Infirmary Set Up As Voter ID Debate Continues (TX)

CBS42-Austin TX ^ | May 21, 2007 | Keith Elkins

[Baladas]

(CBS 42) AUSTIN From the beginning of the 80th Legislative Session, State Senator Mario Gallegos' vote has been crucial for Senate Democrats. His is the swing vote needed to block legislation requiring a photo ID to vote.

But Gallegos' liver transplant earlier in the session, and a series of medical absences, has left the Democrats vulnerable. Without Gallegos they know the Republican majority can steamroll the legislation to passage.

A hospital bed was moved into the Senate Sergeant of Arms office Monday, setting up a temporary infirmary for the ailing Houston lawmaker just outside the Senate chamber.

Gallegos is now only a few steps away if he's needed to vote, even though his doctors have advised against it.

“If they say I can stay here, I plan to stay here,” Gallegos said. “It depends on how I feel. There's other legislation out there lurking and I may have to wait. But I think Wednesday at midnight it's all pretty well said and done. But, if I have to stay I will."

Republican Senator Robert Duelle, who is also a medical doctor, periodically monitors Gallegos' health, even though Duelle supports the bill Gallegos is hoping to defeat.

The voter ID bill is supported by the Lt. Governor and Senate Republicans. They have until midnight Wednesday to get it passed.

As long as Gallegos is strong enough to get to the floor to vote that's not likely to happen, unless something happens to another Senate Democrat. That would shift the balance of power back to the GOP.

Supporters of the voter identification bill say it's needed to prevent voter fraud.

Democratic opponents, however, call it a voter suppression effort to discourage minority and elderly voting.

[Baladas]

??? The Texas State Congress has turned into a circus. There's a picture of the gurney on the link, I guess he's going to stay on it in the hall until late Wednesday.

[Minn]

The dedication to voter fraud is truly touching.

[Mygirlsmom]

Republican Senator Robert Duelle, who is also a medical doctor, periodically monitors Gallegos' health, even though Duelle supports the bill Gallegos is hoping to defeat.

Liberals are totally incapable of keeping politics out of anything. They would sell their own mothers into slavery if they sensed it would benefit them politically.

[P-40]

I’ll send him some tequila.

[ravingnutter]

Well, that's nice, they got their first bed in there...all that's left to do now is hang the sign on the outside:

Texas State Mental Ward

Oh...and would someone shackle Perry in the basement please?

[thulldud]

Democratic opponents, however, call it a voter suppression effort to discourage minority and elderly voting.

One thing I will never get used to is the way such statements get repeated ad nauseam without the slightest disparaging hint of the boldfaced chutzpah embodied therein. No more do I understand the sort of brass-bound effrontery it takes actually to utter such things in public. These people must believe they are divinely appointed to be above reproof or correction.