Roy Blunt: “reserving the right to object, I could make this really simple by just saying: Look at everything I said last week about…”

“reserving the right to object, I could make this really simple by just saying: Look at everything I said last week about this same bill, but I know that Senator Klobuchar is here in good faith trying to be sure we call attention to this issue. She and I are working together on the Joint Committee for the Presidential Inauguration that we formed just today. Six people were appointed to that bipartisan committee. I was pleased to have her nomination to be the chairman of that event again. We find ways to work together. I think on this bill, there is really nothing simple about this bill. It is not a bill that just allows the other three States somehow to meet the standard that all but three States have now moved toward--not exactly as this bill would have them, but, as my friend just pointed out, 13 of the 16 States have changed their provisions, some just for this election. Some will look at it, and they will decide whether they did it exactly right or they need to further modify it. Others will make that maybe a permanent part of their process. I am of the view that this is one of the things States and local governments really do well. We will have a hearing next month--Senator Klobuchar and I have worked together to talk about what that hearing will look like--where I hope we will have at least one local election official, some State election officials, and some people concerned about the civil rights aspects of voting.…”