Ahead of the midterm elections, House Republicans sought to furnish a plan for the future of America once a balance of power is restored and the GOP regains control of the legislature. A common vision, shared by those elected under the Republican moniker, promised to the American people in a time of deep uncertainty and fear. The first three segments of the strategy relate to an economy that works for all, domestic, international, and cyber security, and safeguarding the liberties of the citizens of the United States. The final portion calls for increased government accountability and transparency, an ultimate barrier protecting vulnerable citizenry from overzealous one-party rule.The preservation of Constitutional Rights, provided to us not by governmental bodies but by God, should not only be paramount to governance but provided without hesitation or disruption to all Americans, regardless of political persuasion. The government itself is only growing larger and progressively bureaucratic, with the people increasingly locked out of decision-making and oversite capacities. The Commitment to America looks to restore such protections and provide answers where they are so richly deserved. Under the current administration, at least 14 whistleblowers have come forward to express concern over political undertones at the FBI. The IRS, an organization with a similarly troubling history of partisan activism, is preparing to hire nearly 90,000 new agents. The Commitment not only calls for investigation into potential biases but further reinforces those inalienable liberties such as speech, religion, and protest, in addition to Second Amendment protections.
A further focus in this portion of the Commitment is the defense of voting integrity, both as a right among American citizens and a privilege pertaining to Congress members. Members of the House have been allowed to vote via proxy since May 2020, when Speaker Pelosi authorized the practice under emergency circumstances. Now that the threat of the Covid-19 virus has primarily passed, our lawmakers must return entirely to in-person voting. Besides its questionable constitutionality, proxy practice disallows debate and compromise, as legislators may never be materially engaged in floor discussions. Additionally, it allows members of Congress to collect an ever-increasing paycheck while eschewing much of the work they were elected to do. Proper parliamentary procedure dictates a physical quorum, and Congress must return to standard order along with the rest of the country. Members who are not healthy enough to carry out electoral duties regularly may perhaps have to reconsider service in today’s pandemic construct.The protection of voting rights and integrity at the polls is of equal importance, particularly as absentee ballots grow in popularity. 80% of Americans support mandatory voter ID, and Washington must act. Additionally, updated voter rolls are critical in safeguarding individual votes, and election observers must be allowed to oversee ballot count and transport to eliminate possible nefarious action. Every American, regardless of political party, must feel confident in election procedure and results, and each leader must be able to stand on appropriately certified authority.
Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.
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