Former special counsel Robert Mueller’s warning that Russian interference is still happening “as we sit” is putting pressure on Republican leaders in Congress to join Democrats in passing additional election security legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, halted a bipartisan effort to beef up state election systems ahead of the 2018 election and on Thursday blocked Democrats from pushing forward a House-passed bill to authorize funding for the states.
McConnell said President Donald Trump’s administration has already made great strides to enhance election security and he called the House bill “not a serious effort,” coming from the same side that he said spent the past two years “hyping” Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“Obviously it’s very important that we maintain the integrity and security of our elections,” McConnell said Thursday.
The Senate already unanimously approved one bipartisan measure, which makes interference in elections a violation of immigration law. But Democrats say Congress must do more.
The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, called inaction a “disgrace” and is pledging to keep putting forward requests for votes on bills.
Mueller’s testimony “should be a wake-up call,” Schumer said.
“Leader McConnell let me read you that sentence,” Schumer said from the Senate floor, citing Mueller’s testimony Wednesday about Russian interference. “ ‘It wasn’t a single attempt. They’re doing it as we sit here and they expect to do it in the next campaign.’ ”
On Thursday, Schumer tried to push forward consideration of the House-passed bill that would authorize $775 million in grants over the next two years to help states secure their voting systems. It also would prohibit voting systems from being connected to the internet or wireless technologies and tighten standards for private companies that provide election infrastructure.
Republicans said Thursday money has already been allocated from an earlier spending bill and no new funding is needed immediately.