Texas Senate adopts rules change to allow Voter ID vote

[tbyg52]

From the "Oh, great" department...

After a dramatic display of partisan bloodletting, the Texas Senate on Wednesday adopted a change in its rules that will benefit Republicans by allowing a vote on a voter ID bill.

But in an upper chamber long known for its decorum and reluctance to publicly air its dirty laundry, the rancorous day took its toll. Amid the fight, Lt. Gov. David Dew-hurst, a Republican, at one point faced a public challenge to his status as presiding officer.

The Republicans aimed the exception at one issue — voter ID — to force a future vote, which Democrats would otherwise have been able to block. The final vote was 18-13, mostly along party lines, just as a series of procedural, 19-12 votes leading up to the last one had been. That stirred some Democrats to label the skirmish as the start of the "War of 19-12," referring to the partisan split in the Senate.

Democrats say the proposed voter ID bill, which would require voters to show photo identification before they can vote, discriminates against people who are elderly, disabled and minorities.

Republicans say stopping voter fraud should be a top priority.

More:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/01/15/0115senate.html

(Warning - the very next paragraph after where I cut off is gag-inducing.)