Georgia Launches Website To Cancel Voter Registrations

 

Brad Raffensperger Is Just Another Republican Vote Suppressor

We will never know exactly why Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) refused former President Donald Trump’s request to “find 11,780 votes” following the 2020 election. Maybe it was simply an impossible task. Perhaps he was unwilling to commit treason. It certainly wasn’t because he did not support the former president or his views on voter suppression.

After certifying the 2020 election results, Raffensperger told CNN: “I wish he would have won, and especially in Georgia. I certainly cast my vote for him.”

As for voter suppression, Raffensperger has consistently supported measures that disenfranchise Georgians and restrict their right to vote. He has prioritized voter purges since he first took office in 2019. He proudly defends the massive voter suppression law Georgia enacted in 2021.

During his Senate runoff victory speech in December 2022, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) described how “officials in our state tried to block Saturday voting.” The senator was referring to Raffensperger.

Now safely re-elected to another term, Raffensperger is taking his voter suppression campaign national. He recently wrote a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) asking for his help.

The letter begins by imploring the speaker to remain “steadfast” in opposing a “federal takeover of elections.” It is safe to say that, even without this letter, McCarthy is unlikely to support the Freedom to Vote Act. Then, Raffensperger, in the very next sentence, asks McCarthy for the speaker’s “support for a set of reforms to current national election law.”

So much for federalism.

Raffensperger saying that he wants to “reform” elections is like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) saying that he wants to “reform” public school libraries. We all know what kinds of reforms those are.

Raffensperger’s first suggested reform is to make voter purges easier. Seriously, his number one election concern is that too few people are being kicked off state voter registration lists. His “reform” is to make mass voter purges easier.

It turns out that purging Georgia voters has been an obsession of Raffensperger for years. In 2019, his first year as secretary of state, he purged 309,000 individuals — 4% of all Georgia voters. Two years later, in 2021, his office purged another 100,000 voters.

Raffensperger is so fond of voter purges that he wants private actors to get into the action.

When Republican election vigilantes tried to remove over 364,000 voters from the rolls before the 2021 U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia, Raffensperger did nothing to stop them. Instead, after the election he supported a new law that made it easier for private citizens to submit mass challenges to voter eligibility and more difficult for counties to reject them. The result? An additional 92,000 Georgia voter registrations were challenged last year.

Intimidation and Disenfranchisement in the Georgia Senate Runoffs

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Raffensperger’s next “reform” is to advocate for a national strict photo ID to vote law. Already, 35 states require some form of ID to vote. According to Raffensperger, the vast majority of those laws are insufficient and need to be toughened. States like Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas all have ID laws that Raffensperger would consider too permissive. Raffensperger’s proposal would also require strict photo ID to vote laws for “all modes of voting” — a code word for mail-in voting.

Next on Raffensperger’s list of election reforms is a national ban on third-party ballot collection, which he derisively calls “ballot harvesting.” For many poor communities that are underserved by the U.S. Postal Service, third-party ballot collection is the only realistic way to vote. Native American voters are often the hardest hit by ballot collection bans, but they are not alone. Hispanic, Black and young voters also rely heavily on the practice in many parts of the country.

Curiously, Raffensperger seems to overstate the scope of Georgia’s current ballot collection law — a law he claims was one of his first priorities after he was elected. In his letter to McCarthy, Raffensperger writes that “No one should get between the voter and the ballot box.” Yet, unlike some other states, Georgia does not prohibit all forms of ballot collection.

Georgia allows, for example, relatives and household members to collect and deliver completed ballots. Also, unlike many other states, Georgia law does not place a numerical limit on the number of ballots that one person may collect and deliver. While the Georgia law is restrictive, it is not as categorical as his letter suggests.

Nor is ballot collection a problem in Georgia. In 2022, the state election board — of which Raffensperger is a member — voted unanimously to dismiss three claims of illegal “ballot harvesting” as baseless conspiracies stemming from the 2020 election. The board that ruled in these cases was composed of three Republicans and one Democrat.

If there was any doubt where Brad Raffensperger stands on voting rights, he has put it to rest. He is in lockstep with the Republican Party.

In his letter to McCarthy, Raffensperger next turns his attention to the relatively noncontroversial topic of “risk-limiting audits.” Oddly, he acknowledges in his letter that most states already provide for such audits. Indeed, more than 35 states require some type of post-election risk-limiting audit.

