Angie Craig and Governor Arne Carlson React to Jason Lewis' Proposal to Restrict Voting Rights
Press Release
oday, Angie Craig, the DFL candidate for Minnesota's open Second Congressional District, along with former Republican Governor Arne Carlson, released the following statements regarding Jason Lewis' suggestion that the Voting Rights Act be amended to disenfranchise voters who disagree with him.
"Minnesota stands on a tradition of strong civic participation and is a national leader in voter turnout," Craig said. "But a threat to voting rights anywhere is a threat to voting rights everywhere-- Jason's proposal to bar people from voting because they disagree with his politics isn't just un-American, it's dangerous. "
"In 2012 I led bipartisan efforts to defeat a harmful amendment to Minnesota's constitution that would have made it harder for students, veterans, and seniors to exercise their right to vote," Carlson said. "Parroted at the national level, rhetoric like Jason's has dangerous consequences. For a candidate for federal office to openly advocate for the restriction of voting rights is simply unacceptable and contradicts the values that help make Minnesota a great state."
With 76% of Minnesotans casting a ballot in 2012, Minnesota led the nation in voter turnout rate during the last presidential election. In the same year, Governor Carlson led bipartisan efforts to defeat a 2012 amendment to the state's constitution that would have required a photo ID to vote.
Audio of Jason Lewis' commentary around the Voting Rights Act is available below:
Lewis: "I'd Love To Rethink The Voting Rights Act, Given The Idiots That Are Going To The Ballot Box." "The minimum wage is the silliest thing since Milton Friedman wrote "Free to Choose." Any anybody that doesn't understand it should be barred from public service or maybe voting. Yes, I'd love to rethink the Voting Rights Act, given the idiots that are going to the ballot box. Oh I know that sounds elite, but think about this. This is Economics 101. This is baseline economics that any freshman in high school would understand." [Jason Lewis Podcast, 15:06, 7/30/15]
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