Issa opposes one-sided and partisan election legislation, declares H.R. 1 'most misleading political bill in history'

WASHINGTON – Rep. Darrell Issa, CA-50, released the following statement March 3, in opposition to House Resolution 1:

"States made sweeping changes to election practices leading up to Election Day 2020, even circumventing state legislatures in favor of executive decrees and court-ordered variations. There is no dispute some of these changes were done in violation of state constitutions and state law.

"Mistrust of election integrity is at an all-time high. Rather than tackling the flaws in the system that we know exist, H.R. 1 is an end-run around common sense laws and a full sprint to give Democrats an unfair and illegal advantage. If signed into law, this strictly partisan legislation will only ensure that tens of millions of Americans will lose even more confidence that our elections are as fair as they are said to be free," Issa said.

H.R. 1 cements some of the worst election practices of California, including its pandemic response and other troubling components including: banning state voter ID requirements; creating a FEC "Speech Czar;" forcing states to automatically register convicted felons upon release from prison; mandates states automatically register 16- and 17-year-olds despite federal law requirements that voters be 18 years of age; removing bipartisan makeup of the FEC; giving taxpayer dollars to political candidates, even if the taxpayer does not support a candidate; mandating states to allow ballot harvesting and weaponizing the IRS to investigate the political beliefs of organizations seeking nonprofit status.

"H.R. 1 is a federal power grab that only benefits politicians," Issa said. "It mandates unconstitutional changes that are designed to ensure that one political party has overwhelming advantages in all future elections. Congress must turn away from something as destructive as H.R. 1 and instead work to restore trust in our elections by ensuring the sanctity of one man, one vote, one time."

Darrell Issa is the representative of California's 50th Congressional District. The district encompasses the central and northeastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, San Marcos, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, El Cajon, Temecula and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.

KEYWORDS: Opinion, Darrell Issa, Election, Partisan Legislation,