House bill to require voter ID

[Army_of_One]

The Demokrats opposed this bill 192 to 4....I'm going to ask a dumb question that maybe OOD can explain with his infinite liberal leaning wisdom. WHY is it a bad thing to require ID and proof of citizenship to vote? Having ID is NOT an "insurmountable burdon"!!! Reading things like this REALLY makes me wonder what country the Demokrats are trying to help. I wonder how many Demokrats met with Chavez while he was here......GRRRRRRR



The House yesterday passed legislation that would require voters to show a valid photo identification in federal elections over the overwhelming objections of Democrats who compared the bill to segregation-era measures aimed at disenfranchising Southern blacks.
The Federal Election Integrity Act was approved on a nearly party-line 228-196 vote. Republicans backed the bill 224-3, with three nonvoters; Democrats opposed it 192-4, with five nonvoters. They were joined in opposition by the House's one independent member.
The bill, which faces an uncertain future in the Senate, is part of a Republican effort to complete before the November elections a package of proposals aimed at curbing illegal immigration and its effects on ordinary Americans.
The so-called "Voter ID" bill, aimed at stamping out voter fraud, would require voters in federal elections to provide picture identification by 2008 and provide proof of U.S. citizenship by 2010. It was among the recommendations made last year by the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, headed by former President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, a Republican.
"Effective voter registration and voter identification are bedrocks of a modern election system," they wrote in their final report.
But Democrats, siding with groups that work on behalf of minorities and illegal aliens, called the bill a "modern-day poll tax" and said it would place an insurmountable burden on voters and infringe upon their voting rights.
Rep. Brian Bilbray, California Republican, countered that the real infringement upon voting rights would be allowing fraudulent votes by the dead or illegal "to cancel out legitimate votes."
"That is the violation of the Voters Rights Act that we have not addressed," he told colleagues before the vote.
Democrats, who have long demanded reforms to the federal voting process, yesterday dismissed Republican concerns about voter fraud.
"Show me the examples of the problem you're trying to solve," demanded Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat who accused Republicans of trying to appeal to the "fear and -- yes, perhaps -- the prejudices of people."
A Republican cited a study by Johns Hopkins University that found 1,500 dead people who had voted in recent elections. Mr. Hoyer belittled the study, saying no criminal convictions for voter fraud had been won in any of those cases.
Mr. Bilbray pointed out that such convictions might be obtained if proper identification were required
"Voter fraud is not something you can come back to after the fraud is committed," he said. "The person who voted for those dead people is long gone by the time it comes up on the record."
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, Florida Republican, urged support of the bill because, she said, it would prevent illegal aliens from voting in U.S. elections.
"It's outrageous and inexcusable that voters do not have to show proof of citizenship in order to vote in an election," she said. "Illegal immigrants are populating this country at an unprecedented number, and it is unjust and unfair to citizens of this country that noncitizens should have a hand in electing federal officials."
Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, Florida Democrat, said he's more concerned about discouraging voters than he is about illegals voting.
"Nonparticipation in the election process is more of a problem in this country than noncitizens trying to vote," Mr. Hastings said.
Rep. John Lewis, Georgia Democrat, called the bill a "modern-day poll tax" and charged that the bill "is nothing less than voter suppression."
He also reminded the Republican chamber of its overwhelming support in July for renewing the Voting Rights Act, although many conservatives off Capitol Hill warned that portions of it are no longer necessary.
"Just three months ago, this body passed the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, admitting the sad fact that voter discrimination is still the reality," said Mr. Lewis, who said requiring identification at the polls is "an attack on the voting rights of millions of Americans."
Across the Capitol in the Senate, Democrats continued to slow-walk legislation approved by the House last week to construct 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. The chamber voted yesterday 94-0 on a procedural motion to take up the bill.
Despite universal approval for taking up the legislation, Democratic leaders refused to grant "unanimous consent" agreements to speed up the process.

[Detector]

Demokrats are counting on illegal votes

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

...The House yesterday passed legislation that would require voters to show a valid photo identification in federal elections over the overwhelming objections of Democrats who compared the bill to segregation-era measures aimed at disenfranchising Southern blacks...

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

....I will HIDE THE DB BRICK and POST a CLUE....I will color the CLUE BLUE and it's will be a BLUE'S CLUE....

HAPPY HUNTING

Yeah Detector, the Dems see a new underclass of potential voters and big Unions see potential new members for increased dues money.

[The Drifter]

why clutter up the voting process? first the i.d. then what, blood sample, finger printing and maybe even a credit check...come on. i have never really heard of illegal voters. And if you're concerned about democrats relying on votes from illegals, wasnt it a republican..kathrine harris down in florida who had hired an illegal to clean her house.

[The Drifter]

off topic but what the hell i noticed this while posting....
what is this little smiley supposed to be?
don't look like no phone to me

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by The Drifter

...i have never really heard of illegal voters.....

It’s a big problem in California and it’s been suspected that it’s thrown some elections.

[Outofdodge]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

The Demokrats opposed this bill 192 to 4....I'm going to ask a dumb question

I'd rather you ask a dumb question than make a dumb statement.

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

that maybe OOD can explain with his infinite liberal leaning wisdom. WHY is it a bad thing to require ID and proof of citizenship to vote? Having ID is NOT an "insurmountable burdon"!!! Reading things like this REALLY makes me wonder what country the Demokrats are trying to help.

Truth be known, I struggle with this one. I never have been a fan of open voter registration drives but I am an accountant and I don't take anything relevant at face value unless there is accompanying documentation. In 1976 when I turned 18, I had to go downtown to the courthouse to register. I've not had to do that since even though I have been transferred to five different states.

Putting this in the context of who is pushing it and the group most likely to be affected. It was only a couple of generations ago that certain minorities were subject to all kinds of impediments to voting. 40 years are still fresh memories when compared to the century old feuds that exists elsewhere in the planet between certain groups. There have been reported instances where voters in some precints in some states had problems voting. I have no real way of verifying or not verifing the validity of these complaints. But as you so well demonstrate, perception is reality. And if *they* perceive *they* are being singled out then *they* are, regardless.

And while it may be a piece of cake to walk into the mall in Dodge City to get a state issued ID at the driver's license place (I assume it's still in the mall?). In Atlanta GA it's a pain in the posterior. It took me 7 hours to get a GA license when I moved there. It's easy for you and I to get proof, it really is not easy as you might think for some groups, especially if they have to get a birth certificate and rely on public transporation. In the end, IMO it's not an onerous requirement but I have my passport as proof.

Maybe if the Republicans didn't thinly disquise it as an illegal alien thing then perhaps it would go down better to some groups. This lack of trust amongst the American people is going to have be overcome at some point.

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

I wonder how many Demokrats met with Chavez while he was here......GRRRRRRR.

Chavez is an idiot, everyone knows Bush II is not the devil, Cheney is.

http://news.yahoo.com/comics/uclickc.../crmlu20060921

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

...I wonder how many Demokrats met with Chavez while he was here......GRRRRRRR

I don’t know but I almost fell out of my chair over this;

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press...h09212006.html

This one finished the job;

http://reuters.myway.com/article/200...A-SPAT-DC.html

Oh yeah, it’s an election year.

[Outofdodge]

Originally Posted by Highwayman

Oh yeah, it’s an election year.

sheesh they do the right thing and you still have to poke a skeptical stick at it.

Bush is a piss poor excuse for a leader, but he is our piss poor excuse for a leader.

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Outofdodge

sheesh they do the right thing and you still have to poke a skeptical stick at it...

I guess syndical comes with age. That and fending off many sharp sticks over the years.