In a late night vote, Texas Republicans overwhelmingly passed SB14 and in doing so expressed the will of the voters in convincing fashion. After hours of histrionics by Texas Democrats, the bill finally came up for a vote and passed 101-48.
As I’ve noted in the past, voters in Texas have supported a photo id bill for years at a 70{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} clip, so for all of the whining from the marginalized D’s, this really isn’t a controversial issue with anyone other than a few far left politicians, a political media that is more interested in controversy than fact, and a few middle aged white male bloggers filled with guilt because they were not born “of color”. The rest of us get it – voting is a right so important that we need to protect it.
So many people deserve credit for finally getting this passed. The Governor for making it a priority. The Lt. Governor for pushing it through the Senate post haste. Speaker Straus for picking the right person to carry it in the House. That person, Rep. Patricia Harless, for her tireless work and statesmanlike demeanor in the face of continued assaults on her own integrity. And obviously Catherine Engelbrecht and the King Street Patriots raised the issue to new heights with their True the Vote effort.
And let us not forget a few people who deserve a special thank you. The Texas Democratic Party sued the King Street Patriots and in doing so brought new media attention and outrage from thousands of Texas Tea Partiers, motivating them to lobby their representatives to vote for the bill. Thank you for your help.
And we cannot forget Fred Lewis and his ill fated Houston Votes effort. Without the problems in that group, then Tax Assessor Collector Leo Vasquez would not have had the opportunity to stand in front of the cameras and demolish any reasonable doubt that election integrity is a problem in Texas.
Lastly, a hearty thank you to those progressive bloggers that showed their complete disregard for the truth in their writing about Mr. Vasquez’s demolition. Their attacks upon him and Mrs. Engelbrecht were so nasty and vile that even a lazy press core in Harris County saw through them and finally broke their ability to drive a news cycle. For that we should all be grateful.
It sure is nice when the voters win one.
There are 1.2 million Texans with no ID because of the Driver Responsibility surcharge, which even Leo Berman thinks should be repealed. That’s the biggest glitch in the Voter ID push, which is borne of good intentions (of the type with which the road to hell is paved) but will inevitably generate unintended consequences, like so many top-down Big-Government do-gooder initiatives. 🙂
Apples and concrete blocks, my breakfast inspired friend.
Election integrity is not “feel good” or “do gooder” legislation. Nor is it “borne of good intentions” or “Big Government”. It is simply a way to fix a problem. We’ll fix those other problems too, don’t you worry your little heart. 😉
“We’ll fix those other problems too, don’t you worry your little heart”
Holding my breath till the day comes starting … now! Hurry!
I’ll betcha dollars to donuts the session ends without the Lege getting those 1.2 million drivers their licenses back, but that won’t stop Voter ID from taking effect. Meanwhile, don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back over the do-gooder victory of the day. All Big Government Do-Gooder types frame their issues in terms of “integrity,” fixing a problem, etc., but it doesn’t change that their method is to use the power of the state to impose their vision of “the good.” Most people think “limited government” means less government mandates, not more.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. 🙂
Grits and David,
I am glad the bill passed, if for no other reason that stopping the continual whining about voter fraud.
Grits did get my attention and I would like to be educated. Suppose you are one of those 1.2 million folks running around without a Driver’s License because of the Driver Responsibility Surcharge; does this mean you cannot get a Texas State ID from those lovely folks at the License Bureau? Are there provisions for alternate ID?
Simple
There are other ID that is accepted besides just drivers license.
Several kinds of government-issued photo identification would be accepted, including a driver’s license, a U.S. military ID card and a U.S. passport.
The cost of the bill was a point of contention, as the Department of Public Safety would be required to waive fees for issuing photo IDs to those who say they are getting them to vote.
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/03/23/2945555/texas-house-passes-voter-id-bill.html#ixzz1HY81NIdx
Simple,
Don’t let breakfast for lunch fool you. Most of those 1.2 million were never relieved of their photo id in the first place. They simply can’t drive without further penalty. Second, all they have to do is hop on down to the local DPS office and get a state id card. It ain’t complicated.
Cooking grits can be but getting an id isn’t.
When is ID required in Texas
Registering to Vote, Buying property, renting property, signing a loan, making a deposit, cashing a check, buying a firearm, renting a canoe, buying groceries, buying groceries with welfare, applying for welfare, applying for social security, renting a POBox, applying for any city, county or state license to do business, serve alchohol, serve food, cut meat, process cheese, milk cows and deliver, register for public school.
Grits, what ever are those 1.2 million going to do and have you in your deep high minded superior concern for these vulnerable citizens ever bothered to raise this issue before?
While we’re at it, let’s move voting day to the weekend. How ’bout it Repubs?
Gentlemen, I’m a bit late to this party, but I’ve never seen a tally or even an estimate of the number of bogus in person votes that will be prevented via ordering me as a poll judge to demand official unexpired govt issue photo id of my brother, mother, or the 20 yr neighbor next door.