of Duty
FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
“If Russia or any other foreign country interferes in the 2020 elections, responsibility for this cyberattack on our democracy will fall squarely on ‘Moscow Mitch’ and on President Trump.”
As Congress returns from its August recess, “Moscow Mitch” McConnell continues to refuse to allow the Senate to vote on legislation to strengthen the nation’s election security and the rules prohibiting foreign interference in our elections.
In taking this stonewalling position, Senate Majority Leader McConnell is standing in the way of protecting the integrity of our democracy and our elections.
McConnell’s obstruction is a dereliction of duty of the highest order.
In June 2019, the House passed the SAFE Act.
According to its chief sponsor, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Chair of the House Administration Committee, the Act would provide “meaningful investments to upgrade the security of voting systems across the country to guard against foreign interference in our democracy.”
McConnell has blocked this House-passed bill as well as a number of bipartisan election security bills introduced in the Senate.
The House is expected to act on a second bill in the coming weeks: the SHIELD Act, a comprehensive bill to strengthen the laws that prohibit foreign money and influence in our elections. Both the SAFE Act and the SHIELD Act incorporate provisions contained in H.R. 1, the House-passed democracy reform bill.
Perhaps the best chance for action on election security lies in the appropriations process. The House has passed an appropriation of $600 million for election security use by the states. All or part of this could end up in a final House-Senate appropriations conference report, although the funds would be very late for states to use effectively for the 2020 elections.
If Russia or any other foreign country interferes in the 2020 elections, responsibility for this cyberattack on our democracy will fall squarely on “Moscow Mitch” and on President Trump. The President has adamantly rejected the reality of this issue and has refused to support any legislative efforts to address election security problems.
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Fred Wertheimer is the Founder and President of Democracy 21, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to strengthen our democracy and ensure the integrity and fairness of government decisions and elections. See previous Notes from Fred here.
