Representative

Are you seeing news reports of voting problems? 4 essential reads on election disinformation

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

In certain circles, the 2020 presidential election isn’t over – and that seems to be at least a little bit true.

Key Points: 
  • In certain circles, the 2020 presidential election isn’t over – and that seems to be at least a little bit true.
  • In recent weeks, official reviews of election records and processes from the 2020 presidential election have reported findings that might be used to spread rumors about voting integrity.
  • For instance, election officials in Virginia’s Prince William County announced on Jan. 11, 2024, that 4,000 votes from the 2020 presidential election had been miscounted.
  • Death reports and prison inmate rolls can help them determine who should remain eligible to voter and who should be removed from voting lists, the report said.

1. Changing numbers are evidence of transparency, not fraud

  • “(T)his doesn’t mean the system is ‘rigged.’ Actually, it means the system is transparent to a fault,” she wrote.
  • Read more:
    How votes are counted in Pennsylvania: Changing numbers are a sign of transparency, not fraud, during an ongoing process

2. Easier voting is not a threat to election integrity

  • Erecting obstacles to voting will not prevent the problems that do exist in the election system, for the simple reason that the flaws are not a result of easier voting methods, such as early voting and voting by mail.
  • Grinnell College political scientist Douglas R. Hess observed that the COVID-19 pandemic was a massive test of whether a secure election could be held with a lot of accommodations that made voting easier, and safer from the spread of disease.
  • Likewise, the collection of absentee ballots – a necessity for some voters – can be implemented securely.”

    Read more:
    Making it easier to vote does not threaten election integrity

3. It’s possible for election workers to be both partisan and fair-minded

  • For many years, elections have been run by people who were members of one political party or the other but behaved in good faith to run fair elections, wrote Thom Reilly, a scholar at Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs.
  • Yet, he wrote,
    “(W)idespread misinformation and disinformation on election administration is hobbling the ability of election officials to do their job and has created fertile ground for mistrust.”
    “(W)idespread misinformation and disinformation on election administration is hobbling the ability of election officials to do their job and has created fertile ground for mistrust.”

    Read more:
    Good faith and the honor of partisan election officials used to be enough to ensure trust in voting results – but not anymore

4. Beware those who aim to confuse or mislead

  • Situations to watch out for are those in which “lack of understanding and certainty can fuel doubt, fan misinformation and provide opportunities for those seeking to delegitimize the results,” they wrote.
  • Specifically, look out for:
    “Politically motivated individuals (who) are likely to cherry-pick and assemble these pieces of digital "evidence” to fit narratives that seek to undermine trust in the results.
  • Read more:
    5 types of misinformation to watch out for while ballots are being counted – and after

    This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archives.

Federal government hasn’t applied for any preventative detention orders for ex-detainees, saying it takes a long time

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

The government raced legislation through parliament in December to enable it to apply to a court for preventative detention orders.

Key Points: 
  • The government raced legislation through parliament in December to enable it to apply to a court for preventative detention orders.
  • They showed seven had been convicted of murder or attempted murder and 37 of sexually-based offences, including child sex offences.
  • One of which is, of course, the regime that was the subject of legislation […] at the end of last year” providing for preventative detention.
  • Giles said the government’s preventative detention regime was modelled on the high-risk offenders scheme of the Coalition government.

NEW PSA: Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Valerie June Call on Congress and President Biden to Pass Healthcare Price Transparency Legislation

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 9, 2024

The musical trio are raising their voices with Power to the Patients to fight for a more affordable and equitable healthcare system through systemwide price transparency.

Key Points: 
  • The musical trio are raising their voices with Power to the Patients to fight for a more affordable and equitable healthcare system through systemwide price transparency.
  • Transparency is key so we are able to make informed choices about our care and to ensure that we are not being overcharged."
  • In December, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced legislation to strengthen and expand healthcare price transparency requirements ( S.3548 ), empowering all healthcare consumers to get the best care at the best price.
  • The Senate legislation built on the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act ( H.R.5378 ), which was overwhelmingly passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last year.

