Thread: TX House Democrats Hint at What They'll Do to Voter ID

Quick Take

House Democrats hint at what they'll do to voter ID

Christy Hoppe

Austin - It's called chubbing. It's when House members - in this case Democrats - take a seemingly innocuous bill and pepper the author with small amendments and lots of questions. And what it does is slow the process down to a crawl.

Democrats used the maneuver on the Agriculture Department bill Wednesday. But their real target was the coming political battle over voter ID.

Democrats sent a clear message that they are willing to gum up the works if Republicans insist on pushing through a bill requiring all voters to present a picture ID, or two nonpicture forms of ID, to cast a ballot. (Republicans insist it's needed to protect the integrity of the ballot box; Democrats see it as a ploy to depress voter turnout among their constituencies.)

The result Wesnesday was to delay work on two major measures - one to overrule the governor and take expanded federal unemployment money and one to rein in the "top 10 percent" law governing college admissions.

The voter ID issue has been the partisan touchstone of the legislative session since the first day in January, when the Senate had a fight over changing its rules to consider the measure. It's about to be set for debate in the House, and delicate negotiations are ongoing.

Fifty Democrats held a news conference Wednesday to list the things they think should take priority instead: insurance reform, tax help for veterans; college tuition relief.

"If anyone doubts our resolve to protect the voting rights of our constituents, they are sadly mistaken," Democrat leader Jim Dunman of Waco said.

He won't discuss all the options at the Democrats' disposal, but there was speculation of a quorum-busting walk-out. Most hope, and believe, there won't be a replay of the 2003 Democratic run to Oklahoma to stop a redistricting bill.

But with only six days left in the House to debate bills, the clock is ticking. So, apparently, is this time bomb.

Copied from "The Dallas Morning News" print edition, Thursday, May 21, 2009, p. 5A

If I have to show 2 forms of ID to cash a local check then I see no reason why a picture ID is not required to vote . If only people that were eligible to vote were allowed then it would not be as easy to rig our already crooked electorial system . Bring back the paper ballet .