February 14, 2002
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate
defeated proposed amendments on Thursday to election-reform legislation
that would have returned voting rights to millions of convicted felons
and provided paid leaves for federal employees to serve as election-day
poll workers. The action came as the Senate moved toward anticipated passage
of bipartisan legislation that would implement one of the biggest overhauls
ever of the nation's election system. Designed to avoid a repeat of the
disputed 2000 White House election, the measure would establish national
election standards, such as requiring states to allow voters to verify
ballots and correct errors before the votes are counted. Lawmakers had
hoped to vote on passage as early as Thursday. But because of a crush of
proposed amendments that they still had to sift through they put off that
action until after they return on Feb. 25 from a weeklong President's Day
recess.
The $3.4 billion Senate bill would provide federal grants to help states meet new election standards. In addition, the bill would create a national commission to administer the funds and recommend improvements. On Thursday, the Senate rejected a half dozen amendments to the bill, including one by Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee. Lieberman's measure would have provided administrative leaves for federal employees to serve as election poll workers. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, chief Republican sponsor of the election-reform bill, objected, noting most federal workers, particularly unionized ones, are Democrats. McConnell said the Lieberman amendment would grant these workers ``a paid holiday to go out and work for Democrats.'' The amendment was defeated on a largely party line vote of 46-49. The Senate also rejected, 31-63, a proposed amendment that would have enabled convicted felons to get back their right to vote after they have served their sentences and completed probation and parole. Currently, an individual loses his or her right to vote upon a felony conviction. States offer various ways for the right to be restored but it is virtually impossible in many of them, critics say. Sens. Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, and Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania, Republican, offered the ex-felon amendment, saying they wanted to ``restore fairness.'' They also argued permitting convicted felons to again vote would help in the rehabilitation process. They said there are an estimated 3.9 million people in the United States, one in 50 adults, who cannot vote as a result of felony convictions. But most of their Senate colleagues, many of whom are up for re-election this year, were unswayed and voted no on the amendment. Once the Senate approves the election-reform bill, the legislation will be sent to a House-Senate conference to work out differences with a similar House-passed measure. Proponents hope to send a final measure to President Bush to sign into law within the next few months.
(Rollcall Vote No. 31 Leg. )
February 14, 2002 12:18PM
VOTE TITLE: Reid Amdt. No. 2879
BILL NO.: S.
565
AMENDMENT NO.: S.Amdt.2879
REQUIRED FOR MAJORITY: 1/2
RESULT: Amendment Rejected
YEAS --- 31
Akaka
Feingold
Lincoln
Bingaman
Hollings
Mikulski
Boxer
Inouye
Miller
Cantwell
Jeffords
Murray
Cleland
Kennedy
Reed
Clinton
Kerry
Reid
Corzine
Kohl
Santorum
Daschle
Leahy
Sarbanes
Dayton
Levin
Specter
DeWine
Lieberman
Wellstone
Durbin
NAYS --- 63
Allard
Edwards
McCain
Allen
Ensign
McConnell
Baucus
Enzi
Murkowski
Bayh
Feinstein
Nelson (FL)
Biden
Fitzgerald
Nelson (NE)
Bond
Frist
Nickles
Breaux
Graham
Roberts
Brownback
Gramm
Rockefeller
Bunning
Grassley
Schumer
Burns
Gregg
Sessions
Byrd
Hagel
Shelby
Carnahan
Harkin
Smith (NH)
Carper
Helms
Snowe
Chafee
Hutchinson
Stabenow
Cochran
Hutchison
Thomas
Collins
Inhofe
Thompson
Conrad
Johnson
Thurmond
Craig
Kyl
Torricelli
Crapo
Landrieu
Voinovich
Dodd
Lott
Warner
Dorgan
Lugar
Wyden
NOT VOTING --- 6
Bennett
Domenici
Smith (OR)
Campbell
Hatch
Stevens
I hope everyone can contact Sen. Harry
Reid and thank him for his leadership on this most important issue.
His email is senator_reid@reid.senate.gov
or phone him at 202-224-3542 or fax him at 202-224-7327or write him c/o
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510.
BELOW IS A SAMPLE LETTER RITTEN BY CURE CHAIR KAY PERRY.
OF COURSE, THIS IS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED. USE YOUR OWN WORDS.
In the same way, can you contact Sen.
Arlen Specter who helped Sen. Reid. His phone number is 202-224-4254 and
fax is
202-228-1229 or write him at the same address. Sen. Specter
as well as every Senator has a website. Go to http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
and there is a form you can fill out to express your opinion. Finally,
call the Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121 and ask for the offices of your
two senators. Try to talk to the staffer over the election bill. If the
Senator voted with us, express thanks!. If they voted against us,
strongly express your disappointment. Your call has an effect. Many times
when I visit congressional offices, I observe staffers keeping count on
the negative and positive calls the Senator receives on a specific issue.
Charlie
PS. Or, go to your two senators websites and fill out the form.
> Dear Senator Reid,
>
> Thank you so much for leading the effort to permit
ex-felons to vote.
> Everyone seems to want ex-prisoners to be good citizens,
but all too many
> don't want to grant them the tools of citizenship.
How terribly
> shortsighted!
>
> My congratulations to you for having the courage to
stand up for such an
> important issue!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Kay Perry