Union Pacific Announces Appointment of Andrew Brady to Vice President-External Relations, Retirement of Printz Bolin

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Railroad has appointed Andrew Brady to vice president-External Relations, following Printz Bolin's retirement at the end of February.

Key Points: 
  • OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Railroad has appointed Andrew Brady to vice president-External Relations, following Printz Bolin's retirement at the end of February.
  • He previously served as Union Pacific's assistant vice president-External Relations.
  • Prior to joining the railroad five years ago, Brady was assistant vice president-Government Affairs at the Association of American Railroads.
  • "Printz's experience and relationship-building with elected officials and regulators were invaluable to Union Pacific," said Union Pacific Chief Executive Officer Jim Vena.

Ukraine war: what the US public thinks about giving military and other aid

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

The Senate’s Democrat majority leader, Chuck Schumer, has said: “The survival of Ukraine is on the line” – something reinforced by reports that

Key Points: 
  • The Senate’s Democrat majority leader, Chuck Schumer, has said: “The survival of Ukraine is on the line” – something reinforced by reports that
    the Ukrainian army is running low on ammunition.
  • These involve an expedited asylum processing time, from years to six months, and raising the standard of proof for an asylum claim.
  • Also included is a measure to restrict crossings if migrant levels reach 4,000 over a one-week period.

What the polls say

  • Is the US providing too much aid to Ukraine?
  • In a Gallup survey from November 2023, some 44% of independents, who are the pivotal group in US electoral politics, thought this too.
  • This helps to explain why the Republicans in Congress are pursuing a policy which arguably puts US long-term security at risk, if Ukraine loses the war.
  • However, it is noteworthy that providing arms was the second most popular alternative, and sending military support staff the fourth most popular.

Who favoured aid to Ukraine?

  • If we look at the category of CES respondents who favoured sending arms to Ukraine, a few things stand out in comparison with the population of the US in general.
  • Around 28% of college graduates, compared with only 21% of high school graduates, favoured arms to Ukraine.
  • Finally, 42% were from a household where someone had served in the military in the past, compared with 35% generally.


Paul Whiteley has received funding from the British Academy and the ESRC

SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE TO MARKUP FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL; PASSENGER PRIORITIES REMAIN ABSENT, AS REPORTED BY FLYERSRIGHTS

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 7, 2024

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday February 8th the Senate Commerce Committee will mark up its FAA Reauthorization bill, which was originally scheduled to be marked up in June 2023.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday February 8th the Senate Commerce Committee will mark up its FAA Reauthorization bill, which was originally scheduled to be marked up in June 2023.
  • The House of Representatives passed its Reauthorization bill on a bipartisan basis in July of 2023.
  • The current draft of the Senate bill does not include many of the passenger protection and safety provisions supported by a group of national airline passenger and consumer protection organizations.
  • Consumer groups wrote to the chairs of the House and Senate committees in July 2022 to identify consumers' top priorities.

FEB. 6-7 LESS CANCER WORKSHOP LEADING THE CHARGE ON CANCER PREVENTION

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 7, 2024

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The launch of Less Cancer's Annual National Cancer Prevention Workshop took place on Tuesday, February 6 in the Gold Room of the Rayburn Building, bringing together physicians, scientists, legislators, students, educators and advocates to discuss the strides made in cancer prevention.

Key Points: 
  • The Warrenton, VA, based non-profit Less Cancer , celebrating 20 years,  has led the charge on cancer prevention, initiating the United States Bipartisan Congressional Cancer Prevention Caucus, National Cancer Prevention Day, and the National Cancer Prevention Workshop.
  • "We are so grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and John James (R-MI) for the Cancer Prevention Caucus, and in support of the National Cancer Prevention Workshop," said Less Cancer founder and president Bill Couzens.
  • This year's workshop has a focus on rural health access, and the social determinants around cancer prevention and access to screening and treatment.
  • We are excited by the experts, and the legislators who have joined us to support these efforts for cancer prevention."

Indonesians head to polls amid concerns over declining democracy, election integrity and vote buying

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Indonesia’s General Elections Commission reports that as many as 204 million voters are enrolled for the election, with about 114 million of them under 40 years of age.

