Republicans set to push mail ballots, voting methods they previously blasted as recipes for fraud
After years of criticizing mail voting and so-called ballot harvesting as ripe for fraud, Republicans at the top of the party want to change course. They are poised to launch aggressive get-out-the-vote campaigns for 2024 that employ just those strategies, attempting to match the emphasis on early voting Democrats have used for years to lock in many of their supporters well ahead of Election Day. The goal is to persuade voters who support GOP candidates that early voting techniques are secure and to make sure they are able to return their ballots in time to be counted, thus putting less pressure on Election Day turnout efforts. It marks a notable shift from the party’s rhetoric since 2020 when then-President Donald Trump was routinely sowing doubt about mail voting and encouraging his voters to wait and vote in-person on Election Day. As recently as last year, Republican activists peddling the stolen election narrative were telling GOP voters who received mail ballots to hold onto them and turn them in at their polling place on Election Day rather than use mail or drop boxes. Now Trump is asking donors to chip in for his “ballot harvesting fund” – saying in a fundraising email, “Either we ballot harvest where we can, or you can say goodbye to America!” Republicans say the shift is needed to ensure GOP victories up and down the 2024 ballot, arguing they cannot afford to give Democrats any advantage. At the same time, they acknowledge skepticism from many of their own voters conditioned by false claims of widespread voter fraud from Trump and others. Across the country, Republican-controlled legislatures have acted against early voting — shortening windows for returning mail ballots, banning or limiting the use of drop boxes, and criminalizing third-party ballot collection. In announcing a “Bank Your Vote” initiative for 2024, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said the party “has never said ‘don’t vote early,‘” but acknowledged the GOP will have to work to shift voters’ perceptions. “That certainly is a challenge if you have people in your ecosystem saying, ‘Don’t vote early or don’t vote by mail,’ and those cross messages do have an impact,” McDaniel told reporters Wednesday. “I don’t think you’re seeing that heading into 2024. I think you’re seeing all of us singing from the same songbook.” The nationwide GOP plan emphasizes “in-person early voting, absentee voting, and ballot harvesting where legal,” while also pledging “to fight against bad ballot harvesting laws.” Republicans use the term to describe when someone else returns a mailed ballot on behalf of another voter, especially third parties that gather multiple ballots. McDaniel emphasized she remains opposed to ballot collection, and she said the party would deploy an army of poll watchers and election monitors to reassure Republican voters that their ballots will be protected. “Do I think it’s the most secure way of voting? No,” McDaniel said. “But if it’s the law, we’re going to have to do it just like the Democrats are.” The challenge will be providing a consistent message that reassures GOP voters. The same day McDaniel announced her initiative, Republicans in Congress were holding a hearing considering legislation that, among other things, would ban ballot collection in the District of Columbia. GOP state lawmakers around the country have chipped away at advanced voting opportunities since 2020. Some state and local election Republicans have gone further, advocating for just a single day of voting. After the 2020 presidential election, the movie “2000 Mules” was a popular video that made various debunked claims about mail ballots, drop boxes, and ballot collection. Even the co-chair of the new GOP strategy, U. S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., has been a critic. In November, he issued a call on social media to “End ballot harvesting.” Nonetheless, McDaniel noted that Republican presidential candidates, including Trump, have been talking about the importance of advance voting and ballot collection. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a high-profile GOP contender, recently told a voter he planned to launch his own “ballot harvesting” effort, according to video posted online by a Washington Post reporter. DeSantis said he wasn’t going to “fight with one hand tied behind my back.” The Trump and DeSantis campaigns did not respond to messages seeking details about ballot collection plans. Florida is among the mostly Republican-led states that have sought to ban or limit the practice in recent years, despite the GOP’s reliance there on older, more conservative voters who prefer voting methods other than casting Election Day ballots. Since the 2020 election, lawmakers in 31 states have introduced 124 bills that would restrict third-party ballot returns, according to data collected by the Voting Rights Lab, which tracks voting-related legislation in the states. Of those, 14 bills in 11 states have been enacted. That includes one DeSantis himself signed that makes it