Melvin Watt: “I got alarmed by that, because quite often that is the way people perceive that democracy works. You get some people…”

“I got alarmed by that, because quite often that is the way people perceive that democracy works. You get some people kind of at the center of the democracy and they say, well, we represent this perspective and this perspective, one marginally on the progressive side and one marginally on the conservative side, and we represent America, so the rest of America should not be heard. That is what this rule reminds me of. A small group of people who have decided that this bill should be the vehicle for election reform have gotten together; and the Committee on Rules has said, well, if we break apart this fragile compromise and allow people either on the progressive side or on the conservative side to offer amendments, then somehow democracy will be undermined. There is something wrong with that analysis. We all come here to represent our districts and to bring our voices to the table, and this process is not allowing that to happen. I hope we will vote down this rule and give us the opportunity to participate.”