Voter ID Back Under the Dome
The issue made for many a dramatic moment on both the House and Senate floors* during the 2007 session, and now, as expected, voter ID is back. The House Elections Committee, under the direction of State Rep Leo Berman, R-Tyler, will hold a hearing Friday morning to explore legislation to secure the vote and prevent voter fraud, perhaps by requiring more forms of ID to cast a ballot.
Opponents, most of them Democrats, say requiring photo ID at the polls disproportionately affects the poor, the elderly and minorities - the most likely to lack photo identification.The US Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of such laws by summer, a case sparked by a legal challenge to Indiana's voter ID laws, said to be the most restrictive in the nation. What will be the effect, politically? A GWU prof cites judges who say this will help throw elections in favor of Republicans.But supporters, most of them Republicans, say such requirements are necessary to prevent voter fraud.
If the [Indiana] law is upheld, voting rights advocates fear it will encourage conservative lawmakers across the country to enact equally restrictive measures.
UNRELATED: My previous post features the AP story about Texas being the worst carbon polluter in America. Which individual leaves the largest carbon footprint "in history"? See here.
*My personal favorite-House-floor-moment-not-counting-the-final-three-days would be when State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg flipped out and starting shrieking under questioning from State Rep. Rafael Anchia over an amendment to the CHIP bill.
Comments
Considering you need a photo idea to get a bank account, cash a check, check out a library book, the whole Photo ID’s are racist and voter oppression seem pretty unconvincing. Who knows, maybe Sen Gallagos will go for a more dramatic near death collapse on the Senate floors this year. Last year’s three hanky performance was pretty lack luster.
And David Beckham. What a naughty boy he’s been. Send him to my room!
Posted by: wyocwby | January 25, 2008 1:46 AM