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Official Statement on Moore v. Harper and Our Commitment to the Power of the Individual Voter
Yesterday, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court protected the system of checks and balances that is foundational to our democracy. This ruling acknowledges the critical role state judiciaries play in upholding voters’ constitutional rights. It reinforces that the legislature cannot grant itself exclusive control over federal elections, especially at the expense of voters. As the members and leaders of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, we are relieved that the court rejected the state legislature’s claim to unchecked influence over federal elections. In Moore v. Harper, the Court relied on 200 years of precedent, determining that state legislatures do not have sole authority over federal elections. Instead, they are subject…
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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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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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Message to MWEG Members on the December 14 Electoral College Vote
In this letter to our members, we sought to inform about the Electoral College and to express our concerns about the attacks on our democratic system that took place this election season. According to the processes outlined in the U.S. Constitution and by federal law, the Electoral College voted today, even as the president continued to attack the results of the election. It is undeniable that the actions of the president, his staff, and many members of Congress have constituted an unprecedented assault on the legitimacy of our elections. Despite the opposition, our democratic systems continue to prevail. The lower courts, Supreme Court, secretaries of state, Attorney General, and other…
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Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the Results of the 2020 Election
Over the last few weeks a record number of Americans demonstrated, simply by casting a vote, that they value their democracy and its institutions. Those votes have largely been counted, and we now join our fellow Americans in thanking the local and state officials, countless volunteers, and dedicated poll watchers whose commitment to long-established processes has delivered a trustworthy result. Our nation has elected a new president, and we wish him well. We have also elected our first female vice president, a mark of progress that gives the women of America new visions of their possibilities. That she is a Black, Asian American woman further paves the way for new…
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Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the Importance of Counting Every Vote
During the last six months, the women of MWEG have worked tirelessly to encourage voter participation in our democracy. We have asked women to be informed and principled voters, and to exercise this precious and hard-won right with a measure of responsibility and compassion. We, like so many others, have been inspired to see the overwhelming voter turnout in the days leading up to the election. This should renew our faith in the power of representative government. As the election of 2020 draws to a close, we reaffirm our commitment to defend the basic principles underlying our democracy. We continue to believe that the surest pathway to peace and prosperity is…
