Post by Tim Collins on Mar 12, 2009 6:05:08 GMT -7
Can someone please explain to me exactly how this proposal disenfranchises anyone? That seems to be the argument against its passage.
Texas Senate committee approves voter ID bill, will face tougher test in House
12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, March 12, 2009
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-voterid_12tex.ART.State.Edition1.4ac2bc8.html
By TERRENCE STUTZ and ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – A GOP-backed voter ID bill approved in the Senate faces tough sledding in the House – where Democrats hold nearly half the seats – and then the Obama administration's Justice Department – which must sign off on the proposal if it passes the Legislature.
Wrapping up a 23-hour marathon hearing that lasted until Wednesday morning, the Senate followed along party lines to advance legislation that would require Texas voters to show a photo identification, or two alternative forms of ID. All 19 Senate Republicans and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst supported the measure, and all 12 Democrats opposed it.
The Senate is expected to take a final vote Monday to send it to the House, where Democrats already are mapping plans to derail it. Approval will be more difficult in the House, which is split between 76 Republicans and 74 Democrats.
In pushing the bill through the Senate, Republicans argued that the threat of voter fraud in Texas justified the new requirement, and they cited polls indicating strong public support for the idea.
Democrats contended that there has been no evidence of voter fraud in Texas and warned that requiring a photo ID will discourage voting by seniors, residents with disabilities and lower-income residents – groups that tend to back Democrats.
Under the Senate proposal, Texans would have to show, with their voting card, either one photo ID such as a driver's license, or two non-photo IDs such as a birth certificate and a bank statement.
Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless, chairman of the House Elections Committee, said he expects the House version to clarify that if a voter doesn't present a photo ID, a voter registration card would count as one of two required non-photo IDs. He declined to discuss other possible changes until his committee hold its hearings, probably next month. He then will introduce a rewrite.
"My purpose is not to rig the election system in favor of my party," he said.
The elections committee has five Republicans and four Democrats – including three minorities.
After the Senate vote Wednesday, Dewhurst again emphasized the need for a voter ID measure, saying that testimony in the Senate's hearing pointed to "disenfranchisement of voting rights by people that took advantage of the system."
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus, disputed that and predicted legal challenges if it passes the Legislature.
She also noted that voting changes in Texas must be pre-cleared by the U.S. Justice Department under the Voting Rights Act. It governs states with a history of discrimination against minorities.
"Our job was to make sure the record was set and that the facts were there" about the problems of requiring photo IDs, she said.
Democrats and Republicans also traded shots over who was responsible for the conduct of the hearing, which began Tuesday morning and continued around the clock. Because of several hours of testimony from expert witnesses called by both sides, citizens didn't testify until 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Of nearly 160 people who registered to testify Tuesday, only 35 were left when that began. One woman who waited all night sobbed during her testimony, saying she had no idea she would have to wait more than 20 hours.
Rep. Rafael Anchía, a Dallas Democrat on the elections committee, said Smith "is sincerely trying to come up with something that could have broad support. ... He doesn't want to see a bill that disenfranchises people."
But Anchia said Smith's good faith isn't enough for Democrats. "We have no confidence that if something gets out of committee, it won't be loaded up on the House floor or get loaded up in conference," he said.
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, asked Wednesday whether he's worried voter ID will rip apart his chamber, said "there are a lot of members who are concerned about the issue. But I really don't know where the votes are."
tstutz@dallasnews.com; rtgarrett@dallasnews.com
Texas Senate committee approves voter ID bill, will face tougher test in House
12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, March 12, 2009
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-voterid_12tex.ART.State.Edition1.4ac2bc8.html
By TERRENCE STUTZ and ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN – A GOP-backed voter ID bill approved in the Senate faces tough sledding in the House – where Democrats hold nearly half the seats – and then the Obama administration's Justice Department – which must sign off on the proposal if it passes the Legislature.
Wrapping up a 23-hour marathon hearing that lasted until Wednesday morning, the Senate followed along party lines to advance legislation that would require Texas voters to show a photo identification, or two alternative forms of ID. All 19 Senate Republicans and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst supported the measure, and all 12 Democrats opposed it.
The Senate is expected to take a final vote Monday to send it to the House, where Democrats already are mapping plans to derail it. Approval will be more difficult in the House, which is split between 76 Republicans and 74 Democrats.
In pushing the bill through the Senate, Republicans argued that the threat of voter fraud in Texas justified the new requirement, and they cited polls indicating strong public support for the idea.
Democrats contended that there has been no evidence of voter fraud in Texas and warned that requiring a photo ID will discourage voting by seniors, residents with disabilities and lower-income residents – groups that tend to back Democrats.
Under the Senate proposal, Texans would have to show, with their voting card, either one photo ID such as a driver's license, or two non-photo IDs such as a birth certificate and a bank statement.
Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless, chairman of the House Elections Committee, said he expects the House version to clarify that if a voter doesn't present a photo ID, a voter registration card would count as one of two required non-photo IDs. He declined to discuss other possible changes until his committee hold its hearings, probably next month. He then will introduce a rewrite.
"My purpose is not to rig the election system in favor of my party," he said.
The elections committee has five Republicans and four Democrats – including three minorities.
After the Senate vote Wednesday, Dewhurst again emphasized the need for a voter ID measure, saying that testimony in the Senate's hearing pointed to "disenfranchisement of voting rights by people that took advantage of the system."
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus, disputed that and predicted legal challenges if it passes the Legislature.
She also noted that voting changes in Texas must be pre-cleared by the U.S. Justice Department under the Voting Rights Act. It governs states with a history of discrimination against minorities.
"Our job was to make sure the record was set and that the facts were there" about the problems of requiring photo IDs, she said.
Democrats and Republicans also traded shots over who was responsible for the conduct of the hearing, which began Tuesday morning and continued around the clock. Because of several hours of testimony from expert witnesses called by both sides, citizens didn't testify until 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Of nearly 160 people who registered to testify Tuesday, only 35 were left when that began. One woman who waited all night sobbed during her testimony, saying she had no idea she would have to wait more than 20 hours.
Rep. Rafael Anchía, a Dallas Democrat on the elections committee, said Smith "is sincerely trying to come up with something that could have broad support. ... He doesn't want to see a bill that disenfranchises people."
But Anchia said Smith's good faith isn't enough for Democrats. "We have no confidence that if something gets out of committee, it won't be loaded up on the House floor or get loaded up in conference," he said.
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, asked Wednesday whether he's worried voter ID will rip apart his chamber, said "there are a lot of members who are concerned about the issue. But I really don't know where the votes are."
tstutz@dallasnews.com; rtgarrett@dallasnews.com