House Undergoing Straus Test

[sonias]

http://www.lonestarproject.net/Permalink/2009-05-06.html">Lone Star Project 5/6/09
House Undergoing Straus Test

New House Speaker Joe Straus has the power to force a vote on a harshly partisan and highly restrictive Voter Photo ID bill in the House. The real question is: Does Straus have the wisdom to refrain from using his power and focus instead on the issues that effect mainstream Texas families?

Statements by key members make it apparent that a majority of the House would rather deal with substantive policy issues than wade into the partisan brawl brought on by floor consideration of an unnecessary Voter Photo ID bill. In a recent letter to House Elections Committee Chairman Todd Smith, Representative Richard Pena Raymond (D-Laredo) wrote, "a majority of Members, including many of your fellow Republicans, know the Voter ID bill is unnecessary, even though they can’t say that in public." (Source: Letter from Rep. Raymond and others on April 27, 2009)

Voter ID

Just today, 33 Democratic Chairs or Vice Chairs sent a formal letter and legal memo to both Speaker Straus and Todd Smith advising them that moving forward on a bill absent a new set of hearings would make a Department of Justice objection likely.

Now, with Elections Committee Chair Todd Smith’s admission that he will vote for a harshly partisan version of the Voter Photo ID bill, the issue falls squarely in Joe Straus’ lap. The Speaker can use his power and influence to avoid the type of divisive and debilitating fights that were common under his predecessor, Tom Craddick, or he can shrink from the challenge and let the most negative and mean-spirited elements of his party determine the legislative agenda.

Related Statesman story

AAS 5/6/09
New voter ID proposal circulated in Legislature
AUSTIN, Texas — Under a strict new voter ID proposal being circulated in the Legislature, most Texans would have to present photo identification before being allowed to cast a regular ballot.

Exemptions would be provided to voters aged 70 and over, the indigent and Texans who state a religious objection to having a photo ID — provided they show up at the polls with a voter registration certificate.

The proposal by Rep. Todd Smith, GOP chairman of the House Elections Committee, is far tougher than previous versions, which encouraged but did not require use of a photo ID. The legislation would also provide a two-year phase-in of the new rules, instead of four years as Smith had previously proposed.

Republicans have pressured Smith to include the tougher language, but it's still not clear if his four fellow Republican members on the Elections Committee will approve. Smith accused the two "Republican ladies" on the committee — Rep. Betty Brown, R-Athens, and Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving — of continually changing what they say they need in order to vote for it.

Copy of the bill is available from The Quorum Report Daily Buzz section. Scroll down the page to this headline:
Breaking Voter Id News: Smith Circulates New Version Of Bill

I've taken a look at the bill and it is a stinker. If your ID is not acceptable - remember the election clerks are going to make that determination about whether your ID is acceptable to them - you will be forced to cast a provisional ballot. And then you have 6 days to take your proof to the main voting location or leave it to the early election board to decide if your signature is a "match". Oh yea, that's going to work really well. :grr:


Sonia

[texastoast]

1. I just emailed Straus

and told him to hold public hearings.

I mentioned that while I didn't think the intent of the bill was to inhibit senior citizens who no longer drive or have a photo ID from voting, such would be the result.

[sonias]

2. Thanks

The really scary part is leaving the determination of whether you get to vote a regular ballot or a provisional ballot is left up to overworked, under trained temporary workers. Poll workers make $7 an hour, unless the counties choose to pay them more.

Sonia

[tbyg52]

3. Done, thanks for the info. nt

[sonias]

4. Review of the new photo ID draft

Political Junkie blog 5/6/09
Latest Voter ID Draft: What's Inside
(snip)
7.) Those Voting WITHOUT Photo ID cast PROVISIONAL ballot only
-- Bill lists utility bill, birth certificate, etc, as alternate forms of ID voters can use to cast a ballot. Those ballots will be provisional only, meaning they may be thrown out by a newly-created provisional ballot board.

8.) Reporting Back to Lege
Every January, the secretary of state will be required to submit a report to the lege regarding violations of the new law.

9.) $3.75 million for Voter Registration
This is less money than the previous version, which would have set aside $7 million for voter registration efforts. The latest measure calls for $3.75 million for voter registration and $3.75 million to help provide voters who don't have photo IDs with a necessary ID card.

Again keep in mind that just because you have a photo ID, doesn't mean the election clerks are going to automatically accept you. It's their call. Do you have a beard now and didn't when you took your picture? Did you lose or gain weight? Is your address exactly the same as your registration?

And don't let anyone fool you with the myth of a provisional ballot counting. Provisional ballot rejection rates in Texas are around 75% now. You'd have better luck if they let you toss a coin for the chance to cast a regular ballot. :eyes:


Sonia

[onestepforward]

5. I just wrote

This law would also be a hindrance for minorities too.

[sonias]

6. That is the "intended consequence"

You know how minorities tend to vote. They vote for Democrats, so what better way to keep winning in the South than to keep suppressing the voter turnout of poor and minority communities.

I just found out that Georgia, which passed a photo ID law while bush was in office, passed a bill that you mus prove citizenship to register to vote and Governor Sonny Perdue signed it into law yesterday.

That one will get DOJ scrutiny before an Texas law since they already signed it into law. It will be interesting to see what DOJ does. The career employees at DOJ had objected to the Georgia photo ID law too, but the bush political appointees cleared it anyway. There's a new sheriff in town at DOJ. I'm hoping they strike it down.

Google News 5/6/09
Ga. follows Ariz. on citizenship proof for voters

ATLANTA (AP) Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue signed a divisive law Tuesday making the state only the second after Arizona to require prospective voters to prove their U.S. citizenship, a practice opponents say would keep the poor, elderly and minorities away from the ballot box.

To take effect, the law must obtain clearance from the U.S. Justice Department under the Voting Rights Act. And legal challenges appeared likely despite supporters who insist the measure would safeguard the integrity of the voting process.

The law revived a racially charged battle in Georgia. Critics complain it would disenfranchise poor and minority voters "many of them U.S. citizens" who lack required documents.

Starting Jan. 1, 2010 if Justice approves, the Georgia law would require all applying for voter registration to provide documented proof of U.S. citizenship. Those who stay on active voter rolls and have already registered before then would not have to submit such documents as a U.S. passport, naturalization documents or driver's license or birth certificate.

Sonia

[sonias]

7. I wish I had some Photon torpedoes to fire at this bill

The photo ID bill got voted out of the elections committee on a 5-4 vote. Expect the House floor to explode next week.

Texas Observer Floorpass blog 5/11/09
Monday, May 11, 2009
Voter ID Leaves House Committee

Rep. Todd Smith, chairman of the House Elections committee, gave up on his attempts to write a compromise bill and had the committee vote on an unchanged Senate Bill 362, the controversial Voter ID bill that has bogarted everyone's attention this session.

(snip)

Smith gave the bill, as passed, a less than 50 percent chance of passing the full House, which has a slight 76-74 Republican advantage. Smith has been pushing for phasing the program in and dedicating a significant amount of money ($7.5 million was mentioned during his compromise attempts) to voter registration to ensure that the bill's ultimate effect is not voter suppression. These provisions are not included in the bill voted on today.

"We got a choice to make," Smith said. "Do we want to pass a bill or make a statement? And it's clear to me that some members simply want to make a statement. They're not interested in passing a bill."

I do not believe in a no-win scenario! :nuke: that bill!

Oh and by the way go see Star Trek - it's really, really good. Go see it in IMAX too, if you can.

Sonia

[thevoiceofreason]

8. The dumbest bill at the worst time

We can only hope things will clear up to the party of muddledom soon.