GOPpies' undies in a twist over Voter ID veto - vow constitutional change

[sybylla]

GOP adamant about voter ID law
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=37668&ntpid=6
4/27/05
Phil Brinkman Wisconsin State Journal

Republicans said Tuesday they'll try to change the state constitution if Gov. Jim Doyle follows through on his promise to veto a bill requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls and lawmakers are unable to override it.

......

Republicans contend the measure is necessary in light of several cases of suspected voter fraud in Milwaukee in the last election. Currently, voters can register at the polls using just a utility bill or by having someone vouch for their identity.

Doyle and many of his fellow Democrats say the requirement poses an unnecessary burden on voters, falling mostly on the poor, minorities, students and the elderly.

Lawmakers would need a two-thirds vote in each house to override Doyle's veto, which appears unlikely since the measure passed initially by just under that margin.

<SNIP>


Photo ID bill goes to Doyle
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/apr05/321618.asp
Republicans deliver measure on voting reform, which governor plans to veto again
By STEVEN WALTERS
[e-mail]
Posted: April 26, 2005

Madison - Republican legislators on Tuesday hand-delivered to Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle a bill that would require voters to show a photo ID at the polls, but an aide to Doyle said he would veto it a second time.

Doyle was traveling and not available for comment. Yet he has said that the bill could disenfranchise up to 150,000 older and disabled people who cannot leave nursing homes or homes to get free state-issued IDs they would have to show to vote if they did not have driver's licenses.

Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) and Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greenfield), and the two Senate sponsors of the bill, Republicans Joe Leibham of Sheboygan and Neal Kedzie of Elkhorn, said the measure would take a step toward fixing documented examples of illegal voting and thousands of discredited votes in November in Milwaukee.

The Journal Sentinel found a 7,000-vote gap, with more ballots than people recorded and other problems with vote totals in dozens of Milwaukee wards; some 1,200 votes cast from invalid city addresses; and votes cast by hundreds of felons. The disclosures touched off a federal inquiry into possible vote fraud and a state audit of election procedures.

<SNIP>

So the new GOPpie plank is to fuck with the constitution every time they can't get their way - TABOR, Voter ID, next it will be the Unconscience Clause.

Where's the outrage? Even the Gannett rags ought to be shouting to the heavens on this.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Repeat after me... endlessly...

"Another Right Wing Power Grab..." "Another Right Wing Power Grab..." "Another Right Wing Power Grab..."

George Lakoff would be proud.

NGU.

[ewagner]

2. "...documented examples of illegal voting..."

Yeah, right....they haven't come up with a single example of massive voter identity theft....it's a lie, it's a GOP voter sujppression bill right from the giddyup! :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[ClassWarrior]

3. A government-issued ID card won't solve the problems identified.

How about a RESPONSIBLE election reform plan, Republicons??

NGU.

[ewagner]

4. Election Reform has nothing

to do with it............

it's all about suppressing Democratic Votes ...nothing else.

[ClassWarrior]

5. Of course it is - but the criminals are trying to sell it...

...as an election reform plan. That's why we need to keep hammering home the fact that a government-issued identity card won't solve the problems the Republicons say it will.

NGU.

[EC]

6. Okay, I've written 2 letters for next months Voice of the People

and am trying to decide which one to use, maybe you guys can help me. The first one is short and sweet, the other a bit longer- asking if this is needed and how far it could go. Here they are :
First One:

If you pay attention, you will notice that Republicans in every state are screaming for Photo ID’s. This sounds like a call for a National ID Program to me.

I believe it has less to do with what they call “voter fraud” then it does with a National ID Program, to control us. What will this card eventually be used for? Travel between states? Restrictions on where we can go or shop? Credit and banking? Insurance? The extent of control is endless. Will the day come when the government can revoke your rights to traveling, banking or insurance if it feels you are a risk for some reason? Will the day come when our movements or habits will be tracked by a National ID? Will the day come when we will have to present an ID for every purchase or transaction? Will this be sold to us under the guise of “terrorism”?

I think we had better find out more about this, instead of just saying “Hey, what’s wrong with requiring a photo ID card to vote?” Since this is being pushed so fervently by the Republicans I really believe there is more to this than meets the eye.

As far as “voter fraud”, that’s been unproven, what has been proven and not very well reported was “election fraud”. And gee, in every instance of “election fraud” the result benefited the Republicans. This is what has to be investigated and corrected. If you vote, you want your ballet to count, demand Paper Ballets.

Paper, Pen, People=Fair Elections…


Second one:

To address this matter of ID’s used to vote, with the premise that this will stop “voter fraud”. There was no “voter fraud”, the fraud that took place was “election fraud” through disenfranchise and other dirty tricks. The so called “voter fraud” was found to be a degraded computer program, eliminating parts of addresses. While the “election fraud” was so wide spread it is still being investigated in the courts and by the FBI through hearings and testimonies.

