Early Wednesday morning, most of the country was fast asleep.
Democrats in the Senate used the opportunity to try ramming an election reform bill through the chamber.
But Sen. Ted Cruz, R-T.X. was awake — and he was having none of that.
The For The People Act took senators through a grueling spell of 15+ hours of negotiations, after which Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. was hoping to pass the bill that critics say would dramatically overhaul federal elections.
Based on Daily Wire reporting, all it took was one chamber member objecting to block the bill’s passage.
Cruz stepped up to the plate.
And he delivered a blistering speech in striking down Schumer’s precious bill.
“This bill would constitute a federal government takeover of elections. It would constitute a massive power grab by Democrats. It would disenfranchise millions of Americans and it would do precisely the opposite of its nominal title, ‘For The People.’”
To Cruz’ point, multiple reports have dubbed the bill as the most ambitious in a generation.
“It is, instead, for the politicians because it entrenches politicians and ensures that the people cannot vote them out of office. It would strike down virtually every reasonable voter integrity law in the country, including voter I.D. laws supported by the overwhelming majority of this country, including prohibitions on ballot harvesting, again widely supported by people in this country.”
And he also argues that the bill is horrendous in more ways than one — similarly to what its many detractors have noted.
“It would mandate that felons be allowed to vote, and it would automatically register millions of illegal aliens to vote. It would profoundly undermine democracy in this country, and for that reason I object.”
And in the end, Schumer’s legislation was no more.
It’s yet the latest chapter of theater between Republicans and Democrats, where blood boiling tensions have played out between the two sides in Congress.
To this point, it’s led to partisan deadlock as the two parties try to negotiate legislation under President Joe Biden.
But one thing is clear.
Republicans — and Cruz — ain’t budging.
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT: In the dead of night, Sen. @tedcruz successfully blocked Democrats' For the People Act from passing in the Senate. pic.twitter.com/XeWRux2YXf
— Forbes (@Forbes) August 11, 2021
The Horn editorial team