Posted on 05/23/2007 6:22:15 AM PDT by cbkaty
This lawmaker counts his grandmother among reasons
In my community in Houston, thousands of first- and second-generation Americans came of age in the "greatest generation." They volunteered to protect our freedom in World War II. Many who came home had to fight to build a life for their families and exercise the rights they earned with their blood and tears.
As a firefighter, I was trained to protect their lives and property. As a state senator today, it's the least I can do to honor their sacrifices by being in Austin to protect their right to vote.
Every nonpartisan, academic study on the impact of voter ID laws in other states shows they suppress voter turnout among the elderly, low-income citizens, Hispanics, African-Americans and the disabled. But I don't need a study to know why voter ID proposals like House Bill 218 are bad; I just have to think about my grandmother.
My grandmother came from Mexico, played by the rules, became a citizen and earned her right to vote. She didn't have a driver's license, but she had her voter registration card, went to the polls where the workers knew her, and voted. If the voter ID law were in effect, I'm not sure she or others like her could have voted.
This year, close to 120 burdensome voter identification proposals were introduced in state legislatures across the nation. Not one of them has passed yet, and I want to make sure Texas isn't the only state to pass one. For many folks, a voter ID requirement doesn't sound like a big deal, but it would prevent many eligible voters from voting. Many elderly voters don't have a driver's license. Others who are disabled or work two jobs don't have the time, money or ability to get an ID card or documents they would need to vote. And new voter ID requirements would create confusion and long lines at the polls that would discourage many from voting.
When more people vote for American Idol contestants than vote for president, we should make it easier for people to vote, not harder. Voter ID proponents say it's necessary to combat "voter fraud" and raise the specter of "illegal aliens" voting, but no one has documented a single case of "voter impersonation" that HB 218 would solve. And common sense tells us noncitizens are not going to risk deportation by voting.
The bottom line is that voter ID is about politics, not fraud. In a 2004 election contest for a Harris County state House seat, a Texas House committee chaired by a conservative Republican found charges that hundreds of noncitizens voted were false. The Bush Justice Department's "Voting Access and Integrity Initiative," which directed U.S. attorneys to prioritize alleged voter fraud cases, resulted in only 24 convictions from 2002 to 2005. And the U.S. Election Assistance Commission found "that the accusations regarding widespread fraud are unjustified."
Voter ID laws passed in Georgia and Missouri were struck down by the courts, which concluded that the cost of obtaining the ID and necessary documents amounts to a 21st century poll tax.
In my community, there are veterans and people like my grandmother who earned their right to vote and shouldn't be forced to pay the modern day version of a poll tax. They are the real heroes in this story. I'm in Austin because it's my job to protect their right to vote.
Gallegos, a Democrat, represents Houston.
“Before being allowed to vote, people should at least be able to prove who they are, and whether they are even eligible. Anyone not wanting to prove their eligibility to vote must be assumed to be hiding something. Like their illegal status?”
Absolutely! I agree.
We live in a new age...we live in a time when voter fraud is a reality. The one’s playing politics are the ones who what their constituents to vote early and vote often. This is just a lot of Bovine Stuff.
The man is a) a Mexican, and b) a democrat. What do you want here, a miracle? If everyone had to have a photID to vote, it would cut way down on the multiple voting by one voter, and the voting by non-citizens. Can’t have that, can we!
Same here in West Houston pikachu. The poll workers in my precinct ask for photo ID and check it off against the registered voter rolls before letting you in line. This clown is just spewing forth one more illegal "Get Out the Fraudulent Vote" scheme.
Yet, yet, they managed to enroll their kids in school and provide an address in the district. That used to take a birth certificate and proof of vacination. I don’t know what they require now.
Or the fact that they have alrady voted three times at three other polling places!
Don't leave out, in the words of the great Mark Lenin
....choice C) A DOPE!
In Connecticut, you are not allowed to vote unless you provide proof of identification.
At least we got that one right.
If one year in advance all voters are notified that they can get free voter ID’s if they have no other ID. It would work. Each party would make sure their old folks and homebound would get a ride to the Board of Election where they can produce either bills, or SS check stub or something that IDs them. Then they can get a card made for free. No problem....unless there is something to hide......
Why right to vote keep and bear arms, without an ID, is worth fighting for
I wonder whether Mr. Gallegos would ever write that essay?
“Gallegos, a Democrat, represents” .....thieves and crooks. There is no other explanation for not protecting the voting rights of qualified citizens by requiring proper identification.
Perhaps we should, in the states with significant Mexican populations, do what the Germans did during WWI with French prisoners -- in order to refute charges they mistreated them, they used the French Army regulations for prisoners of war. We should require the level of ID that the Mexicans do in the states adjacent to Mexico with high Mexican immigrant populations.
Hey SEN. Mario Gallegos. See the RED BOLD part of your remarks? Playing by the rules and becoming a citizen is one thing, but allowing people from other countries to vote here is a criminal act.
A couple of other questions for SEN. Mario Gallegos. How if we allow the citizens of Kansas, or some other state vote for the state senator in your district? How about the entire state of Texas to vote for your district? You would be back on the street where you belong.
I didn't look to see if any of you replied to this thread already. Just to PO'ed about this issue.
Mario, you are one sick PO$. Come on liver, do your thing.
I totally agree. Its nonsense to say some people couldn’t get an ID card. Heck, give them TWO years in advance, a complete voting cycle. It doesn’t matter how long you give them and if the ID is free, some will still complain. I think some people believe voting fraud is a right.
If you are talking about the Del Valle ISD, they caved to the illegals.
>>They keep ineligibles from voting. But, of course, that’s the last thing the Dems want.<<
I noticed that too. Maybe somewhere Republicans want anybody with or alleged to have a pulse to vote, but seems like it’s almost always Dems.
Are you listening to KLBJ? If not, there is a MuSLIME woman on now, and she supports suicide bombings for the most part. She is a NUT.
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