a felony for an individual to collect more than two mail ballots other than the person’s own or one belonging to an immediate family member. While some states are silent on the issue, 31 states allow someone other than the voter to return a ballot on behalf of another voter. Nine limit how many ballots one person can return, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Many states limit ballot handling to a family member, household member, or caregiver. In California, efforts to lock in the early vote could be decisive next year in a string of U.S. House districts, most of them in the southern California suburbs, that are expected to play a pivotal role in determining control of the chamber. California is a Democratic stronghold, but Republicans retain pockets of strength across rural and small-town areas and the Central Valley farm belt, while the state’s suburban congressional districts have yielded many tight races in recent election cycles. As many as nine congressional seats are considered competitive, and several races will play out in districts won by President Joe Biden but where the seat is held by a Republican. Each of California’s 22 million registered voters is mailed a ballot one month before Election Day. “In any close election, the ability to capture absentee votes becomes extremely important, especially in a
Terri Sewell and colleagues introduce legislation to provide for coverage for cancer early-detection screenings once approved
On Thursday, Congresswoman Terri Sewell joined Reps. Jodey Arrington, Richard Hudson, and Raul Ruiz to introduce the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act. The legislation is named for Rep. Sewell’s late mother, who passed away in 2021 from pancreatic cancer. This bipartisan legislation would create a pathway for Medicare to cover emerging blood-based cancer screenings, potentially allowing doctors to catch cancer earlier than ever. During the last Congress, the bill garnered the support of a bipartisan majority of the House and Senate—with 258 House cosponsors and 54 Senate cosponsors—and over 400 organizations nationwide. “No family in America has been spared the scourge of cancer,” said Rep. Sewell, lead Democratic sponsor. “Fortunately, innovative multi-cancer early detection screenings are emerging which hold the potential to detect cancer earlier than ever before. I’m proud to once again introduce the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, named for my late mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, to ensure that our seniors can access these tools once they are FDA approved. Not only will this bill save lives, but it will also help reduce the glaring racial disparities in cancer diagnosis and death. I look forward to harnessing our momentum from the 117th Congress to get this bill across the finish line!” “Multi-cancer early detection is one of the many incredible examples of the United States leading in medical innovation,” said Rep. Arrington, the lead Republican sponsor. “This type of screening has the potential to improve quality of life for millions of American cancer patients and their families while saving taxpayer dollars by treating cancer before it spreads. I am proud of the bipartisan support this bill gained last Congress and remain firm in my belief that this legislation will drastically improve our ability to treat and prevent cancer.” “Too many families are devastated by a cancer diagnosis every day in the United States,” said Rep. Hudson. “By increasing access to multi-cancer early detection screening tests through Medicare, we can detect cancers sooner and save lives in North Carolina and around the country. As a member of the Health Subcommittee, I once again look forward to advancing this bipartisan legislation.” “Detecting cancer early improves health outcomes and saves lives,” said Dr. Ruiz. “With innovative medical technologies, we can catch more cancers earlier than ever, but patients must be able to access these screenings. That’s why it’s very important for Medicare policy to keep pace with the development of multi-cancer screenings. I am glad to join my colleagues in introducing the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act to modernize Medicare coverage so older Americans can access these screenings and improve their health outcomes.” The Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act would increase seniors’ timely access to multi-cancer early detection technology by creating a pathway to Medicare coverage. This bill will allow for Medicare coverage of MCED screenings once they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The impact of late-stage cancer diagnosis is magnified in communities of color and throughout rural America, where overall cancer outcomes are worse. These tools introduce a significant shift in the cancer screening landscape. The sponsors believe ensuring seniors have timely access is essential since age is the primary risk factor for cancer, and more than 70% of cancer diagnoses are in the Medicare population. This legislation would: · Create the authority for CMS to cover blood-based MCED tests