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Call to Action: Ask Your Senator to Bring the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to Debate
Without protected voting rights for every eligible American, it is impossible to have a government that is truly representative of and accountable to the people. To this end, H.R.4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 (VRAA), was designed to protect the right to vote for Americans who experience voting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or language minority membership. It amends the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 by strengthening its power to protect voting rights and updating its requirements to be specific to the modern context of voting discrimination. The bill was passed in the House strictly along party lines. It now goes before…
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Call to Action: Respond to the House Vote to Hold Stephen Bannon in Contempt of Congress
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday, October 21, to hold Stephen Bannon, a podcast host who served briefly as chief strategist to former President Donald Trump, in contempt of Congress. Bannon refused to comply with subpoenas from the January 6 select committee for documents and testimony in regards to the January 6 attack on our government and the Capitol building. The House voted 229 to 202, with nine Republicans joining Democrats to recommend charges against Bannon. Attorney General Merrick Garland will make the final decision on whether to prosecute and has yet to indicate how the department will respond. To do Contact your members of the House to let…
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Everyone Deserves the Freedom to Vote
Our country is facing a difficult moment, where it is important to reaffirm our commitment to the core principles of democracy, including representation, equality, and freedom. Legislation upholding our voting freedoms is necessary, but S1, the For the People Act, failed to pass earlier this year. This occurred despite the wide bipartisan support among voters for federal protection of voter rights. Republican senators refused to engage with S1, citing concerns that its scope was too broad. In response, Senate Democrats developed the Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA), initiated by Senator Manchin. The FTVA legislation contains three main divisions: voter access, election integrity, and civic participation and empowerment (which includes redistricting…
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Climate Change and Fossil Fuels FAQs
“Climate change is real, and it’s our responsibility as stewards to do what we can to limit the damage done to God’s creation.” Elder Steven E. Snow of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Authority Seventies Environmental issues and impacts are increasingly being considered at every level of government. Here are some frequently asked questions about climate change and fossil fuels. What is climate change? Climate change refers to a long-term change in the earth’s climate and weather patterns. On a global scale, the climate has warmed by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit. While this may seem like a small amount, the earth’s average annual temperature fluctuated by…
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Harkin Filibuster Reform Proposal
Former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin has been pushing for filibuster reform for more than 20 years. During his 30 years of public service, he experienced the Senate from the perspective of both majority and minority control. Harkin first introduced filibuster reform in 1995, when his party was in the minority — defying the conventional support of the filibuster by minority leadership. This article reviews his proposed reform and then digs a little deeper into the reasons for his proposal. Harkin’s proposal This proposal would amend the Standing Rules of the Senate to permit a decreasing majority of senators to invoke cloture (end filibuster and move legislation forward toward a vote)…
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Mormon Women for Ethical Government Statement on Arizona Cyber Ninjas Election Review
Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy. Last November, notwithstanding a global pandemic, millions of Arizonans exercised their right to vote, and these votes were counted and certified using tested and true processes. As had always been the case, counties certified their respective results, and the entire election was then certified by Secretary of State Hobbs and witnessed and signed off by Governor Ducey, Attorney General Brnovich, and then-Chief Justice Brutinel in accordance with state law. The governor asserted his faith in Arizona’s elections system and encouraged those with concerns about either election processes or results to follow the state’s robust procedures for election review. None of…
