Hinson column misleads and misrepresents

Rep. Ashley Hinson's guest column about HR 1 was disappointing but did cause me to research the bill. She stated the HR 1 election reforms strip powers 'enshrined” in the Constitution from states to control elections. Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution authorizes Congress to alter state regulations of election as to choosing representatives and senators. The Constitution gives Congress this power.

She can disagree with the reforms but it is misleading to state HR 1 unconstitutionally strips power from states when the power is expressly in the Constitution.

Also she mistakenly referred to the fund to provide six-to-one grants of donations under $200 as funded by 'your hard-earned money” when the exclusive source is a surcharge on criminal or civil penalties of settlements from corporations, corporate officers or top income bracket tax code violators.

These funds come from people paying money to the federal government for illegal or bad behavior. A person could argue the funds are from 'ill gotten gains” but not really 'hard-earned money.”

Finally, Iowa's law allowing voters without an ID to have the voter's identity attested to by another registered voter in the precinct or prove identity and residence using the same documents to register on Election Day is similar to the sworn statement in HR 1. Let's hope Hinson works to improve the bill rather than just engaging in typical Washington politics by issuing a broadside regarding unfounded constitutional failings of the bill, incorrect allegations or misrepresenting election laws of Iowa.

Slaton Anthony

Mount Vernon