and future test methods once approved by the FDA and shown to have clinical benefit. · Maintain CMS’ authority to use an evidence-based process to determine coverage parameters for these new tests. · Clarify that (1) these new tools will complement, not replace, existing screenings and coverage and (2) cost-sharing will not be impacted. Thomas “Ted” Greer Jr., CEO of Birmingham-based Alabama Regional Medical Services, stated. “People of color are at the greatest risk for cancer deaths, at least partly because of disparities in early detection. We believe new screening technologies offer a chance to reduce those disparities, and we applaud Rep. Sewell’s steadfast leadership to clear a path for these tests to be accessible to those at highest risk for cancer.” The American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network released a statement supporting this legislation. “The Multi Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act would potentially expand access to cancer screenings in Medicare. The bill would allow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to initiate an evidence-based coverage process for a multi-cancer screening test following FDA approval and once shown to have clinical benefit. ACS CAN supports the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act to provide Medicare coverage of screening tests that are FDA approved. Cancer screening and early detection are key priorities for ACS CAN.” The Prevent Cancer Foundation wrote, “The importance of detecting cancer early cannot be overstated. With the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, Congress can unlock a new era in how cancer is detected and treated. We thank the sponsors and cosponsors for recognizing that older adults are at the most risk for cancer, and we must create a pathway to access the latest cancer detection tools. We’ve been proud to bring an astounding 400+ organizations together in calling for the passage of the bill. Let’s make early detection a reality for Medicare beneficiaries.” The Association of Community Cancer Centers wrote, “MCED technology holds the potential to alter the current cancer screening paradigm by providing the oncology community with the tools they need to find many more cancers in earlier, more treatable stages. ACCC is committed to advancing best practices and policies that will facilitate the integration of MCED tests into our healthcare system, and that includes supporting the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act. The war on cancer requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and we need new tools, like MCED, to make a major impact. We’re grateful to leaders in Congress who are working to ensure older Americans can access this important new cancer screening tool.” This legislation has received statements of support from more than 400 organizations across all 50 states. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate
Robert L. McCollum considers challenging Rep. Mike Rogers
On Monday, Robert McCollum announced that he is considering running in the Alabama Republican primary for Congress. McCollum told Alabama Today that he is forming an exploratory committee to look at challenging long-time incumbent Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03). McCollum said that he had been considering a run anyway but was motivated to move up his timeline for the 2024 race after the Friday night incident where Rogers had to be restrained by Rep. Richard Hudson on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Friday night from coming after Rep. Matt Gaetz. Rogers was angered by Gaetz’s refusal to change his vote from present to in favor of Rep. Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House. “After the disaster on the house floor, it became clear to me that the people of the 3rd congressional district deserve better than that. That was the most childish thing I had ever seen,” McCollum said. “What have we become? What happened to respect for our colleagues? What happened to spirited debates and not playground brawls?” Rogers has apologized for losing his temper with Gaetz. “.@RepMattGaetz and I have a long and productive working relationship, that I am sure will continue. I regret that I briefly lost my temper on the House Floor Friday evening and appreciate Matt’s kind understanding,” Rogers wrote on Twitter Sunday. Gaetz has accepted the apology and said he and Rogers have a strong working relationship. McCollum claimed that he found the incident “embarrassing” for the state and the district but had already been considering challenging Rogers because he was dissatisfied with how Rogers was representing the district. “The people of the 3rd district deserve someone that is going to represent them and not the Washington establishment!” McCollum said. “Someone that will work tirelessly with his colleagues to get the best for the American people!” Rogers, who is the Ranking Member of the powerful House Armed Services Committee in the 117th Congress, is expected to Chair the committee in the 118th Congress. McCollum said that under the circumstances, Rogers should not be