Posted on 05/22/2007 5:03:28 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952
Gallegos legislating from bed near Senate despite warnings from his transplant doctors.
By Mark Lisheron
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Despite a growing threat that his body will reject a transplanted liver, Sen. Mario Gallegos Jr. said Monday that he was determined to stay in the Senate long enough to block a bill that would require Texas voters to provide identification at the polls.
"If not for voter ID, I wouldn't be here; that's how serious the issue is for me," said Gallegos, D-Houston. "It's very important for my community that we block this legislation."
Gallegos, who spent most of the day resting in the Senate lounge in a hospital bed brought in specially for him, said a biopsy Friday revealed indicators that his body was rejecting the liver he received this past winter.
The team of doctors treating Gallegos at St. Luke's Hospital in Houston increased his medication and urged him not to return to Austin. Gallegos had already told his fellow senators before the biopsy that he would be coming back.
Out of respect for Gallegos, the Senate agreed not to consider the voter identification bill Friday. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said, however, he would not guarantee that a bill that has unanimous Republican support in the Senate would not come up for a vote in Gallegos' absence.
"It was my understanding that he was ready to vote on it today," Gallegos said Monday of the lieutenant governor. "I understand. This is the Texas Senate. You have to be here to vote. That's why I'm here."
The bill has sharply divided Republicans and the 11 Democrats who have, with the help of Gallegos, stood together to keep the bill from getting to the Senate floor. Last week, Dewhurst and Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, a close friend of Gallegos', clashed over an attempt to hear the bill.
Republicans have said they think voters ought to show proof of who they are before casting a ballot. Democrats, including Gallegos, say the bill would, in effect, disenfranchise voters — particularly the poor and the elderly — for whom getting the necessary identification might discourage or prevent them from voting.
Republican Sen. Bob Deuell of Greenville, a doctor, paid to have a medical supply company put a hospital bed in a room adjacent to the Senate chamber so Gallegos can rest.
Deuell, who checked on Gallegos several times during the day, said Gallegos' health is more important than the issue requiring him to be here.
"He is a good friend," Deuell said.
Gallegos would not say how long he plans to remain in Austin. Wednesday is the deadline for the bill as written to be introduced in the Senate. The measure, however, could be attached in some form to a House bill that could be considered before Monday, when the Legislature is to adjourn.
"I'm going to play it by ear," said Gallegos, who rested in his hospital bed during a recess Monday afternoon. "If the doctors let me, I'd stay until we're done."
Everyone KNOWS which party benefits from NOT having to show ID at elections.
The Demodogs are not fooling me, or anybody else with their lies.
Texas Senate Ping. Scumbag RAT trying to block the voter ID bill.
The voter ID bill makes practical sense...
...I can only think of one reason it's being fought against by Gallegos.
Why? I just do not understand people who oppose measures to ensure a secure voting system. It boggles the mind. One of the few things I like about Iraq is the purple finger =o)
Bovine excrement.
I know it...he knows it...all of the US knows it.
The dimolrats simply want to ensure that the illegals, felons and dead persons are still there to cast a vote for them.
Can someone give me an example of a poor or elderly voter that does not have an ID, of some type or another?
That is the truth. Maybe we should import some French, English and German voters too.
Heck, lets just have the rest of the world make decisions for our citizens.
So can I. He’s a Dem. They’re fighting voter ID bills all over the country. It might prevent them from going down to the local hangout and picking up a bunch of felons, non-citizens, or dead people to vote.
This is one reason the RATs don't want voter ID at the polls. I haven't seen one single poor or elderly person who does NOT have an ID card to cash their SS or welfare check.
Never cut a Democrat any slack! Don't give in an inch and especially don't pay any attention to them when it comes to their institutional protection of law breakers from other countries.
ping
this voter ID bill will not pass....
The RINO’s in Texas get their spine from President Bush, i.e. they don’t have one when it comes to debunking liberal lies...
I'll bet that one woman they always show with the purple finger and the teary eye turns out to be an Iranian agent!LOL
The fact is Democrats want every opportunity to cheat.
Good point! I think the "poor, old, minorities, felons, and children hit hardest" line is one reason we should toughen voting requirements. It seems like every election that rolls around, out comes the RAT bus to round up as many mentally infirm voters as they can. Since that is their most reliable base it is no surprise that the RATS are so politically screwed up.
IMHO, not only should you be required to prove you are a Citizen you should be required to prove you can read the ballot measures and comprehend what is written. LOL, that would go over well.
I would take several more steps in addition to that. Here are a few I would like to see added to the voting system.
1. Only property owners who pay school and other taxes would be allowed to vote for any bond election, including school bonds.
2. Eliminate the party (D) and (R) from all ballots. That would force people to see what the candidate stands for on issues.
3. Make election day a National Holiday and have it the first Tuesday after April 15th of the year.
4. Issues such as the current immigration bill must be approved by a majority of voters nationwide.
The state issued ID card is one thing the RAT party will never let pass. That is so all the illegals, criminals, and dead can continue to vote for them. They are scared because they can’t win elections without those “phantom voters”.
I know this is not popular on FR, but I’d almost go for a national ID card to keep the illegals from voting. A swipe card to get into the polling place and if you voted in another state (i.e. snow birds) couldn’t vote here in our local elections.
Although I know such a bill would never pass if put to the national test, we are a Republic. Federal laws are the responsibility of our elected representative, they should be held accountable, and they should be responsible for making Federal laws. I believe ballot measures, such as bonds, recalls, etc. as they pertain to local and state governments are appropriate for the popular public vote.
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