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For Dems, “Bipartisan” Bills Are Trojan Horse For Radicalism

Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2022
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AMAC Exclusive – By Andrew Abbott

bipartisan

President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign hinged on a promise of unity and competence in government. Yet, only one year in, his legislative strategy has proven to be neither component nor unifying. Despite passing two significant spending bills, 2021 was an overall failure for Democratic legislation. But now, with Biden’s radical agenda stalled and electoral defeat looming, Democrats may be turning to a new strategy of stuffing old, failed legislative provisions into ostensibly “bipartisan” bills in the hopes of sneaking or forcing through a number of their progressive priorities before voters boot them out of office this November.

After promising to work in a bipartisan manner, selling himself to the American people as a pragmatic moderate, Biden pivoted hard to an aggressively partisan legislative strategy that failed even to unite all Democrats soon after taking office. Even the so-called “bipartisan” $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that earned the votes of a few Republicans left conservatives worried about the raft of far-left measures tucked in beneath the bipartisan branding.

From there on out, Democrats’ progressive ambitions were too blatant for Republicans and even some moderate Democrats to ignore, as Biden’s $5 trillion “Build Back Better” bill and repeated attempts to force a federal takeover of elections failed in the Senate. Try as they might, Democrats have also failed to make much progress on other aspects of their progressive agenda like abolishing the filibuster, packing the Supreme Court, eliminating the Electoral College, and adding Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as two new solidly Democratic states in order to cement a permanent majority in the Senate. Now, with their public image in shambles and polls foreshadowing a Republican wave this November, Democrats appear increasingly desperate to force through at least some of their policies by any means possible.

They may now have an opening with renewed support for supposedly “bipartisan” initiatives like a reform of the Electoral Count Act (ECA). The ECA, which was originally passed in 1887, aims to set rules and procedures for how Congress counts electoral votes following presidential elections. Specifically, the law governs how Congress and the Vice President should handle disputes about which candidate won in specific states. However, critics going all the way back to the original passage of the bill have argued that the law is both overly vague and confusing, and could lead to even more uncertainty in a contested election.

Since 2000, the ECA has been used three times by Democrats to challenge the results of a presidential election, most recently during the certification of former President Trump’s 2016 election and both of George W. Bush’s elections. The ECA was also cited by a group of Republicans during the effort to oppose the certification of the 2020 election and was at the center of the controversy over the events of January 6th, 2021. The proposed reforms to the ECA would make clear that neither Congress nor the Vice President has the authority to overturn the official results of statewide elections.

Yet this proposed limited reform of the ECA, which has bipartisan support and a clear, specific goal, might be the latest target for a progressive takeover. In an interview with Jake Tapper this weekend, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) revealed that Democrats were aiming to inject “expansive laws codifying federal voting rights” into the bill. That language is alarmingly similar to the misleading rhetoric used to try and sell Democrats’ other three failed attempts at a federal takeover of elections. For Democrats, “codifying federal voting rights” has become synonymous with a complete ban on common-sense election integrity measures like Voter ID and an embrace of ballot harvesting and universal mail-in voting. Their additions would turn the bill from a transparent and bipartisan agreement into essentially the very same election takeover bills that have now failed to pass three times.

Democrats may have thus revealed their true intentions. By filling the bill with enough progressive priorities, they could force Republicans to either vote for it or turn against it. Should Republicans turn against it, Democrats would have a new weapon in their ongoing effort to tie the entire Republican Party to January 6th by arguing that Republicans opposed an effort to curb the ability of the Vice President to “overturn an election.” While the language of the bill is still being hammered out, Republicans have little reason to believe that Democrats are negotiating in good faith. 

With Democrats desperately trying to distance themselves from the progressive brand and sell themselves as moderates ahead of the midterms – while nonetheless remaining committed to progressive policies – Republicans should be wary of other such attempts throughout the spring and summer. For example, growing bipartisan momentum for changes to regulations governing stock trading by members of Congress may also be ripe for progressives to use as a vehicle to target vulnerable Republicans.

