Looking Forward to Strengthen Our Democracy

Last week I reminded readers of some of the Joe Biden and the Democrats major accomplishments since the inauguration on January 20th such as rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, a 100 country pledge to cut emissions of the greenhouse gas methane by at least 30 percent by 2030, another agreement to end and reverse deforestation, reinstatement of a pause on federal executions, significant improvements in job and wage growth, the unemployment rate fell to the lowest level since March 2020 while jobless claims fell to the lowest level since 1969 in early December, disposable income grew 3% after inflation, and finally the American Rescue Plan along with the historic economy recovery combined to cut child poverty in half.

Looking forward two very important pieces of legislation are on the docket, the Build Back Better Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. Build Back Better is a wide ranging bill that combines major infrastructure projects with improvements in economic fairness. The bill funds government purchases of electric vehicles and zero-emission, heavy-duty vehicles in addition to incentives to consumers for buying electric cars and trucks. This is an important step in both reducing the damage from climate change and developing energy independence. There is also funding for wildfire prevention, drought relief, conservation efforts, and climate change research; all of which affect Texas greatly. The bill also provides funding transit services and clean energy projects in low-income communities, some of which Seguin would likely qualify for.

The Build Back Better Act also includes funding for up to six semesters of free community college so that our young people who aren’t interested in university degrees have a chance to develop skills that lead to good paying jobs in construction, healthcare, and a wide range of fields. For families with very young children the bill will provide funding for universal preschool. An important provision here in Texas is funding health benefits for eligible individuals who reside in states that have not expanded Medicaid. There’s plenty more in the bill like expanding Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing along with require that Medicare negotiate prices on prescription drugs which is currently prohibited.

The Freedom to Vote Act would ban partisan gerrymandering and establish clear, neutral standards for congressional redistricting and strengthened protections for communities of color. These rules would be applicable to all maps created in the current cycle, including those that have already been enacted. This provision would significantly change the district lines and likely the partisan makeup of the Texas congressional delegation as Republicans have used extreme gerrymandering techniques to increase the number of white Republican districts while the percentage of white Texas voters has declined.

The Freedom to Vote Act would require all 50 states to offer early voting periods for at least two weeks prior to Election Day, including on nights and weekends, for at least 10 hours per day just like Texas does. The bill would create a national standard permitting no-excuse vote by mail for every eligible voter and states would be required to permit voters to apply for absentee ballots online. The bill would promote a national standard for states that have an identification requirement for in-person voting, allowing for the use of a wide range of forms of identification (including electronic copies) and alternative options for voter validation meaning that Texas college students could use their student ID to vote.

Republican leaders object to the Freedom to Vote Act with the ridiculous claim that making it easier to vote and supporting the notion of one person – one vote is somehow a Democratic takeover.

Published in the Seguin Gazette - January 5, 2022