chairing any committee. “Congressman Rogers should step down from any committee or chairmanship,” McCollum said. “That kind of behavior should not be rewarded nor tolerated.” Rogers was accused of being intoxicated at the time of the incident by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee). “Congressional leaders should not be allowed to drink on the house floor!” McCollum said. “Our leaders should have more respect for our capital and the meaning of it!” Rogers released a statement following McCarthy’s election as Speaker of the House on the 15th ballot. “I am excited to see Kevin McCarthy elected Speaker of the House,” Rogers said. “Now it is time for the House to do the work the American people sent us here to do.” McCollum appealed to voters for their support. “I’m not going to sit here and promise that I will be 100% perfect – no one but God is! But what I can promise you is honest representation, conservative representation, sober representation, and strong conservative representation of Alabama’s 3rd congressional district!” McCollum said in a statement. “That is why today I’m announcing I will be forming an exploratory committee for Alabama’s 3rd congressional district currently held by Mike Rogers; we deserve better!” Robert Lane McCollum is a native of Tallapoosa County. He is a graduate of Horseshoe Bend High School. He has been a small business owner. McCollum was defeated by Public Service Commissioner Chip Beeker in the 2022 Republican primary runoff. Rogers has represented the Third Congressional District since 2003. He previously represented Calhoun County in the Alabama House of Representatives and on the County Commission. The 2024 Alabama Republican Primary is tentatively scheduled for March 5, 2024. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Kevin McCarthy elected the 55th Speaker of the House
Congressman Kevin McCarthy became the 55th Speaker of the House early Saturday on the 15th ballot. McCarthy prevailed 216 to 212 for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Six hardline Republican dissidents voted present, lowering the threshold needed to win to just 215 votes. Democratic incumbent Donald McEachin lost his battle with cancer after re-election; thus, the number of Congress members in the body is 434 instead of 435. “You know – my father always told me: It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” McCarthy said in his acceptance speech. “And now we need to finish strong for the American people. If the son of a fireman and grandchild of immigrants can rise to the highest position in the most important legislative body in the world. And if my colleague Hakeem Jeffries, with his life story, can rise to lead his party, then opportunity and democracy still thrive in America.” “As Speaker of the House, my ultimate responsibility is not to my party, my conference, or even our Congress. My responsibility – our responsibility – is to our country,” McCarthy said. “Two months ago, you voted for a new direction for our country. You embraced our Commitment to America. And now, we are going to keep our commitment to you. It’s a commitment for an economy that is strong – where you can fill up your tank and feed your family, where paychecks grow, not shrink. A commitment for a nation that’s safe – where communities are protected, law enforcement is respected, and criminals are prosecuted. A commitment for a future that is built on freedom – where children come first and are taught to dream big because, in America, dreams can still come true. A commitment for a government that is accountable – where Americans get the answers they want, need, and deserve.” “Our system is built on checks and balances,” McCarthy continued. “It’s time for us to be the check and provide some balance to the President’s policies. There is nothing more important than making it possible for American families to live and enjoy the lives they deserve. That is why we commit to stop wasteful Washington spending to lower the price of groceries, gas, cars, and housing and stop the rising national debt. We pledge to cut the regulatory burden, lower energy costs for families, and create good-paying jobs for workers by unleashing reliable, abundant American-made energy. Our first bill will repeal funding for 87,000 new IRS agents. Because the government should be here to help you, not go after you. We’re going to pass bills to fix the nation’s urgent challenges – from the wide open southern border to America-Last energy policies to woke indoctrination in our schools. We will also address America’s long-term challenges: the debt and the Chinese Communist Party. Congress must speak with one voice on both of these issues.” Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers drew national headlines during the 14th vote when he had to be restrained by incoming National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Rep. Richard Hudson from coming after Rep. Matt Gaetz, who had voted present on the 14th vote and refused to change his vote to in favor of McCarthy. Rogers has called the dissident Republicans who opposed McCarthy and the will of 90% of the House Republican Caucus “legislative terrorists.” Rogers is expected to be the Chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee. What punishment will be levied against Rogers, if any, for his outburst on the floor of the House is unknown at this time. Matt Gaetz wrote on Twitter yesterday, “@RepMikeRogersAL and I have a six-year productive, working relationship. We’re going to work together wonderfully going forward. I don’t think there should be any punishment or reprisal just because he had an animated moment. He has my forgiveness.” Rogers responded to Gaetz on Twitter, stating, “@RepMattGaetz and I have a long and productive working relationship, that I am sure will continue. I regret that I briefly lost my temper on the House Floor Friday evening and appreciate Matt’s kind understanding.” All six of Alabama’s Republican Congressmen were unwavering in their steadfast support of McCarthy on all 15 of the votes in the House of Representatives that have been occurring since the start of the 118th Congress on Tuesday. Congresswoman Terri Sewell, Alabama’s only Democrat in the state’s congressional delegation – voted for Jeffries. Whatever happened between Rogers and Gaetz worked. Republicans were about to adjourn until Monday when Gaetz approached McCarthy and asked that the House hold one more vote. All six of the remaining holdouts flipped to vote present, allowing McCarthy to win on the 15th ballot. The historic drama of the 15 votes for Speaker of the House and McCarthy’s steadfast refusal to stand aside and allow someone else to run for Speaker – something he did in 2015 giving us Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who was Speaker from 2015 to 2018 – became a selling point for the election of McCarthy. No Speaker has needed a second vote since 1923. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a longtime friend of McCarthy, gave the 15th nominating speech for McCarthy. “He’s relentless. The man does not quit,” McHenry said of McCarthy. President Joe Biden released a statement congratulating McCarthy following the early Saturday vote. “Jill and I congratulate Kevin McCarthy on his election as Speaker of the House,” Biden said. “The American people expect their leaders to govern in a way that puts their needs above all else, and that is what we need to do now. As I said after the midterms, I am prepared to work with Republicans when I can, and voters made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well. Now that the leadership of the House of Representatives has been decided, it is time for that process to begin.” “Today we learned that my plan to build an economy that works from the bottom up and the middle out has achieved the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years,” Biden continued. “And that we made 2021 and 2022 the best
Terri Sewell urges House vote on cancer-screening bill
One Alabama federal legislator is working to bring a House bill to vote by the end of the year. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-AL, along with representatives Jodey Arrington, R-TX, Raul Ruiz, D-CA, and Richard Hudson, R-NC, penned a letter, along with 116 House colleagues, urging House leadership to have House Bill 1946 be brought to the floor for a vote at some point in the remaining days of the session. Sewell introduced the resolution in March 2021, entitled the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, which would create a way for Medicare to cover emerging blood-based cancer screenings to detect cancer earlier. The bill, according to a release, has 257 House co-sponsors and 54 Senate co-sponsors. As part of the letter, the legislators wrote, “No family in America has been spared the scourge of cancer.” They also wrote that seniors bear the highest incidence of cancer, and “we must bring urgency and action” to the cancer fight as the consequences of waiting “are too great.” “We respectfully urge you to bring this bill to the floor this year and pave the way for a future where we win our war on cancer,” the delegation wrote in the letter. The legislators wrote, according to the release, that in the United States, cancer is the leading cause of death, and by detecting cancer early it could result in “less invasive treatments.” Scientists, according to the release, have developed and are testing “innovative blood-based multi-cancer early detection tests. The tests would be able to screen for multiple cancers at the same time, including rare cancers. However, the legislators wrote, companies that are engaged in developing the medical tools are pursuing U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, which could take several years before Medicare recipients could receive medical coverage for those tests. The act, according to the release, addressed a misalignment in advances in science and Medicare coverage by allowing coverage for the tests. The legislators said the testing would “significantly reduce delays” for beneficiaries while giving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to use the tests proficiency to determine coverage. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
