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Some officials, scholars say Voting Rights Act needs update Jul 13, 2006  -   By Frank James, Washington Bureau When it comes to renewing key parts of the Voting Rights Act, the landmark 1965 law that allowed many African-Americans to cast ballots in places where they previously couldn't because of racism, the situation is far from black and white. Most members of C... More

Pass the VRA Bailout Amendment Jul 11, 2006  - By Richard HasenThis week the House considers H.R. 9, a bill that renews expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The Senate is expected to take up parallel legislation later this summer, after it emerges from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Members of the House should vote to renew the act, bu... More

GOP Delays Vote on VRA Jun 22, 2006  - Jennifer YachinProtests from a broad cross-section of Republican lawmakers who assert they were shut out of negotiations on the Voting Rights Act prompted House leaders to scrub a vote on the measure Wednesday, throwing reauthorization of the landmark 1965 law into an uncertain future despite initia... More

Georgia Bloc Wins Delay in Rights Vote Jun 22, 2006  -  Margaret Coker, Tom Baxter Washington --- Pressured by a Georgia-led coalition of lawmakers, House Republican leaders on Wednesday indefinitely delayed today's planned vote on extending the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The unexpected move calls into question when Congress will take up the propose... More

Voting Rights Suprise Jun 22, 2006  - Lightning strikes even Congress once in a while, and a case in point is yesterday's decision by the House Republican leadership to pull from the floor the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act.GOP leaders had been hoping to whoop it through without anyone noticing. But more than a few backbencher... More

Westmoreland proposal would free some states from Voting Rights Act Jun 20, 2006  -   Tom BaxterRepublican House leaders have given the go-ahead to Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland to offer an amendment to the bill reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act that would change the list of states whose voting practices are subject to approval by the U.S. Justice Departme... More

VRA Set for Floor Vote This Week Jun 19, 2006  - Jennifer Yachnin After striking a deal with Republican lawmakers who had threatened to sideline the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, House leaders announced Friday that the measure will go to the chamber’s floor this week. Although Republican leaders and Democratic proponents of the bill... More

Pet-loving Georgians call bill a disaster May 23, 2006  -  Bob Kemper They're both pet lovers, their aides swear. But Reps. Lynn Westmoreland of Coweta County and Charlie Norwood of Augusta voted Monday against a bill requiring that the rescue of dogs, cats and other domestic pets be considered in disaster preparation. A poignant picture of a chil... More

VRA renewal runs into delays May 17, 2006  - Jennifer YachninAlthough House GOP leaders had aimed to hold a vote on reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act before the Memorial Day recess, objections by members of the Georgia and Texas delegations to portions of the measure now threaten to hold up renewal of the landmark 1965 law. Majority Leader... More

Changes to voter rights law Sought May 13, 2006  -   Bob Kemper Washington --- Georgia's Republican lawmakers have managed to block a House vote scheduled for next week on the renewal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil rights legislation that ensured minorities the right to vote. The seven lawmakers now hope to amend the act s... More

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