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.
ssIf they carry out the law already passed the drivers license will work.
Starting next year every one in California will have to go personally to DMV and prove citizenship to renew their license.
The dumbocrats are already screaming unfair to seniors and minorities!
Even seniors can get a birth certificate if their birth was never recorded by filing suit against the county and taking such as a family bible where it was recorded and witnesses to teatify as to authinticy.
My father had to do that in San Diego in order to get a passport.
When he was borb in 1902 the county of San Diego didn't register births.
I never went to court but the suit was a formality they required.
You can't do that! That's discrimination!
(/sarcasm)
And 99% will show a birth certificate and 10% of those will be fraud.
The law changed nothing.
If we really want to sadden Dems, bring on the ink stained fingers Nationwide!
This is a good question about how to prove citizenship. I do have a passport but my wife only got one when we decided we wanted to go on a trip outside of the states.
Maybe they could have a special mark on the driver license indicating US citizen thus allowing resident aliens to have a license as well.
I wonder if this could lead to a US citizen ID card at some point???
No kidding there. Motor-voter was always one of my pet peeves. Get rid of that ASAP.
As far as the absentee ballots, many people vote in more than one state. Vote absentee in one of the NE states, and move to their "vacation homes" in FloraDUH or other southern state before the elections and vote again.
Tancredo has more steel in his spine than the collective bunch of those wimps.
They should be required to be notarized by the county.
Mine was issued by the State department :)
Whaddya bet Tancredo has received info regarding some massive vote fraud involving some of these "activist" groups that promoted the nationwide marches a few weeks ago to galvanize new supporters.......as soon as I heard "today we march, tomorrow we vote" I knew vote fraud involving registering illegals was just a matter of time.
Not that it will reduce the fraud by much but they are requiring 3 documents that prove citizenship.
I think one is a SS card that they check with SS.
If that's the case i'll have to apply for a new one since it's been 63 years since i've physically had one. Had my wallet stolen on a job out of my street clothes and never bothered to get another one since I know the number and have never worked for anyone other than the family business until I took it over.
Just doing in the USA whats good enough for Mexico
Even that won't stop the fraud.
Personally, I don't think voter fraud is a huge problem and it can mostly be resolved by taking care of our other immigration problems first.
Less illegals equals less voter fraud.
Since their are only 2 documents that prove citizenship, that will be hard.
I second the motion.
By federal law after 08 you won't be able to get on an airplane or enter a federal building without a certified drivers license or papers showing that you are a legal resident.
The DMV will still issue ID cards to those without a license but even those will only be issued to legal residents or citizens.
Without an armload of phony papers that can't be checked as invalid an illegal won't be able to get one.
It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.
bump
The bill provides funding for a photo ID that proves citizenship.
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