Open The Schools; Fix The Filibuster March 10, 2021March 10, 2021 Open the schools: CDC misinterpreted our research on opening schools. It should loosen the rules now. Keeping schools closed or even partially closed, based on what we know now, is harming children. . . . Also: The Problem With The CDC’s Six-Foot Rule For Schools. Fix the filibuster: Norm Ornstein suggests Three reforms Manchin and Sinema might consider. And possible face-savers I’ve suggested to help Senators Manchin and Sinema take the leap: It’s an emergency! When so many people are hurting, it’s in the national interest to act. Make it temporary. A rule change that will “sunset” at the end of 2022. Apply the change only to bills that enjoy wide-majority public support. Allow a “talking filibuster” (where senators actually have to filibuster) for up to two weeks, so senators have more time to hear from the public and/or reach compromise. Or how about this? Exempt from the filibuster any bill that would enhance the ability of American citizens 18 or older to exercise their right to vote, as that right is fundamental to democracy. This is relevant, because once Chief Justice Roberts gutted the Voting Rights Act, hundreds of attempts have been made — some successfully — to suppress the vote. The latest, as reported by Marc Elias: Yesterday, Iowa’s Governor signed a voter suppression bill into law. Today, we sued. For the past two months, I’ve been sounding the alarm on the slew of voter suppression bills Republicans are introducing in legislatures across the country. On Monday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) was the first to sign one of these terrible bills into law. The law adds new restrictions at every stage of the voting process, including: Reducing the number of days when voters can register before elections Significantly reducing the number of days when voters can request absentee ballots Shortening the absentee voting period by more than one week Reducing the number of days for most voters to return their absentee ballots Criminalizing the act of assisting voters with returning their absentee ballots Shortening the length of time when polls are open on election day On behalf of League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa, we have challenged provisions of this bill as unconstitutional. While Iowa politicians may claim these provisions ensure “election integrity,” they do nothing of the sort. They are a result of the record turnout in Iowa and the nation in 2020. This bill will impose unconstitutional burdens on minority, elderly and disabled voters and cannot be permitted to stand. We remain committed to fighting for voting rights across the country to ensure every eligible voter can have their ballot counted in 2022. Just yesterday the conservative group Heritage Action announced a $10 million initial investment in lobbying state legislatures for more voter suppression laws. That is why we are preparing to bring voting rights cases across the country, all aimed at protecting voters and voting rights in 2022. For a the most complete list of cases to watch, visit https://www.democracydocket.com/our-cases/. Let me ask those of you who are Republicans: which of those added restrictions do you favor, and why? Anybody?