President Biden has also signaled that he will now attempt to pass his failed Build Back Better Act in “chunks.” He did not indicate a willingness to bring Republicans back to the table, only that he would attempt to pass the same bill in individual parts that contain the same radical provisions. Given the smaller price tags, moderate Democrats like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema may now be more willing to play ball, and Americans could end up with the same radical policies, just passed piecemeal instead of all at once.

As Biden and Congressional Democrats’ approval numbers continue to decline, their efforts to pass some semblance of the radical agenda they promised in 2020 will only grow more desperate. Republicans should be cognizant of this fact, and remain vigilant in opposition to any progressive scheme that uses the front of bipartisanship to ram through an agenda that otherwise stands little chance of becoming law.

Andrew Abbott is the pen name of a writer and public affairs consultant with over a decade of experience in DC at the intersection of politics and culture.

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Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
2 years ago

BiPartisan= RINO & Dems save few GOP can agree on day 1

Momcat
Momcat
2 years ago

This is what has happened in Texas…. GOP wins the house & puts democrats in charge of committees! Then the GOP platform can’t get passed! Democrats control the Texas house all in the name of “bipartisanship”! BS ! GOP doesn’t want to have to campaign & defend GOP platform, just wants the really important stuff to be killed by democrats so they can say, ” we tried!”

Lawrence Greenberg
Lawrence Greenberg
2 years ago

If the Democrats support it, it cannot be good for the country.

Scott T Moen
Scott T Moen
2 years ago

If the Dems can put up a single bill with no pork attached, submit it the floor for debate and get it approved with multiple comprises, it should proceed to the senate. Keep it simple, keep it clean, and expect compromises. This is how it is supposed to work.

Art
Art
2 years ago

“BIPARTISAN” ONLY NEEDS ONE FXXXING VOTE TO ASSUME THAT PREFIX. JOKE IS A 4 LETTER WORD ALSO. WHY THE DOUBLE DOWN ON AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSITION ?? MORE DOUBLE DOWN!!! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! HOW LONG CAN SOME “DEMOCRATS” DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE LEFT? THE LEFT IS THE ONLY “BIPARTISAN” OF “BIPARTISAN” AS IN WE EXPECT TO WIN.

Rich Evans CPA. Candidate for Congress
Rich Evans CPA. Candidate for Congress
2 years ago

Okay. Let’s say the US House is back with R leadership, guessing McCarthy is speaker, then we need an immediate bill to address the open border. No cages, no drugs and no human trafficking should be tolerated. Restart Keystone in Day 1 and finish the border wall to slow down the invasion!

Chris Kline
Chris Kline
2 years ago

The leadership of the Democrat party are who they are! It is about time true Americans wake up and smell the coffee and the poisoned Kool-Aid that one party is trying to make this nation drink!! Our nation’s problems could be solved in a minute if WE THE PEOPLE were to submit the national debt to those who created it and reduce the Salaries and PENSIONS of members of Congress, our “Presidents, and federal judges by at least half of the increase in the debt each year. When the money runs out, they and their “Retirees” should no longer get paid ONE PENNY!!!

Nick Patriot
Nick Patriot
2 years ago

Comrade Obiden will destroy America. Thats his goal. And Obama’s. A deep and seething hatred of the USA.

Philip Hammersley
Philip Hammersley
2 years ago

TRUE Republicans should give Senile Joe ZERO! He makes NO attempt to unite the country and ALL his positions are Marxist and/or Communist. Let the squad and his other lovers vote for his garbage!

Robert
Robert
2 years ago

TERM LIMITS of four years and campaign law reforms for all these crooked politicians who are nothing but self serving un-patriotic on the take pathetic flesh bags who campaign for funds the whole time they are in office. Right Mitch?

Owen Shrock
Owen Shrock
2 years ago

The sooner America can except the fact that the country has been infiltrated by Communist and that most of our so called leaders are spineless wimps, the sooner we can get to the job of fixing things.

