Posted on 01/21/2011 7:00:14 AM PST by shield
State leaders put legislation requiring more voter identification in the fast lane Thursday.
Gov. Rick Perry designated the legislation known as voter ID as an emergency item, meaning the Legislature can take it up within the first 60 days of its 140-day session. Hours later, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst told state senators that they will consider the bill next week a highly unusual move less than two weeks into a session.
Republican activists have long pushed for more stringent identification requirements at the polls, but legislators have been unable to deliver. Dewhurst's decision that the Senate will consider voter ID before any other substantive bill appears to be a nod to the GOP base as he prepares for a possible U.S. Senate bid next year.
"It's advantageous to pass voter ID now and allow the Legislature to continue to work on important issues like the budget and redistricting over the course of the rest of the session," said Dewhurst spokesman Mike Walz.
Voter ID has been one of the most contentious issues in all of Texas politics over the past several years. Republicans have argued that voters should show more identification namely, photo identification when casting ballots, while Democrats say such a law would discriminate against voters who have limited forms of identification.
Senators passed a voter ID bill in 2009, but the House took it up late in the session, and Democrats there ultimately killed it and other bills by slowing down the legislative calendar.
(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...
Republicans have argued that voters should show more identification namely, photo identification when casting ballots, while Democrats say such a law would discriminate against voters who have limited forms of identification.
That’s a cop out for an excuse. I bet very few people have no photo ID and those that don’t can secure one via the Drivers License division, I just don’t know the cost to them.
I’ve use photo ID, drivers license, to vote for several years now. I never carry my voter regristartion card with me to the polls as you don’t need it if you use your drivers license.
GREAT!!! (for a moment, I thought this was about ANOTHER form of ID, -—GLAD to see this is merely embracing the IDs we already have! -—PLEASE come to CA!!!!!)
When they say "limited," they actually mean none.
I hope we are starting to see a real movement to prevent voter fraud. It has reached the point that we have to stand up and say: no more.
Wow. I’m surprised ol Rick’s big bidness friends didn’t quash this. Gotta have that cheap labor you know.
We better make sure the Matrícula Consular card won’t be included as an approved form of ID.
Why doesn’t TX have a candidate ID law too, one that includes a birth certificate and college transcripts?
Glad to see high level support. Voter ID and candidate eligibility verification absolutely need to be passed in this session of the Texas legislature.
There is legislation for that this session too.
DO IT!
“Wow. Im surprised ol Ricks big bidness friends didnt quash this. Gotta have that cheap labor you know.”
They were probably given a heads up that this was merely a proposal to get Perry’s name in the headlines for national visiblity on the road to 2012.
Get’r Done!
NOW!
No more excuses!
Ping!
The biggest problem is Joe Straus. He refused to let it come up for a vote in the last session, he is on the Democrats short leash.
All you need to vote these days is an electric bill with your name on it.
sad.
Texas, if you weren’t so far South I’d be there in a heartbeat. God Bless Texas.
(oh, and if you didn’t have so many bugs)
Since Illegals enroll in our colleges, a school photo ID should not be accepted.
It’s good that they fast-track this so it can’t be tied up in other procedures. Good call, guys.
Of course, once it passes, the ACLU will take it to a liberal judge who will either declare it unconstitutional or grant a stay. So, expect a long court fight going up to SCOTUS to eventually be the result.
Not all of the voter ID bills are PHOTO ID bills. At least three of the voter ID bills proposed by Reps. Riddle, Harless and Doc Anderson allow a voter to provide two nonphoto forms of ID, including a utility bill, library card, or court order of sex change (seriously). The Smith, Perry, Bonnen and Chism bills require a photo ID. We will see which version the liberal house speaker allows out of committee.
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