I have written on legislation coming up for mark up in the House Administration committee addressing the verifiability of the vote previously, and have an update. The Kos community can make some major noise about this and I hope that we do!
To summarize:
Earlier this week, hundreds of you dedicated Kosmopolitans took the time to contact your Congressional Representatives asking them to support and pass HR 550,
The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act.
Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) has now introduced an alternative bill, HR 3910, that will further muck up our ability to have a verified vote, all the while conveniently allowing for Republican cover for vote tally manipulation, voter disenfranchisement and fraud. HR 3910 is cynical, flawed legislation that will lead to further voter disenfranchisement, and do nothing to increase the accountability of our elections. It has a neat little "RealID" requirement tucked away in it as well. Sweet, huh.
LET'S NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT.
HR 3910 does nothing to address the biggest issue of e-voting: The fact that anyone, regardless of party, can currently hack the vote if they have a wireless Internet connection and Access Database software. HR 550 does address this concern. Even given no possibility of fraud, the fact is that the DRE machines many of us, like it or not, will be using to vote in upcoming elections CAN AND DO FAIL. This is as non-partisan an issue as you can get.
An excellent website by fellow Kosmopolitan ms in la has some of the best research you can find on the subject of e-voting: http://www.whoscounting.net/
What you can do:
- Contact members of the Admin committee who will be reviewing HR 3910 (especially if you are from their district) and let them know that you are not buying it. Demand that they put HR 550 out to the wider Congress, AS WRITTEN, for a vote. Member and contact info is below.
- Contact your own Congressional Rep and ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 550; 157 Representatives, including 8 Republicans, already have.
- Sign the petition put out by Vote Trust USA that will be delivered to Committee members demanding that they take HR 3910 off the table and do the people's business by acting on HR 550. Link to new petition is here: http://www.congressweb.com/cweb4/index.cfm?orgcode=VTUSA&hotissue=1
We need to put the pressure on while the issue of a verified vote is still in committee. Rush Holt, original sponsor of HR 550, has crafted the legislation. Now we need to get it out there and voted on. And PASSED, so that we can run as many corrupt Reps out in 2006 as possible. I don't see us ever gaining a majority again if this issue is not resolved.
Thanks for your help! Admin Committee members and contact info:
Republican members:
Bob Ney (R-OH), Chairman:
2438 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
P: 202.225.6265
F: 202.225.3394
E-mail: bobney@mail.house.gov
Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers, (R-MI):
1714 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2203
voice: (202) 225-3831
fax: (202) 225-5144
Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL):
2313 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4035
Fax: (202) 226-0821
Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI)
228 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2210
DC Phone: 202-225-2106
DC Fax: 202-226-1169
Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-CA):
2410 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-2511
202-225-5444 (fax)
Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R-NY):
332 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3226
202-225-5265
202-225-5910
Democratic Members:
Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) Ranking Member:
2445 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0537
202-225-7924
202-225-7926
Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA) [NOTE: Brady is signed on as a co-sponsor of HR 550):
206 Cannon House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
Phone (202) 225-4731
Fax (202) 225-0088
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D - CA):
102 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3072
Fax: (202) 225-3336
Let's try and avoid a repeat of the embarrassing, shameful display we saw yesterday on the House floor. We only have a shot at that by regaining a majority--and we will only regain a majority if the votes are counted correctly in 2006. Thanks to all!