Stefanik votes against election reforms
`Last American Newspaper’ debuts at Saratoga Book Festival
By Ken Tingley
The Presidential Election Reform Act was born out of the chaos of January 6, 2021, but more importantly it safeguards the election process by closing loopholes that were open to interpretation and which some tried to exploit in 2021.
It updates, clarifies and reforms laws that have been on the books since 1877.
It confirms that the vice-president’s role is ceremonial.
It requires that at least one-third of the House of Representatives sign on to an objection to an election result instead of allowing single members to object.
It lists the Constitutional grounds on which House members may object.
And it bars state legislatures from retroactively changing election rules after votes have been cast.
It goes into even more detail about the ways in which states certify its elected results. In all, it appears to be a long overdue and much needed update of certifying a presidential election.
This makes a lot of sense and would thwart abuse from either party.
Considering what happened on Jan. 6 and the attempts to overturn a legitimate election, this law is crucial for our democracy.
It passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday 229-203 with nine Republicans voting for it, but Rep. Elise Stefanik, our congresswoman, voted against it.
On Twitter she criticized Democrats for even having the vote because there were more important issues: “Pushing through their Presidential Election Reform Act—an unconstitutional partisan power grab.”
But without these reforms, many of the same problems could occur in the next presidential election. I can’t imagine a more important law to pass at this moment. It’s more important than immigration, gun control or even one of Stefanik’s favorite issues - baby formula.
But our congresswoman was not done Wednesday.
After New York Attorney General Letitia James announced she was suing Donald Trump, his children and the Trump organization for unethical business practices, Stefanik called the lawsuit an “illegitimate witch hunt.”
Hmmm, who uses the words “witch hunt” a lot?
Stefanik later wrote that “Trish James has been on a deranged anti-Trump mission since even before she became Attorney General.”
Considering some of the accusations in the lawsuit, it appears it is long overdue, but perhaps we all should wait to see how the case plays out before calling it a “witch hunt.”
Instead there is this plea on her campaign website: “Help President Trump and help Elise.”
I thought the former president was a billionaire and Rep. Stefanik has so many millions in her campaign war chest she regularly gives it away to other Republican candidates. Do they really need our help?
When you search Rep. Stefanik’s name online, you repeatedly find references to her objection to presidential electors on Jan. 6 after the riots. This new law aims to protect us from it happening again. It will always be part of Rep. Stefanik’s legacy and her vote against closing the loopholes indicates she is OK with it happening again.
Saratoga Book Festival
My first event around my new book, “The Last American Newspaper,” will be at the Saratoga Book Festival on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 9:30 a.m.
The book festival is in its second year so you may not be familiar with it. WAMC radio host Joe Donahue will be moderating a panel discussion between my former colleagues Mark Mahoney, Will Doolittle and myself about the future of newspapers and their importance in the community.
While Will and I are both retired, Mark continues to fight the good fight at the editorial page editor of the Schenectady Gazette.
It should be an entertaining and lively discussion and I’m looking forward to it.
The event will be held in the Sarno Theater at the Saratoga Arts Center at 320 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
It is a part of a full day of events around the book festival.
Adirondack Film Festival
The Adirondack Film Festival will be held the week of Oct. 13-15 with a full slate of feature films and shorts.
“The Quiet Epidemic,” a documentary from two local film makers about the problems in diagnosing Lyme Disease, will be shown on Friday, Oct. 14 at 2:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion with SUNY Adirondack microbiologist Holly Ahern and directors Lindsay Keys and Winslow Crane-Murdoch at Crandall Library. I will be moderating the panel.
The movie is compelling and the issue incredibly important in our communities. The movie explores how the medical community has struggled to diagnose and treat the disease lead to an enormous amount of suffering.
Latest review
Got this review on Facebook Thursday from Bill Owens:
“This is an incredibly thought-provoking book. I am just over halfway through. It has been very moving to me. I’m not a ‘word’ guy I’m more visually oriented. I’ve worked with a good chunk of the reporters, editors, and photographers in the book. All I can say is you must buy this book. Bravo, Ken.”
Very humbling.
Can’t make this stuff up
While speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News, Donald Trump said he has the right to declassify documents just by thinking about it.
It may be the first time an elected official has invoked the power of telepathy to justify their actions.
Don’t forget Stefanik’s second favorite mission: chocolate milk in schools.
Elise seems to be promoting and supporting fraud! I am going to make sure that her continuous "witch hunt" narrative is seen as her backing Trump's lawlessness, and a total disrespect for any laws in this country. 😊