The problem is we need to replace all the Dims and Rino’s with men and women that have morals and the conviction to see things through until the job is finished. In other words, we need people with BALLS!

Joseph Michael Loglisci
Joseph Michael Loglisci
2 years ago

Well, we’ll see how “cognizant” the spineless Repubs remain!
At this point I won’t hold my breath!

19&41
19&41
2 years ago

Every democrat proposed legislation is a Trojan horse of secret additions that are designed to line the pockets to representatives or senators or anyone who has eithers’ favor. They invariably have a name meant to endear it to the American public but usually has litle for most. Their programs have enslaved the poor, ruined our major cities, indoctrinated our children and has institutedthe process of tying our votes to free stuff a potential candidate could provide (with taxpayer funds).

BAE
BAE
2 years ago

I am beginning to think that Mr. Biden couldn’t manage a two car funeral and his administration is so bad that history will not look kindly on it. Just terrible!!!

pete kennedy
pete kennedy
2 years ago

The problem as always (term limits) – I receive notices from my “congress people” telling me how awful the border situation is (Biden). My response to them is YOU ARE IN CONGRESS WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?

Carol
Carol
2 years ago

Why don’t the Republicans get a backbone and expose these Democrat leftist as to who they really are? Vote NO on any bill that takes away freedoms from the people and strips State’s rights! Go out and scream what the Democrats are REALLY doing by putting the Democrats legislation before the people! Anyone with a brain can see how authoritarian the Democrats are and keep harping on the AUTHORITARIAN what the Democrats are trying to do!!! Even some of my liberal friends don’t like this radical stuff, so get out there and use whatever means they can to tell the people what the Democrats really are doing before the Democrats start their lying narrative!!!!

Adonis
Adonis
2 years ago

Tell this to worthless deep state old guard RINO McConnell and his ilk.

Rik
Rik
2 years ago

thieves in Law. . . the whole bunch…… nuff said

Steven H
Steven H
2 years ago

As I have said before and will continue to say: No more multiple topic bills! No more pork! If something can’t stand on its own, then it should not move forward in any form. It’s past time to end the thousand page bills that no one has time to read, let alone completely understand. I understand that they try to pack as much as they can into a bill because they otherwise wouldn’t have enough time to accomplish anything. That is not an excuse.

Mike
Mike
2 years ago

Stop paying taxes. Hit them where it hurts

Richard Minetti
Richard Minetti
2 years ago

Great article Andrew!!

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
2 years ago

BiPartisan= RINO & Dems save few GOP can agree on day 1

Momcat
Momcat
2 years ago

This is what has happened in Texas…. GOP wins the house & puts democrats in charge of committees! Then the GOP platform can’t get passed! Democrats control the Texas house all in the name of “bipartisanship”! BS ! GOP doesn’t want to have to campaign & defend GOP platform, just wants the really important stuff to be killed by democrats so they can say, ” we tried!”

Lawrence Greenberg
Lawrence Greenberg
2 years ago

If the Democrats support it, it cannot be good for the country.

Scott T Moen
Scott T Moen
2 years ago

If the Dems can put up a single bill with no pork attached, submit it the floor for debate and get it approved with multiple comprises, it should proceed to the senate. Keep it simple, keep it clean, and expect compromises. This is how it is supposed to work.

Art
Art
2 years ago

“BIPARTISAN” ONLY NEEDS ONE FXXXING VOTE TO ASSUME THAT PREFIX. JOKE IS A 4 LETTER WORD ALSO. WHY THE DOUBLE DOWN ON AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSITION ?? MORE DOUBLE DOWN!!! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! HOW LONG CAN SOME “DEMOCRATS” DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE LEFT? THE LEFT IS THE ONLY “BIPARTISAN” OF “BIPARTISAN” AS IN WE EXPECT TO WIN.

Rich Evans CPA. Candidate for Congress
Rich Evans CPA. Candidate for Congress
2 years ago

Okay. Let’s say the US House is back with R leadership, guessing McCarthy is speaker, then we need an immediate bill to address the open border. No cages, no drugs and no human trafficking should be tolerated. Restart Keystone in Day 1 and finish the border wall to slow down the invasion!

