Did a Senate committee block McConnell’s attempt to redirect proposed congressional campaign funding to address opioid abuse?
Friday, May 14, 2021
By Gus Fisher
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YES
Republican Senators in committee proposed more than 100 amendments to an expansive Democrat-backed election reform bill. One, proposed by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, would have redirected new funding for congressional election campaigns to efforts to address the nation's opioid epidemic. The amendment didn’t win the required majority.
The campaign funding provision in the bill would allow candidates to opt into accepting public funding, a step intended to diminish the influence of special interests. Other provisions in the legislation address early voting, absentee voting and voter registration. The House has passed the bill, but its prospects of passage by the Senate remain uncertain given strong Republican opposition.
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Sources
US Congress S.1—For the People Act of 2021
National Conference of State Legislatures Public financing of campaigns: Overview
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