House committee subpoenas 15 Biden Cabinet secretaries to hand over documents on voter mobilization ‘scheme’
Rep. Bryan Steil referred to Biden’s Executive Order as an ‘attempt” to ’tilt scales before 2024′.
A House Committee is subpoenaing 15 executive agencies of the Biden Administration in relation to constitutional concerns regarding one of Biden’s executive orders, and the departments’ implementation.
Biden signed Promoting Access to Voting in March 2021. This document states that “executive agencies and departments should partner with state, local, tribal, and territorial election officials to promote and protect the right to vote and eliminate discrimination, other barriers to voting and expand access to accurate election information and voter registration.”
Senate Republicans have already questioned the plan, calling it an “effort to mobilize voters” with “potentially political impacts.”
|
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis. ), chairman of the Committee on House Administration is subpoenaing Biden’s 15 cabinet secretaries to provide their detailed plans on how they will carry out the order, just five months before the November elections.
The Committee is concerned about the implementation E.O. In a letter of subpoena, Steil informed the agencies that he was concerned about the implementation of E.O.
“Congress delegated to federal agencies specific missions and functions, which they must follow by law. He said that Congress has not delegated authority to HUD to use funds and resources for voter registration materials.
“Moreover, E.O. “Moreover, E.O.
In the past few months, certain agencies have taken steps that were probably outlined in their strategies. Steil cited the Department of Education’s new federal requirements for work-study and the Small Business Administration’s entry into an agreement with Michigan to register voters as examples.
The strategic plans of the agencies may provide some answers to these questions.
Steil said that the committee is examining legislation that would repeal E.O. The committee is also considering legislation that would repeal E.O. 14019, which requires agencies to submit their strategic plans to Congress.
The Committee will use the documents and strategic plans to inform them of any additional legislation that may be needed to clarify the NRA’s prohibition on executive branch agencies focusing on voter registration.
The list of subpoenaed departments includes the Department of Commerce and Homeland Security as well as the Departments of Defense, Justice, Education, Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development. It also includes the Departments of Labor, Interior, Office of Management and Budget and State.
Steil, in a Fox News Digital statement, called the executive order “a scheme” to conduct “partisan activities” that Congress had not allocated funds for.
“Elections are partisan but our election administration shouldn’t be.” Steil stated that allowing federal employees of the Biden administration flood election administration sites would threaten election integrity and decrease Americans’ confidence.
This executive order is yet another attempt to tilt the balance ahead of 2024 by the Biden Administration. I will continue to work on transparency and accountability regarding this administration’s newest scheme, as Congress has not appropriated taxpayer funds for political activities.”
In November, Republican senators demanded answers from the Biden Administration about its “voter mobilisation” efforts. They claimed that the White House had been stonewalling them for months.
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) sent a letter, signed by 23 senators and co-signed with top leadership including Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), criticizing President Biden’s administration for its “failure to reply” to their inquiries about the executive order Promoting Access to Voting.
The lawmakers stated that “this policy directive deserves congressional oversight, both in general and under the Antideficiency Act.” They also asked for copies of the plans the federal agencies submitted to the White House.
A lawsuit filed in April alleged that the executive order targeted certain demographics for the benefit of the president’s party and his reelection.
Tarren Bragdon is the president and CEO of Foundation for Government Accountability. The Foundation filed an amicus in a case that’s currently before the Supreme Court.
No Comments