WASHINGTON, DC – Today Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) voted against HR 1, a Democrat attempt to remove local control of elections and fund campaigns with taxpayer dollars.
“It’s a sad day in the People’s House when my Democrat colleagues seem to care more about filling their campaign coffers than representing the best interests of the American people,” Rep. Pete Olson said. “This bill damages the integrity of our political system by funneling money into election cycles with a six to one government match for any contribution under $200 to a political campaign. The taxpayers SHOULD NOT be forced to contribute to political campaigns. Every vote is sacred, which is why we must protect against fraud. By removing states’ ability to prosecute fraudulent voters, Democrats are essentially encouraging folks to break the law! I hope my Senate colleagues reject this mockery of free and fair elections. ”
If implemented, H.R. 1 would:
- Create a 6:1 government match to any small donor contributions of $200 or less in a congressional or presidential campaign, meaning for every $200, the federal government would match $1,200.
- Create a new voucher pilot program that would grant eligible voters a $25 voucher to donate to any campaign of their choosing.
- Weaponize the Federal Election Commission by altering the current bipartisan makeup of a six-member commission to a partisan five-member commission which would limit free speech and make partisan decisions about election communications.
- Weaken the voting system of the American people by increasing the election system’s vulnerability and failing to implement the necessary checks and balances regarding who is registering to vote. H.R. 1 would force states to allow online voter registration, automatic voter registration, and same-day voter registration with no safeguards.
- Raise constitutional concerns under the First Amendment by proposing to limit free speech and imposing vague standards that disadvantage all groups who wish to advocate on behalf of any legislative issue.
- Diminish the process of Election Day voting by expanding “no excuse” absentee voting and allowing for any eligible voter to be able to cast their ballot by mail with no additional safeguards to this process.
- Disregard state voter identification laws by allowing sworn statements to be used in place of identification and allowing for signature verification, which could be submitted through a photo if the voter registers online.
- Would not provide states adequate enforcement mechanisms to guard against fraud.
- Impede states’ ability to determine their registration and voting practices, as protected under Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution and violate the separation of powers by Congress mandating ethics standards for the Supreme Court. H.R. 1 is a constitutional overreach.
- Force states to count provisional ballots cast outside of the voter’s correct precinct which will inevitably result in the election of candidates at the state and local level by non-qualified residents.