Key Points: 
  • Indonesia’s General Elections Commission reports that as many as 204 million voters are enrolled for the election, with about 114 million of them under 40 years of age.
  • Polls say the top issues for younger voters include unaffordable basic goods, lack of employment opportunities, high poverty rates, expensive health services and poor education quality and service.
  • Meanwhile, there are concerns among many observers that Indonesia’s democracy has been backsliding in recent years.

Southeast Asia’s largest economy

  • Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy but faces getting caught in what economists call the middle-income trap, where its wages are too high but productivity too low to be competitive.
  • Its growing economic dependence on China and regional tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea have foreign policy observers and investors watching the election closely.
  • Yet the election takes place against a backdrop of increasing democratic fragility.
  • Baswedan and Pranowo support a market-based approach and a balanced approach between protecting national industries and fostering foreign investment.
  • On one of the main issues of the day, the relocation of the capital city of Indonesia, Baswedan is the most critical of the candidates.
  • He has vowed to review the project, but is unlikely to stop the move even if he wins, as the plan is already formalized into law.

Massive spending and vote buying

  • While the presence of many candidates – for example, there are 300 in Jakarta alone, including celebrities and cabinet ministers from 17 parties, vying for 21 seats in the House of Representatives – could suggest a vibrant democracy, the massive spending among them increases the risk of vote buying.
  • Furthermore, due to the current open-list proportional voting systems, candidates must compete against their party peers to win a seat.
  • This system creates a fierce competition among candidates and increases the chance of vote buying.


Financial irregularities tied to election funding have also dogged parties across the political spectrum, leading the Association for Election and Democracy to cite a worrisome trend of citizens coming to see money politics as acceptable within a competitive democracy. The other challenge during the election campaign is the lack of accountability and transparency for campaign funding.

A slide toward autocracy

  • A 2023 report by V-Dem Democracy Institute highlights several factors in its slide toward autocracy.
  • Strategic election manipulation is another form of backsliding, encompassing a range of activity geared toward tilting the electoral playing field in favor of incumbents.
  • While Widodo claims not to have intervened in the ruling, there is a clear benefit to his family.


Angguntari Ceria Sari does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Ramola Motwani, Chairwoman of South Florida-Based Merrimac Ventures, to Receive 2024 Horatio Alger Award

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education, today announced that Ramola R. Motwani, chairwoman of Merrimac Ventures, a South Florida-based real estate development and investment firm, has been selected for membership in this prestigious organization. Ms. Motwani joins 10 other exceptional business, civic and cultural leaders from across North America in receiving 2024 honors. For more than 75 years, the Horatio Alger Award has been annually bestowed upon esteemed individuals who have succeeded despite facing adversities, and who have remained committed to higher education and charitable efforts in their communities. 

Key Points: 
  • When she was young, India gained independence from Great Britain and Ms. Motwani's home state became a part of Pakistan.
  • "It is our utmost honor to present the Horatio Alger Award to these 11 outstanding leaders who have exemplified perseverance, passion and a deep appreciation for higher education," said James F. Dicke II, chairman, Horatio Alger Association and 2015 Horatio Alger Award recipient.
  • Ms. Motwani and the Member Class of 2024 will be formally inducted into the Association on April 4-6, 2024, during the Association's annual Horatio Alger Award Induction Ceremonies in Washington, D.C.
  • For more information about Horatio Alger Association and its Member Class of 2024, please visit www.horatioalger.org and follow the organization on Facebook , X , LinkedIn and Instagram .

Presidential Silver Medal Honoring Rutherford B. Hayes Available on February 13

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Washington, DC, Feb. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Silver Medal will be available for purchase directly from the United States Mint (Mint) starting on February 13 at noon EST.

Key Points: 
  • Washington, DC, Feb. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Silver Medal will be available for purchase directly from the United States Mint (Mint) starting on February 13 at noon EST.
  • The Department of the Treasury has a long-standing tradition of honoring each President of the United States with an official bronze medal struck by the Mint.
  • The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Silver Medal is priced at $75.
  • Presidential Silver Medals are also available for purchase via the Mint’s Product Enrollment Program.