Thread: TX - Impassioned testimony over voter ID

Impassioned testimony over voter ID

By JAY ROOT Associated Press Writer © 2009 The Associated Press
April 6, 2009, 5:40PM

AUSTIN, Texas — Efforts to create new ID requirements for Texas voters sparked impassioned debate Monday in the Legislature, where Democrats and Republicans are squabbling over the proposals as the crucial 2010 elections approach.

Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, conjured up the civil rights struggles of the 1960s, saying the proposals for tighter ID measures are the modern equivalent of the Jim Crow laws that were used to suppress minority turnout for decades.

"This is a racial issue, make no mistake about it," said Veasey, who is black. "Can you really sleep with yourself at night knowing that if this bill is passed, that most of the people that would be denied the right to vote are going to be black, brown and poor?"

Veasey made his comments during a public hearing on the proposal in the House Elections Committee. The panel is taking a crack at the legislation that passed on a strict party-line vote in the state Senate last month.

The bill would require Texas voters to present a photo ID or two non-photo ID alternatives — such as a marriage license and a utility bill — before being allowed to cast a regular ballot.

During the sometimes heated hearing, expected to last into the night, conservative experts said voter ID laws bolster the democratic process because citizens gain confidence that elections aren't rigged or fraud-ridden.

"If people stop believing in the process, voter turnout goes down," said Republican Todd Rokita, the secretary of state of Indiana, which has a tough photo ID requirement for voters. "When voter turnout goes down, we lose the republic."

A year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Indiana's voter ID law, considered the strictest in the nation. Several voter ID bills are pending in state legislatures holding sessions this year, including Texas.

John Fund, a Wall Street Journal columnist and author of the book "Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy," said ID requirements are commonplace outside the United States.

"We're the only country in the world — the only country in the world — that operates on the honor system when it comes to elections," Fund said.

Republicans — who control both houses of the Legislature and all statewide elective offices — say the new ID rules are needed to protect against voter fraud. Democrats complain that the GOP wants to suppress Democratic turnout by erecting hurdles that disproportionately affects their base vote.

The Senate version of the bill would take effect ahead of the 2010 statewide and legislative elections, after which state lawmakers will redraw the boundaries for their own districts and those for Texas members of the U.S. Congress.

Rep. Todd Smith, R-Bedford, chairs the Elections Committee and said he expects to write his own version of the legislation. Smith has said he favors slowly phasing in the changes, giving Texas time to educate and register voters.

"What we're looking for here tonight from the experts who have been asked to testify are for ideas on how we might enhance the security of our elections while simultaneously expanding access to the polls," Smith said.

Democrats argue the claims of voter fraud are wildly exaggerated, particularly the "voter impersonation" phenomenon that new ID requirements would target. Democrat Dianne Trautman, who narrowly lost a bid to become Harris County's tax assessor and collector last year, called on the Legislature to do more to ensure that people who are registered to vote aren't unfairly knocked off the rolls.

"Please quit trying to solve a phantom voter impersonation problem, and do something about the thousands of eligible voters whose names weren't on the voter rolls in Harris County when voting began last year," she said. "Those are real numbers, of real people, being denied the right to vote."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6361588.html

Veasey is full of crapola. it has nothing to do with race. it has everything to do with hoping that the elections we vote in are not ridden with fraud. from dead people still being on the voter roll and somehow voting from the grave to people who lost their rights to vote for whatever reason to people being in the US Illegally.. its hard to understand we are one of the only country's in the world that does it on the honor system. Just like we are the last country who has not secured its own borders

What is in those cigars that fill the Democrats' congressional cloakrooms with smoke? Racism, discrimination and Jim Crow laws? Give me a break! This is only to prove that our sacred voting right is preserved, rather than Paco or Vladimir walking in with a utility bill and a stolen credit card and voting.
To everyone in Texas, I wish luck in electing legislators that wish to preserve the right of voting to those legally able to vote.

My 95 year old Aunt had ID....DMV gives you non Drivers cards...So...what is the problem with people not having ID?

The Democrats are mad becasue they won't be able to use the Matricula to vote. I want to be in Austin so bad right now that I can't see strait!

Dixie

Democrats argue the claims of voter fraud are wildly exaggerated, particularly the "voter impersonation" phenomenon that new ID requirements would target. Democrat Dianne Trautman, who narrowly lost a bid to become Harris County's tax assessor and collector last year, called on the Legislature to do more to ensure that people who are registered to vote aren't unfairly knocked off the rolls.

"Please quit trying to solve a phantom voter impersonation problem, and do something about the thousands of eligible voters whose names weren't on the voter rolls in Harris County when voting began last year," she said. "Those are real numbers, of real people, being denied the right to vote."

Ahhh a sore loser. Where are these "phantom" thousands of voters who weren't on the rolls? EVERYONE legally in the US has an ID. Whether it be a SS number, birth certificate, driver's license, naturalization papers. How do they survive without an ID? How do they get welfare? Mortgages?

NO ID? NO VOTE!

Too bad about the blacks, browns and the poor. I guess it too much to ask these poor soles to have a photo ID or two non-photo ID alternatives — such as a marriage license and a utility bill — before being allowed to cast a regular ballot? If you can't drag yourself to get at least an ID card, then how are you going to be able to drag yourself to vote.

I am getting fed up with this country catering to minorities. Every time they don't like something they cry about it being racist. What kind of sense does it make that you need to prove you are eligible to vote? This is not an attack on any race, this just protects the integrity of our democratic process. But then it seems our Democratic party would love to see the who democratic system destroyed.

I don't feel sorry for people that play the victim and wallow in it. I'm telling you if you sent those same people a sweepstakes award check they would get off their butts and get a photo ID. Voting is just not that important to them.

You can watch the House Elections Committee
http://www.house.state.tx.us/fx/av/live ... cmte36.ram

Look at how many people are in this hearing! This is wonderful! This is the 2nd day of the hearing and I understand it will go on until every citizen has spoken.

Dixie

Our voting system should be of the highest integrity....our right to vote is one of our most important rights. Therefore, if I have to show an ID to board an airplane, attend jury duty, etc. I most certainly should have to to vote. The Dems just want votes....period!

"We're the only country in the world — the only country in the world — that operates on the honor system when it comes to elections," Fund said.

Did not realize this, very important to point out. Sometimes our country must appear so weak in so many ways to rest of the world.

Statewide testimony given on ID bill

By Lucretia Cardenas
Updated: 04.07.09
AUSTIN – On a day when Montgomery County residents converged on the state Capitol, a much-debated voter ID bill took center stage in the House Elections Committee and on the Capitol lawn with a rally in support of the bill.

Senate Bill 362, passed by the Senate two weeks ago, would require Texas voters to present a photo ID or two non-photo ID alternatives – such as a marriage license and a utility bill – before being allowed to cast a regular ballot.

Several Montgomery County residents, in Austin Tuesday as part of local chambers’ Montgomery County Day at the Capitol, attended the committee public hearing, which was packed. They also participated in the rally.

All five state legislators representing parts of the county support the voter ID requirement. Many local residents in Austin Tuesday also think the measure is necessary.

“The Voter ID bill has to be passed,â€