While his letter fails to make clear what exactly he wants Congress to require, it is worth noting that in 2020 Raffensperger abused his role in overseeing such an audit by expanding a limited audit into a full statewide hand recount. He did this to appease Trump and his supporters.

Raffensperger’s final election reform is the kind of demagoguery that we routinely expect from Republicans. He proposes a constitutional amendment to ban noncitizens from voting in all U.S. elections.

Raffensperger knows that noncitizen voting poses no threat to our country. He knows that noncitizen voting in federal elections is already prohibited by federal law. He knows that amending the U.S. Constitution requires passage by two-thirds of each chamber of Congress and 38 state legislatures. He knows that this will never happen.

But Raffensperger also knows that in today’s GOP, stoking fears of foreigners is good politics and he can vilify the handful of municipalities that have recently experimented with allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. Make no mistake: For this proposal, the cruelty is the point.

If there was any doubt where Brad Raffensperger stands on voting rights, he has put it to rest. He is in lockstep with the Republican Party. He is not trying to improve voting; he is trying to make it more difficult because he believes that it will help Republicans in the future.

Raffensperger’s approach may be more polite than the vulgar tactics Trump employed in 2020, but his goal is the same: limiting voting rights so that Republicans can win. Raffensperger is no hero; he is just another Republican vote suppressor.

DEMOCRACY DOCKET

On July 29, 2024, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced a new online portal to request the cancellations of voter registrations. Raffensperger said that the portal is intended for people who move out of state or who want to cancel the registration of a deceased family member. But in the state with a recent history of mass voter challenges, is a website to cancel voter registrations a good idea? -Sign up for our free newsletters: https://www.democracydocket.com/youtu... -Become a member of our premium content: https://www.democracydocket.com/membe... -Support our work: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ -Shop Democracy Docket merch: https://store.democracydocket.com Follow Democracy Docket! -⁠X/Twitter⁠:   / democracydocket   -⁠Facebook⁠:   / democracydocket   -⁠Instagram⁠:   / democracydocket   -⁠TikTok⁠:   / democracydocket   -Threads: https://www.threads.net/@democracydocket Resources: -Brad Raffensperger Is Just Another Republican Vote Suppressor: https://www.democracydocket.com/opini... -The Virus of Mass Voter Challenges Threatens Democracy and Is Spreading Fast: https://www.democracydocket.com/opini... -Intimidating Voters Is Nothing New in Georgia, It’s Just Easier Now: https://www.democracydocket.com/opini... -True the Vote Voter Intimidation Case Goes to Trial in Georgia: https://www.democracydocket.com/analy...

Top News: Ruling Against Google in 'Biggest Antitrust Case of the 21st Century'

 

Monday, August 5, 2024 ■ Today's Top News  Investigation Exposes Big Tech Ties to Israeli Genocide in Gaza "It's more than complicity: It's direct participation and collaboration with the Israeli military on the tools they're using to kill Palestinians," said one policy expert. By Brett Wilkins US Court Rules Google a Monopoly in 'Biggest Antitrust Case of the 21st Century' "Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly," said a federal judge in the decision. By Julia Conley Fed Urged to Enact Emergency Rate Cut as Global Sell-Off Stokes Recession Fears Economist Paul Krugman argued there is a "real case for an emergency cut soon" as concerns grow that the Fed has waited too long to act. By Jake Johnson Conservationists Say 'Bizarre' Dead Bear Incident Proves 'Terrible' Judgment of RFK Jr. "Dumping a bear carcass on a New York City bike path perfectly encapsulates Kennedy's recklessness and weirdness as a presidential candidate and a phony environmentalist," said one campaigner. By Brett Wilkins Israeli Minister Laments That 'Nobody Will Let Us' Starve 2 Million Gazans To Death "This is what fascism and the desire for mass extermination and displacement look like," a Palestinian-American expert said. "These criminals want to eliminate all Palestinians in Gaza, not just Hamas." By Edward Carver Sanders Poll Sends Clear Message to Harris: Pro-Worker Policies Are 'Also Good Politics' "The simple fact is: Whether you're running for the White House or a city council seat, if you stand with working people, they will stand with you," said Sen. Bernie Sanders. By Jake Johnson JOIN THE MOVEMENT As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. JOIN WITH US TODAY ■ More News Abortion Bans in GOP-Led States 'Violate Human Rights,' Says Amnesty UK Labour MP Says Right-Wing Politicians, Media Fueled Xenophobic Mob Attacks 'Beyond Horror': Israel Kills Mostly Children in Fresh Attacks on Gaza Schools Michigan Secretary of State Probing Elon Musk Super PAC Over Voter Data Scheme VIEW ALL NEWS ■ Opinion Democrat's VP Nominee Must Stand With Workers Trump wants to put his boot on the neck of the labor movement, which is why Harris should pick a running mate ready to take on greedy corporations and level the playing field for workers. By Maurice Mitchell Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Agree on a Key Point: Moths Will Not Be a 2024 Campaign Issue The biosphere has been sent to hospice, and we are all on a morphine drip called election coverage. By Phil Wilson Meet the 11 Private Equity Donors Trying to Buy the 2024 Election The financiers are spending big on candidates that will preserve the carried interest tax deduction, which allows them to pay a lower 23.8% tax rate on the capital gains passed on to them as compensation rather than the top income tax rate of up to 40.8%. By Don Wiener VIEW ALL OPINION Call 207.775.0488 to donate by phone or mail a check to: Common Dreams · PO Box 443 · Portland, ME 04112-0443 · USA Common Dreams is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your contribution is tax-deductible. EIN: 20-3368194

