Joe Manchin (D-WV) posted an op-ed on West Virginia Gazette Mail titled “Joe Manchin: Why I’m Voting Against The For The People Act.” However, the bigger message within his piece is something that maybe all politicians should consider.
Many politicians discuss the idea of ‘bipartisanship.’ Manchin says one of the only ways to reach true bipartisan success is contingent upon passing things that don’t have to be partisan focused conversations or agendas. The senator’s main reason for voting against For the People Act is an effort to fight for bipartisanship.
Unfortunately, we now are witnessing that the fundamental right to vote has itself become overtly politicized. Today’s debate about how to best protect our right to vote and to hold elections, however, is not about finding common ground, but seeking partisan advantage…partisan policy making won’t instill confidence in our democracy — it will destroy it.
Manchin explains that one party pushing laws without the others support is against everything our government was built on.
Our founders were wise to see the temptation of absolute power and built in specific checks and balances to force compromise that serves to preserve our fragile democracy. The Senate, its processes and rules, have evolved over time to make absolute power difficult while still delivering solutions to the issues facing our country and I believe that’s the Senate’s best quality.
The senator says there is a better way to establish fair voting rights, but the For the People Act is not it.
Read Joe Manchin’s full piece here.
