Voter photo ID hearing in Texas today 1/25/08

[sonias]

I just got back from our hearing in the Texas House on voter fraud/voter photo ID for Texas. The Texas Legislature is not in session. This was an interim hearing but focused on forcing this contentious voter suppression tactic on Texas once again. We've managed to beat photo ID in Texas in two successive legislative sessions but the republicans are hell bent on getting it passed here.

Anyway it was a great hearing where we came out with guns blazing. A whole line of top notch experts lined up on our side. They were amazing. Our hearing went on for about nine hours. It was streamed. If you get a chance and want to watch some sausage making watch a bit of it. I recommend you listen to the experts. They come in at 3:25 into the hearing.

This was the panel of experts:
David Becker, Senior Litigation Counsel, People for the American Way
Tova Wang, Democracy Fellow, The Century Foundation
Justin Levitt, Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
Dr. Toby Moore, Project Manager, Center for Democracy and Election Management, American University

You can watch the archive of the fireworks here.

Don't mess with Texas - ya here!

Sonia

[Mnemosyne]

1. Thank you, Sonia, for all you are doing!

9 HOURS?!:hug:

I'm having problems with the video, have to try tomorrow to watch again. :hi:

[sonias]

3. It's real audio format

Yes, a grueling 9 hours. But like I said the most interesting part is the expert panel about 3 1/2 hours into the meeting.

Justin Levitt had a great quote about how more people witness UFO sightings every year than experience vote impersonation fraud.

AAS 1/25/08
Texas legislators begin new debate on voter identification
"Americans are struck and killed by lightning more often," he said, "and there are far more UFO sightings every year than even reports of the sorts of fraud that photo ID, for example, can fix."

:rofl:

Sonia

[Mnemosyne]

5. I believe!

Seriously, I've seen a couple "UFO's" and NEVER experienced voter ID fraud!

:rofl:

Audio! No wonder the video wouldn't play. Duh moment. :hi:

[sonias]

6. There is video -oops

I meant it's real audio media format (.ram)

From the Texas state's web site Live and Archived broadcast page:

The RealPlayer or RealOne Player software from Real Networks is required to access video/audio broadcasts. This software can be acquired at Real Networks' website, www.real.com. For the free copy of this software, download the "player only" or "basic" version. The "best player" or "plus" version contains premium features and requires purchase.

:hi: vickiss

It's working for me today.


Sonia

[EFerrari]

2. Thank you, Sonia!

I want to watch that. