The legislative session immediately following the failed Jan. 6 insurrection has probably been one of the most important in our country’s history. This is at a time when the United States has been classified as a “backsliding democracy” that has “fallen victim to authoritarian tendencies.”
“Americans expect and deserve legislation to strengthen and protect our democracy so that our nation can live up to its ideals – especially in the wake of January 6th,” said Common Cause president Karen Hobert Flynn upon the release of her organization’s biennial Democracy Scorecard.
Pennsylvania First Congressional District Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick goes to great lengths to maintain his campaign facade of being a “moderate” and a bipartisan “problem solver.” But when faced with the problem of our unraveling democracy, the Republican lawmaker placed “fealty to former-President Trump” over the health of our democracy, as his voting record on pro-democracy bills and resolutions in the 117th Congress illustrates.
“At the very start of the 117th Congress, Members were besieged in the U.S. Capitol by a violent, armed, insurrectionist mob intent on overturning the 2020 presidential election,” added Hobert Flynn. “Members of Congress were then faced with a series of choices in the months following to take steps that would strengthen democracy. Too many Members chose fealty to former-President Trump over the oath of office they swore to protect the nation.”
Below is Fitzpatrick’s record on Common Cause’s nonpartisan 2022 Democracy Scorecard:
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS WITH VOTES
H.Res. 24, Impeachment of Donald John Trump – NO
H.R. 1, For the People Act – NO
H.R. 51, Washington, DC Statehood – NO
H.R. 3233, Independent commission to investigate January 6th insurrection – Yes
H.R. 2662, IG Independence and Empowerment Act – Yes
H.Res. 503, Resolution creating January 6th Select Committee – NO
H.R. 4, John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act – NO
H.Res. 730, Steve Bannon criminal contempt resolution – Yes
H.Res. 789, Rep. Paul Gosar censure resolution – NO
H.R. 5720, Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act – Yes
H.R. 5314, Protecting Our Democracy Act – NO
H.Res. 851, Mark Meadows criminal contempt resolution – NO
H.R. 5746, Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act – NO
H.Res. 1037, Criminal contempt resolution for Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino – NO
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS TO COSPONSOR
HR 1334, DISCLOSE Act – NO
H.R. 4766, Supreme Court Ethics Act, OR H.R. 7647, Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, OR H.R. 7706, Judicial Ethics and Anti- Corruption Act – NO
H.R. 5008, Frank Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and Miguel Trujillo Native American Voting Rights Act – NO
HJRes 1, Democracy for All Amendment – NO
