Walberg: People who can't afford a $200 Passport, "they shouldn't be voting" (audio)

Blogger and Town Council Meeting ^ | February 21, 2025 | Steven in Monroe

[madison10]

Friday, February 21, 2025 Walberg: People who can't afford a $200 Passport, "they shouldn't be voting" (audio)

Link to Audio: https://youtu.be/0nyXqHWegxs

A constituent provided me raw audio of Walberg's event in Bedford Township yesterday, and gave me permission to share it publicly. I have posted it unedited to YouTube (link above) against a background photo that was also taken at that event, with a portion of my transcript of a standout moment from that event.

I think Walberg is getting worse. He's incredibly rude to constituents throughout that audio. Walberg says grotesque, divisive, and cruel things constantly. He says nonsensical things too, such as:

(03:30 mark)

Walberg: “I don’t know how to produce an algorithm, but DOGE does. They know how to produce an algorithm that gets to the base, and then is able to go out to the systems, and other lines, and ultimately bring it back to a conclusion that says this is what’s happening. That’s how they were able to find that there are people 200 years of age, allegedly, still getting IRS checks, Social Security checks. They’ve been capable of doing that. I don’t know how to do that.” Someone seated close to the audio recording device, can be heard voicing quiet sounds of approval of Walberg's nonsense throughout the event.

I have not been able to attend any of Walberg's government events in over 3 years, since November 12, 2021. The events are still secretive, and held during working hours. I learned of this event in advance thanks to a Republican who ran for Bedford Township Trustee in 2024, who received an email about the event and posted that publicly online. That posting got shared around and eventually shared with me and my friends. So, this event seemed to be more well-attended than most of Walberg's events. Some of my friends who were able to attend told me afterwards that there were about 100 people in attendance, mostly of retirement age. I still have a regular job during the day.

The thing that upsets me the most about Tim Walberg is all of his Anti-Democracy stuff. That was the #1 item on my "Ten Worsts of Tim Walberg" report last year. The first big public sign of that was in Bedford Township on May 4, 2021, when Walberg plainly said, "I don't support democracy". That quote became the subject of a series of billboards, and a series of claims from Walberg and his allies that he had been taken out of context; yet they never provided any context or their own, and never attempted to suggest that the opposite was true - As if Walberg was a champion of Democracy. So, yesterday Walberg returned to Bedford Township, to spread more of anti-democracy talk, in more cruel and specific terms than last time. Taking a deeper look beyond those words - What does it mean for the state of things when a politician can afford to behave in such an offensive manner towards a room full of constituents, with no concern for losing their votes?:

(46:25 mark)

Walberg’s staffer, Dustin Krasny, read constituent’s written question: “What will SAVE Act’s effect have on women, seniors, and poor voters? Isn’t this repetitive law, and aimed at voter suppression?”

[12 seconds of silence as Walberg presumably pulled out his ID as a prop]

Walberg: “How many ways do I have to show this? How many places do I need to show this? [9 second pause] - Is it suppression of my freedoms? If I were wanting to purchase a six pack, did I have to show this?”

Constituent: “That’s not a passport or a birth certificate.”

[6 second pause]

Walberg: “You’re talking of voting.”

Constituent: “Yeah!”

Walberg: “Showing – showing the fact that you are an American citizen in order to vote.”

Constituent: “But a $200 Passport, some people can’t afford.”

Walberg: “Well, then they shouldn’t be voting.”

[Sudden uproar among audience – exchange continued, I didn't transcribe all of it]

(49:30 mark)

Walberg: “We don’t have floods everywhere. And if we had an organization – governmental organization that got in, and helped those people get up and running again, not like FEMA – We wouldn’t have the lengthy time. But you always some problems. If we have a tornado, which we’ve had in Monroe County, and all of our records get blown away, and now I’ve gotta go – I’m gonna move somewhere else in the country, that’s a different story, but there are a limited number of people that do that. That’s why we need government officials on the ground, helping people who are legal to find that as quickly as possible. Some, if it happens around the election time, they may lose that opportunity. We wanna reduce that. But, just for those few people, to let it continue to go that we have states that don’t require a proof of citizenship for people to vote, that’s wrong."

at February 21, 2025

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Not a winning argument.

[JSM_Liberty]

“What I dispise about the tax system is not only don’t about 48% pay no tax”

Only of you think that the federal income tax is the only tax that exists.

[asinclair]

it doesn't show current address Look again.

• photo
• Type
• Code>
• Passport No.
• Name
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Place of birth [State]
• Date of issue
• Date of expiration
• Authority

I don't know about you, but I currently live roughly 2500 miles from my State of birth.

Preparing this contribution was very easy: I have pictures of all my important documents on my computer. Saves a lot of trips to the safety deposit box.

Another point: you are not buying a passport. You are reimbursing the Government for the cost of preparing the document. Slight difference there. The same is true for DMV. These are not for-profit entities.

If the Democrats care so much about the poor, the elderly, the infirmed, they as a party could provide the reimbursement for the expense on behalf of such people. For Soros, this would be couch change.

[Robert DeLong]

Timothy Lee Walberg (born April 12, 1951) is an American politician serving as a U.S. representative from Michigan since 2011, representing the state's 5th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented the 7th district from 2007 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2023. As the longest tenured member from Michigan.

Thanks Tim, but you might find yourself never elected again if that advice were made into law. Do you think poor people only vote for Democrats? Time for you to retire or quit saying stupid controversial things.

[madison10]

True. The passport is NOT to travel it is for ID only, according to Tim Walberg. I do not think he knows what he totally knows what he is talking about, but he did sponsor the bill.

[volare737]

You should have either paid at least some taxes, or own property—AND have an ID and pass a simple civics test before you can vote.

[Jane Long]

I was wondering if it was Marky Mark.

Never heard of Timothy Walberg.

Are they related?

[madison10]

Republican Congressman from Michigan, Tim Walberg.

[madison10]

Mine, too. He is an arrogant jerk.

[LambSlave]

$100 is not skin in the game; that is the problem. The grifters are taking out tens of thousands in benefits each year. $10,000 in federal taxes per year would be skin in the game; for those who have paid in $50k or more, we are the ones subsidizing the grifters, yet we have no voice until now.

[Wallace T.]

Finally on the 44th post, we have someone identify what state we are talking about. There are a lot of Bedfords in this country, one of which is in Texas, near DFW Airport.

[mewzilla]

American citizens should be issued passports at birth that should be periodically updated at minimal cost to the citizenry.

[desertsolitaire]

Article and excerpt above say Timothy.

[mewzilla]

If you’re an American citizen, you already have skin in the game.

[Skywise]

The author of this is a real piece of work.

[SoConPubbie]

Cry me a river!

Who cares!

We are talking about saving our country not the decorum at a tea party!

[Leaning Right]

> $100 is not skin in the game <

I had a bit of trouble picking a good number there. While I was in college I also worked (for a time) at a job that didn’t pay much. I’m not complaining about that pay as I had no degree and no skills, yet.

$100 was a fortune to me.

[Farmerbob]

Election day should be in April instead of November.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“While a Passport shows Citizenship, it doesn’t show current address, so folks with passports in Chicago can continue to bus into Wisconsin to mess up elections.”

I believe you used to bring an electric or phone bill to get your voter registration card.

[GingisK]

You are correct, your current address isn't in the passport. The bar code inside the back cover provides access to your entire file.

I agree, the cost of a passport is the cost to produce it. That is fitting and proper.