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A pair of Democratic congressmen is pushing an amendment that would place an affirmative right to vote in the U.S. Constitution. According to Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), who is sponsoring the legislation along with Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the amendment would protect voters from what he described as a “systematic” push to “restrict voting access” through voter ID laws, shorter early voting deadlines, and other measures that are being proposed in many states.
Madison, WI—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement in honor of Memorial Day, Monday, May 27:
“Every year on Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend this nation and our freedoms. We remember the Americans whose courage, conviction, and character have led them to the frontlines—the heroes who have left us, the veterans who have fought, and the brave men and women who continue to serve.
Washington– U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today voted against Republican legislation that would cost students and families almost $4 billion in additional student loan interest fees, and called on Congress to take action immediately to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling. If Congress does not act, on July 1st interest rates on federal subsidized Stafford Loans will double, from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, for 7 million low-and middle-income students.
The U.S. House voted last week to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Not for the first time, mind you, but for the 37th time.
Speaker John Boehner, never one to let a ridiculous moment go by without a ridiculous excuse, said that he scheduled the vote because he wanted newly elected Republicans who had not been able to participate in the three dozen previous votes to have a chance to engage in a meaningless gesture.
When aspiring Americans take the citizenship test, they are asked, “What is the most important right granted to U.S. citizens?” The correct answer? The right to vote. That is because the right to vote is not just important, it is fundamental — it represents nothing less than the right that preserves all the other liberties Americans hold dear.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, today called on Chairman Darrell Issa to open to the public Thursday’s closed deposition with Ambassador Thomas Pickering, the co-author of the Benghazi Accountability Review Board’s report.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) will hold six “Meet with Mark” listening sessions throughout the second district on Tuesday, May 28, and Wednesday, May 29. Pocan invites all constituents from south central Wisconsin to stop by and share their ideas and concerns. Pocan’s constituent services staff will also be on hand to help people navigate issues with federal agencies, such as the VA or the Social Security Administration. No RSVP is required.
Washington– Today, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) released a list of 37 actions the House should take up to create jobs and support middle class families rather than waste time on a 37th vote to repeal access to health care for millions of Americans.
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia made a point of emphasizing during the Bush v. Gore arguments in December 2000 that there is no federal constitutional guarantee of a right to vote for president. He was right about that. Indeed, as the reform group FairVote reminds us: “Because there is no right to vote in the U.S. Constitution, individual states set their own electoral policies and procedures. This leads to confusing and sometimes contradictory policies regarding ballot design, polling hours, voting equipment, voter registration requirements, and ex-felon voting rights.
MADISON, WI—U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) today announced legislation to explicitly guarantee the right to vote in the Constitution. The Pocan-Ellison Right to Vote Amendment would amend the Constitution to provide all Americans the affirmative right to vote and empower Congress to protect this right.