Meet the 11 Private Equity Donors Trying to Buy the 2024 Election LOOK AT THE CAMPAIGN DONORS!

 

Jeffrey Yass—Pennsylvania's richest person—is a prolific Republican megadonor who gave $70.5 million to federal campaigns in 2023 and 2024.

 (Photo: Jeffrey Yass/Facebook)

Meet the 11 Private Equity Donors Trying to Buy the 2024 Election

The financiers are spending big on candidates that will preserve the carried interest tax deduction, which allows them to pay a lower 23.8% tax rate on the capital gains passed on to them as compensation rather than the top income tax rate of up to 40.8%.

Eleven of the top 50 individual contributors to political campaigns this election cycle work in the finance industry—specifically in private equity—and are betting big on congressional and presidential candidates who will protect one very special federal tax break worth billions of dollars to them: the carried interest loophole.

So far this election cycle, these 11 private equity billionaires have already contributed more than double the amount that more than 147 private equity firms pumped into federal elections in all of the 2016 election cycle. Private equity—which largely entails rich investors buying and selling companies—is only a part of a larger finance industry that includes hedge funds, securities firms, banks, and investment companies and managers.

This loophole, of course, is not the only tax perk that private equity firms favor. They also push to keep the tax rate on capital gains much lower than the tax rate on ordinary income.

Finance—securities and investments—tops the list of industries giving the most money to date this round, with more than $1 billion in contributions to candidates, parties, and PACs, according to the nonpartisan political funding tracker Open Secrets.

The 11 private equity leaders have contributed more than $223 million to congressional and presidential candidates and the super PACs that support them, accounting for almost 20% of all money contributed by thousands of companies in the finance sector, according to Open Secrets data. During the 2016 election cycle, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) reported that the 147 private equity firms it analyzed contributed $92 million to candidates and super PACs.

The carried interest tax deduction allows private equity investment managers to pay a lower 23.8% tax rate on the capital gains passed on to them as compensation rather than the top income tax rate of up to 40.8% they would pay on the same amount if it were considered wage or salary income.

“Carried interest is a form of compensation paid to investment executives like private equity, hedge fund and venture capital managers,” CNBC explains. “The managers receive a share of the fund’s profits—typically 20% of the total—which is divided among them proportionally. The profit is called carried interest, and is also known as ‘carry’ or ‘profits interest.’”

The $223-million investment these 11 private equity billionaires are making in campaign contributions in hopes of keeping the loophole intact will save the industry an estimated $14 billion in taxes over 10 years, as Senate Democrats pointed out in 2022 when they were forced to let go of legislation to get rid of it.

This loophole, of course, is not the only tax perk that private equity firms favor. They also push to keep the tax rate on capital gains much lower than the tax rate on ordinary income. And some private equity managers have other public policy interests, like billionaire Jeffery Yass, the largest individual donor this election cycle, who gives millions of dollars to school choice groups and other conservative causes.

On April 15, 2024, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced the Carried Interest Fairness Act (S. 4123), which she co-sponsored with 14 other senators, in order to eliminate the tax loophole, something that Democrats have long sought to fix. The proposed legislation treats the buying and selling of companies as ordinary income if that is a firm’s primary business. “By closing the carried interest loophole, we’ll make our tax code fairer for working families, cut the deficit, and ensure that those at the top of the food chain aren’t exploiting the system to further enrich themselves,” Baldwin said in a press release.

While 90% of the private equity contributions made so far this election cycle have gone to Republicans or the PACs that support them, not every Democrat is opposed to eliminating the loophole.

Before Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) left the party to become an independent in 2022, she “courted private equity titans and received the maximum allowed amount from the PACs of leading private equity firms such as The Carlyle Group, along with the industry’s trade organization, the American Investment Council (AIC),” CMD reported.

Private equity billionaires have dramatically increased their spending since Sinema decided not to run for reelection this year.

In 2017, as part of then-President Donald Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the length of time needed to trigger the long-term capital gains tax was raised from one year to three just for private equity. The loophole itself was kept in the bill because of fierce industry lobbying, even though Trump groused that those who took the tax break were “getting away with murder.”

Former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden both pledged to get rid of the unfair tax loophole. Obama never followed through, and Biden dropped the loophole fix from the Inflation Reduction Act due to opposition from Sinema. Anti-tax zealot Grover Norquist compares the situation to a dog chasing a bus. “You didn’t mean to catch the bus, you meant to whine about the bus,” he famously said.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, has made few comments so far on private equity and has not yet expressed her views about the carried interest loophole.

COMMON DREAMS

 

IF YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ISRAEL UNCONDITIONALLY, CHECK THE 

MIRROR TO SEE IF YOU STILL HAVE A SOUL OR A BACKBONE! 

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on August 5, 2024 that "nobody will let us cause two million civilians to die of hunger even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned."

 (Photo: Saeed Qaq/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Israeli Minister Laments That 'Nobody Will Let Us' Starve 2 Million Gazans To Death

"This is what fascism and the desire for mass extermination and displacement look like," a Palestinian-American expert said. "These criminals want to eliminate all Palestinians in Gaza, not just Hamas."

Far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday said that it might be "justified and moral" to cause two million Palestinian civilians to starve to death until Hamas returns Israeli hostages, drawing criticism from humanitarian groups.

Human rights campaigners have demonstrated that Israel is limiting and delaying aid into the Gaza Strip, and even using starvation as a "weapon of war." United Nations' experts warned earlier this month that famine had spread across the enclave, calling it an "intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people" and "a form of genocidal violence."

The comments from Smotrich, Israel's finance minister, added further weight to critics' charges that the country's leaders are uncommitted to addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

"We bring in aid because there is no choice," Smotrich, the finance minister, said at a conference hosted by the right-wing news outlet Israel Hayom. "We can't, in the current global reality, manage a war. Nobody will let us cause two million civilians to die of hunger, even though it might be justified and moral, until our hostages are returned."

"We live today in a certain reality, we need international legitimacy for this war," he added.

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian-American fellow at the Atlantic Council, argued that Smotrich's comments indicated a genocidal intent to kill all of the people of Gaza. "This is what fascism and the desire for mass extermination and displacement look like," he wrote on social media. "These criminals want to eliminate all Palestinians in Gaza, not just Hamas."

Jehad Abusalim, executive director of the Institute for Palestine Studies, said Smotrich's comments were "horrifying but not surprising."

"This vile rhetoric is just the tip of the iceberg," he wrote on social media. "Smotrich is a minister in a government that Western leaders claim shares their values."

Peace Now, an anti-occupation Israeli group, condemned Smotrich's remarks in several social media posts, expressing disbelief that a "senior member of our government" would say such a thing and arguing that it would be "justified" for the U.S. to sanction Smotrich.

"All the way to the Hague," Peace Now wrote, suggesting that Smotrich or other Israeli leaders were guilty of war crimes.

Smotrich implied that allowing in any aid to Gaza was a public relations exercise aimed at quelling international criticism of the Israel's assault on the enclave, which has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians since October, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Hamas and affiliated militant groups killed more than 1,100 Israelis in a horrific massacre on October 7, taking about 250 hostages, only about half of whom have since been returned. Israeli authorities have said they believe more than 70 hostages are still being held alive, while more than 40 have died.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations' top court, has issued a series of rulings against Israel this year, determining that the country must prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and provide sufficient aid, stop its assault on Rafah, and end its unlawful occupation of Gaza and the West Bank immediately. In May, the International Criminal Court, which was founded in 2001 to establish accountability for the world's most serious crimes, sought arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders.

Humanitarian groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have said repeatedly that Israel has not complied with the first ICJ ruling—Israeli forces continue to obstruct aid transport and distribution in Gaza, despite mass starvation there.