Posted on 07/27/2006 9:06:57 AM PDT by Spiff
Press Releases :: July 26, 2006
Will Adams, 202.226.6997
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Chairman of the 104-Member House Immigration Reform Caucus, introduced a bill that would penalize states which refuse to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voting. Under the Voter Integrity Protection Act (VIP Act), states would need to see a valid photo ID proving U.S. Citizenship for voting or those states would have their federal highway funding cut by as much as 40 percent.
“In some parts of our country, all residents are granted a de facto right to vote, regardless of whether or not they are citizens. Such widespread voter fraud blurs the line between residency and citizenship and it reinforces the message that you don’t need to be an American to have every right and privilege of American citizenship. If even non-citizens can vote, what value does American citizenship have anymore?” said Tancredo. “Illegal votes undermine our democracy. The VIP Act would help preserve the integrity of our democratic system, which is one of the most important responsibilities we have in Congress.”
Only U.S. citizens are legally qualified to vote. But that hasn’t stopped what is believed to be a widespread practice of voter fraud. Most recently in the 50th Congressional District in California, Democrat Francine Busby told a largely Hispanic audience a few days before the election, “You don't need papers for voting.” Rep. Brian Bilbray ending up winning the election by 7,000 votes, but at the time of the statement polls showed that the race was a dead heat.
Illegal votes may have made the difference in at least one Congressional election. In 1996, Rep. Bob Dornan lost his Orange County, California seat to Loretta Sanchez by fewer than 1,000 votes. State elections officials found that at least 300 votes in that election were cast illegally by non-citizens.
“In many states today, you can register to vote without ever being required to show that you are a citizen. Motor-voter registration and a rise in absentee ballots have only exacerbated voter fraud. If certain states are really so committed to protecting illegal aliens who vote, let them put their money where their mouth is and take a hard hit in federal funding,” said Tancredo.
The VIP Act stipulates that state and local election officials may not provide a ballot for an election for federal office (including a provisional ballot) to any individual unless the person presents a photographic copy of a document – whether voting in person or by mail – providing proof that the person is a U.S. citizen. A motor vehicle driver’s license will not be considered as a document which provides proof of citizenship unless the state issuing the license requires proof of citizenship as a condition of receiving the license.
Beginning in 2008, states which do not comply with the VIP Act would sacrifice 10 percent of their federal highway funding, and they would see an additional 10 percent cut in funding each year for an additional three years, or until they have come into compliance with the Act. If the states comply with the Act during the first four years, they will receive their entire lost federal highway funding in future appropriations.
The bill also provides funding to make free photo identifications available in order to avoid any challenges based on the 24th Amendment’s prohibition of poll taxes.
Amen to this bill.
These anti-Americans think we can't tell, but even a baby knows you don't really disappear in the game of peekaboo.
"Do we really want everyone to be required to have a passport to vote!"
Why not... I am tired of all of the Sh$$ that goes on here in CA.
...so this bill won't stop voter fraud.
Sorry
This is a heck of a lot better than what we have now, which is nothing.
With this law on the books, it wouldn't eliminate all of the illegal alien/non-citizen voter fraud, but it would probably knock out 98-99% of it, due to these folks having to go to the trouble, effort and expense to prove they are citizens to get Voter ID cards.
You may find this hard to believe, but there is a U.S. Supreme Court decision which states that a passport proves nothing whatsoever and cannot even be admitted as evidence in a trial. It is simply a request from our government to another government asking them to treat you nice while you are in their country.
Whatever it takes, is fine with me. If they don't want to go to the trouble to register and get a voter registration card, then so be it.
Well then let's just let everyone vote children and all since the 2 year olds will get a fake Birth Certificate, they can just as well up the age.
Gloom dispair, agony on me, deep dark depresion, endless misery.
Pretty well sums up your attitude.
The REAL ID act would make driver's liscences such an ID, too, assuming a state would want their drivers liscences to be acceptable to board an aircraft. A lot of states hate the REAL ID act because it would prohibit illegals from getting liscences.
One can only hope.
You can say that with a straight face? We regurlarly have precincts reporting over 100% voter turnout.
What rock do you live under?
California would be a politically competetive state again if you removed the illegals and non-citizens who are here legally from the voter rolls there.
How many illegals live in L.A. County Alone? I've heard estimates of from 5 - 10 million just in that one county. If just ten percent of them vote, that would make 500,000 to 1,000,000 illegally cast votes just in L.A. County Alone. You can also add to that 200,000 or so votes by non-citizens legally living in L.A. County alone as well.
Do they even inform new voter registrants that they must be citizens to vote?
...taking care of our other immigration problems first.
To fix the other immigration prolems, you first make sure that illegals and other non-citizens are NOT voting. Once they have been purged from the voter rolls and are no longer voting, then you can elect some real patriot politicians who have the nads to throw the illegals out and throw their employers in prison.
Less illegals equals less voter fraud.
I'll bump that!!!
We both know that will not happen with this administration, but we might be able to change the face of the congress, if we can prevent/slow down fraud in the elections.
He gave us Ruth Bader Ginsberg without a whimper. Ted Kennedy is his best friend, so I guess you could call him a Republican, after all he has an (R) by his name.
You may be on to something there.
And that could just represent L.A. County Alone. And don't forget the non-citizens who are here legally that are voting as well.
There are probably at least 500,000 legal non-citzens who are illegally voting just in California as well.
In my state, a co-worker, who is a Republican, is married to a Japanese lady he married while he was in the Navy and she is living here legally with him, but is not a citizen. When non-citizen/illegal alien voting came up, he admitted to me that she does vote and votes straight "R" in every election right along with him.
There are probably nationwide millions of legal, resident non-citizens illegally voting as well as millions of illegals voting as well.
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