House GOP plan excludes election security funding

Vote on bill set for today; Democrats blast grant funding denial

WASHINGTON — House Republicans plan to vote today on a spending bill that excludes new money for election security grants to states, provoking a furious reaction from Democrats amid a national controversy over Russian election meddling.

At issue is a grants program overseen by the federal Election Assistance Commission and aimed at helping states administer their elections and improve voting systems; Democrats want to continue grant funding through 2019 while Republicans say it’s already been fully funded.

Republicans argued strenuously in floor debate Wednesday that states had plenty of money from prior congressional allocations to spend on election improvements. But Democrats accused the Republicans of abetting President Donald Trump in his refusal to take a hard line against Russian President Vladimir Putin at this week’s summit in Helsinki.

“The American people should be very worried about the commitment of this president and his Republican allies in Congress to securing our elections,” said Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I. “This is a party that has worked with this administration to undermine and minimize the investigation surrounding Russian interference in our presidential election.”

House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, R-Texas, termed such arguments from Democrats a “shrewd political shenanigan that has no merit to it.”

Sessions said Congress has fully funded election assistance grants that were created under the Help America Vote Act passed in the wake of the contested 2000 election. He said states still have money left from last year’s $380 million appropriation - and that lawmakers have not been made aware of any outstanding needs as the November midterm elections approach.

Democrats dismissed the Republicans’ explanations, saying the need for election security funding has never been clearer in the wake of Trump’s summit with Putin.