Casten Votes No on Three Seditionist Led Bills
Washington DC – U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) today voted no on three seditionist-led bills. Although Casten is in general supportive of the content of these bills, he cannot in good conscience vote in support of legislation introduced by those who attempted to overthrow the results of the 2020 election and helped incite the deadly January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. While there were 17 suspensions total on the floor this week, Casten voted no on the following three bills:
H.R. 1762 – Protecting Indian Tribes from Scams Act (Rep. Mullin – Energy and Commerce)
H.R. 1899 – Ensuring Compliance Against Drug Diversion Act of 2021 (Rep. Griffith – Energy and Commerce)
H.R. 1487 – Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act of 2021 (Rep. Burchett – Small Business)
"I believe that working with members regardless of their political party and in spite of our disagreements is at the core of good policymaking, but that willingness to collaborate can only extend to those who also hold the core value of upholding democracy. Voting to overturn the election results after a violent insurrection that resulted in the death of five Americans is a bridge too far," said Casten. "137 of my Republican colleagues who gained their power through democratic election voted to overturn our democracy and finish the job a mob of domestic terrorists wanted to do by force. For Officers Sicknick, Smith, and Liebengood, this is something we've all got to reckon with. We can't just move on."
In February, Casten broke with tradition and called for a recorded vote on a bill to rename a post office led by Representative Trent Kelly, a Mississippi Republican who voted to object to the electoral counts in Arizona and Pennsylvania after the insurrection.
"There must be accountability, but there also must be a path to reconciliation for any of my colleagues across the aisle who go on record, acknowledging that their vote to overturn the election results was a mistake and that President Biden was fairly and democratically elected just like they were," said Casten.
Tomorrow, Rep. Casten plans to vote no on H.R. 1482 – 504 Credit Risk Management Improvement Act of 2021 (Rep. Bishop (NC) – Small Business).