The House is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to repeal an election commission set up after the controversial 2000 presidential election. Members plan to vote on H.R. 672, which would repeal the Election Assistance Commission. That commission was established in 2002 after confusion and controversy over ballots in Florida for presidential election between then-Vice President Al Gore and then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
The commission was set up under the Help America Vote Act approved in 2002. That law created the commission, which set voting guidelines for states, and to distribute funds to states that could be used to update voting equipment.
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), the sponsor of H.R. 672, says repealing the commission would save $14 million a year and that it can safely be repealed because the commission’s work has been completed. He said that in 2010, the National Association of Secretaries of State renewed their request to repeal the EAC, which has “served its purpose.”
“Nearly a decade after its creation, and years since it accomplished its primary objectives, the commission continues to operate with little benefit to election administration,” Harper said.
Under the bill, any remaining duties of the EAC that are still needed would be transferred to the Federal Election Commission. Harper’s legislation is on the House suspension calendar, which means it will require two-thirds of voting members to approve the bill. Legislation is generally put on the suspension calendar when it is not controversial.
However, the bill is not entirely free of controversy. According to House staffers, all Democrats on the Committee on House Administration oppose it, and are expected to vote against the bill on the House floor. To be approved under a suspension of the rules, Republicans will likely need the support of more than 40 Democrats.
Full Article: House to vote on repealing election commission set up after Bush-Gore – The Hill’s Floor Action.