The examples being given of needing an ID to obtain a library card or at a video store, etc. – these are services of which is not a guarantee or right of citizens, these are commercial – you have a choice. Voting is a right to every citizen, and should not require proof that we exist if we are standing there before the poll worker, registered and wanting to vote. And if you believe our existing drivers licenses would be adequate, that just isn’t so, there is a push to make them National ID’s with embedded scan strips with all our information. These are being presented as needed for insuring elections and for immigration legalities.

This push for ID’s is a nationwide push for National ID’s. Republican, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, issues a warning about these national ID’s being pushed by his party, as being an instrument to curtail our Civil Rights. It will be used to permit travel abroad as well as state to state, will control all your transactions, employment and degrade our privacy rights. Just imagine how this could be abused.

This movement is a danger; it is not a simple request. We already have enough forms of ID’s which we have to protect on a daily basis, from identity theft – this is not needed. So you must ask yourself – when we already have Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards and Driver’s Licenses, why is this being pushed?

On the side of freedom.




There seems to be a concerted effort in the Republicans to address this, because there is at least one letter a day, asking for the ID's and presenting it as a simple request and what's the big deal, so I want to let people know IT IS A BIG DEAL.... So which one should I go with?

[ewagner]

7. both letters are great....

I may use them for ideas for mine....

[EC]

9. Go ahead....we need to push this...n/t

[ewagner]

11. First cut

(with a snippet of yours)

As usual, the State Republicans are pounding their chests and screaming for”Reform”. This time they’re talking about “reforming” elections by pushing their voter ID Bill through their majorities in the Senate and Assembly. If you step back from their histrionics for a few seconds you’ll note something very interesting.

You might note, for example, that the solution (Voter ID cards) doesn’t exactly match what they say the problem is. To address this matter of ID’s used to vote, with the premise that this will stop “voter fraud”. There was no “voter fraud”, the fraud that took place was “election fraud” through disenfranchisement and other dirty tricks. The so called “voter fraud” was found to be a degraded computer program, eliminating parts of addresses. While the “election fraud” was so wide spread it is still being investigated in the courts and by the FBI through hearings and testimonies. Voter ID would have addressed none of this.

Our Republican friends have been angry about the heavy Democratic turnout in Milwaukee for years and this voter ID business is just another attempt to mitigate the Democratic voters.

Oh yes, one more thing: Before I get blistered as being FOR vote fraud, against God, Apple pie and Motherhood, let’s get real. Nobody in his or her right mind wants illegal voting taking place and nothing said here implies that. Common sense practices to keep voting fair are always welcomed. But this partisan hack-job of a bill has nothing to do protecting our vote but everything to do with protecting the Republican Party.

Sincerely,

xxxxxxxx

(hehehe: x's as if you guys don't know who I am. :rofl: )

[EC]

12. Looks good, I notice no problems were reported from Wood county

but some from surrounding counties, maybe close enough to write about...039379 11/02/04, 11:31 AM PST Polling place inquiry Mosinee, Marathon County, Wisconsin Has received conflicting info about proper polling place.
044083 11/02/04, 2:27 PM PST Polling place inquiry Mosinee, Marathon County, Wisconsin
047330 11/02/04, 4:27 PM PST Polling place inquiry Schofield, Marathon County, Wisconsin
018643 10/31/04, 12:52 PM PST Voter Intimidation Walpara, Waupaca County, Wisconsin Mother volunteers to staff polls and organizes other volunteers to do the same; mom received a call yesterday saying that everyone at their polling place must fill out a form registering for the next election before they will be allowed to vote in this election; mother is worried that they will not have enough volunteers, that the lines will be long, and that people will leave.
032443 11/02/04, 7:11 AM PST Long lines; Other polling place problem Waupaca, Waupaca County, Wisconsin Voter had heard that county was going to demand voters register for next election before voting in this election; contacted county and confirmed this was not the case.
035917 11/02/04, 9:31 AM PST Other Waupaca, Waupaca County, Wisconsin Poll workers are telling people they need to fill out a form that is an 8.5 x 11 sheet in order to vote next time.
016852 10/28/04, 3:17 PM PST Absentee-ballot related problem Wilton, Monroe County, Wisconsin Woman requested an absentee ballot from Monroe County, WI two months ago and it never came.

Your area seemed to be pretty clean or ACT didn't get the reporting number out to everyone...

[ewagner]

13. We had one case

reported in the Southern end of the County...someone reported getting a opti-scan ballot that was PREMARKED STRAIGHT REPUB TICKET.

Only that one report though.....

[sybylla]

8. I think the second one has a little more punch to it.

The message is stronger and more clear and has the added benefit of speaking directly to issues that disturb Repig voters.

[EC]

10. That was the one I was leaning to

I try to keep things simple so the Repuges will get it...

On edit: I know most of them are privacy rights freaks, especially the backwoods, militant types...

[BrainRants]

14. Voter ID = More Identity Theft

This is a simple way to frame this debate with the mouth breathers in this state and nationally. With all the recent breaches of personal information VoterID simply provides the bad guys an additional opportunity to obtain personal information.

And by bad guys, I'm also thinking of enemies of this country (foreign and domestic) who have something to gain by obtaining or manipulating this information.

[gizmo1979]

15. If they don't have the votes to override

how do they figure they'll have enough for an amendment?