Chris Kline
Chris Kline
2 years ago

The leadership of the Democrat party are who they are! It is about time true Americans wake up and smell the coffee and the poisoned Kool-Aid that one party is trying to make this nation drink!! Our nation’s problems could be solved in a minute if WE THE PEOPLE were to submit the national debt to those who created it and reduce the Salaries and PENSIONS of members of Congress, our “Presidents, and federal judges by at least half of the increase in the debt each year. When the money runs out, they and their “Retirees” should no longer get paid ONE PENNY!!!

Nick Patriot
Nick Patriot
2 years ago

Comrade Obiden will destroy America. Thats his goal. And Obama’s. A deep and seething hatred of the USA.

Philip Hammersley
Philip Hammersley
2 years ago

TRUE Republicans should give Senile Joe ZERO! He makes NO attempt to unite the country and ALL his positions are Marxist and/or Communist. Let the squad and his other lovers vote for his garbage!

Robert
Robert
2 years ago

TERM LIMITS of four years and campaign law reforms for all these crooked politicians who are nothing but self serving un-patriotic on the take pathetic flesh bags who campaign for funds the whole time they are in office. Right Mitch?

Owen Shrock
Owen Shrock
2 years ago

The sooner America can except the fact that the country has been infiltrated by Communist and that most of our so called leaders are spineless wimps, the sooner we can get to the job of fixing things.

The problem is we need to replace all the Dims and Rino’s with men and women that have morals and the conviction to see things through until the job is finished. In other words, we need people with BALLS!

Joseph Michael Loglisci
Joseph Michael Loglisci
2 years ago

Well, we’ll see how “cognizant” the spineless Repubs remain!
At this point I won’t hold my breath!

19&41
19&41
2 years ago

Every democrat proposed legislation is a Trojan horse of secret additions that are designed to line the pockets to representatives or senators or anyone who has eithers’ favor. They invariably have a name meant to endear it to the American public but usually has litle for most. Their programs have enslaved the poor, ruined our major cities, indoctrinated our children and has institutedthe process of tying our votes to free stuff a potential candidate could provide (with taxpayer funds).

BAE
BAE
2 years ago

I am beginning to think that Mr. Biden couldn’t manage a two car funeral and his administration is so bad that history will not look kindly on it. Just terrible!!!

pete kennedy
pete kennedy
2 years ago

The problem as always (term limits) – I receive notices from my “congress people” telling me how awful the border situation is (Biden). My response to them is YOU ARE IN CONGRESS WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?

Carol
Carol
2 years ago

Why don’t the Republicans get a backbone and expose these Democrat leftist as to who they really are? Vote NO on any bill that takes away freedoms from the people and strips State’s rights! Go out and scream what the Democrats are REALLY doing by putting the Democrats legislation before the people! Anyone with a brain can see how authoritarian the Democrats are and keep harping on the AUTHORITARIAN what the Democrats are trying to do!!! Even some of my liberal friends don’t like this radical stuff, so get out there and use whatever means they can to tell the people what the Democrats really are doing before the Democrats start their lying narrative!!!!

Adonis
Adonis
2 years ago

Tell this to worthless deep state old guard RINO McConnell and his ilk.

Rik
Rik
2 years ago

thieves in Law. . . the whole bunch…… nuff said

Steven H
Steven H
2 years ago

As I have said before and will continue to say: No more multiple topic bills! No more pork! If something can’t stand on its own, then it should not move forward in any form. It’s past time to end the thousand page bills that no one has time to read, let alone completely understand. I understand that they try to pack as much as they can into a bill because they otherwise wouldn’t have enough time to accomplish anything. That is not an excuse.

Mike
Mike
2 years ago

Stop paying taxes. Hit them where it hurts

Richard Minetti
Richard Minetti
2 years ago

Great article Andrew!!

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