Reflecting back on my last blog…call me crazy, but I don’t think this duck and run strategy will work for Idaho Democrats either I challenge the progressives out there to help put out these fires of madness that are sweeping out country and our state.
There is a critical vote in the Idaho Senate which will open the door to requiring photo ids at the ballot box. Voter Id Bill H496 that just passed in the Idaho House 64 to 6. Over a dozen House Democrats voted for a bill that opens the door to disenfranchising voters.
When I questioned some House Democrats and moderate Republicans their defense was that, as the bill stands now, a voter can just sign an affidavit. That is what voters do now! Why do we need this bill at all unless it is another case of cowering to the far right and the tea baggers. All the conservatives need to do is drop the last part of the line “and to provide for an affidavit in lieu of personal identification” off the bill and we join the sad ranks of states that limit access to voting.
One Democrat from a nearby resort area asked me way I didn’t contact them earlier before the H 496 vote? Unfortunately I was unaware of the issue and pending vote until after I saw it had already passed the House. I read it online at Times News. It is now my commitment to check on pending legislation daily.
You too can easily go to http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/legIndex.htm to see what bills are pending and see who represents you and contact them.
Here are the facts on voter ids from the League of Women Voters:
The League supports full voting participation by all eligible American citizens and opposes efforts to create new barriers that block citizen voter participation. We therefore oppose ID and documentary proof-of-citizenship requirements.
The following statistics reflect those individuals who do not have photo identification:
- 11% or as many as 21 million Americans
- 36% of voters in Georgia over the age of 75
- 18% of Americans over 65 (6 million)
- 25% of African Americans
- 10% of 40 million people with disabilities
- 15% of low income voters
What is wrong with having to show an ID? Doesn’t everybody have one?
Not everyone has ID that meets the requirements of some states. Indeed, ID requirements disproportionately affect the elderly, young people, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities and the poor.
- As many as 11 percent of United States citizens – more than 21 million individuals – do not have government-issued photo identification. Eleven percent of the American citizens surveyed responded that they do not have current, unexpired government-issued identification with a photograph, such as a driver’s license or military ID. Using 2000 census calculations of the citizen voting-age population, this translates to more than 21 million American adult citizens nationwide who do not possess valid government photo ID. Source: NYU and Brennen Center Survey
- In Georgia, The Secretary of State estimated that over 650,000 registered Georgians do not have drivers’ licenses
Current laws work and ensure the process is Fair, Just, Secure and Accessible to all.
There is no evidence that voting by non-citizens is occurring in significant numbers. Indeed, since these activities are illegal in every state for federal elections, reports of prosecution and convictions would abound if significant numbers of people were, in fact, voting illegally. The evidence establishes that current anti-fraud laws work.
Indeed, evidence proves that illegal voting is extremely low. At the Federal level only 24 people were convicted of voter fraud between 2002 and 2005. Indeed, Americans are twice as likely to get hit by lighting as to have their vote cancelled put by a fraudulently cast vote.
Rep. Tom Trail (R) from Moscow said it best in his email to me, “It looked to me to be a solution in search of a problem!” Tom came to this conclusion after the Idaho Secretary of State talked about lack of voter fraud in Idaho. Another honest House Democrat told me that he had been very very torn over his yes vote. He felt that I may very well be correct in my concerns. Why then did Democrats, even from progressive districts vote for this?
Because they are ducking for cover, trying to vote like conservatives, and stoking the fires that will ironically cause their demise. In an atmosphere of fear and pessimism, ideas like drug testing all welfare recipients and passing the Health Care Worker Freedom Conscious Bill S1353 and S1270 for Health Care Professionals are popping up all over in the Idaho legislation. S1353 is a high sounding nod to libertarians that actually allows pharmacists and medical staff have the option of not prescribing, not only the morning after pills and birth control, but making “moral” and religious choices about what pain-killers and medicine terminally ill patients receive.
Our legislators have had to make gut wretching decisions about education, but these attempts to limit every Idahoans’ freedoms are slipping by unnoticed. In a climate of lies and demonization of all things liberal and with the Glen Becks and their like convincing everyone that illegal voters are everywhere, Acorn is running the elections in this country, and minorities are the cause of all our woes, even our most liberal legislators are nervous.
- Please, please contact your Senators to oppose the Voter ID Bill H496: Toll free 800-626-0471 and Capitol Phone 208-332-1000. It has been passed in the House and read on the Senate floor two days ago. Voting is probably taking place right now!
- To oppose the just as frightening Senate Bills: S 1353 and S 1270 that have passed on the Senate Side, also contact your representatives immediately. If you are in District 23 contact Steve Hartgen at (208) 332-1061 and Jim Patrick at (208) 332-1043. If you are in District 24 contact Leon Smith at (208) 332-1188 and Sharon Block at (208) 332-1182. If you don’t know or live outside Twin Falls go to http://legislature.idaho.gov/who’smylegislator.htm.
Believe you me the far right is doing this with a passion and making changes daily across this country and in this state. We can continue to complain and cower, or take action. Many of the crackpot ideas that are being proposed will not only limit freedom, but end up costing us more in the long run. House Minority Leader John Rusche D-Lewiston, responded correctly when Rep. Rich Wills R- Glenns Ferry, proposed random drug tests to people receiving public assistance. “There are a few things that are so dangerous that you can’t study them.”
But it was his colleague, Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise, that said the ultimate result could be even worse… more crime. In a state where our mental health access and rehabilitation efforts are some of the poorest in the nation, it makes no sense to criminalize more people. And where will we put them and what will happen to their children?
Additional drug testing, more restrictions at the voting places, and more limitations on getting contraceptives and even pain meds for the dying; these don’t sound like the “freedoms our forefathers” fought for? And yet the far right and the tea baggers are mobilized and spreading their vision for the country and our state. I believe that Congressman Walt Minnick said that the tea baggers are contacting him 3 to 1. I may be wrong and that ratio was even higher. So what are you waiting for…
http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=PAVP1&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=11254
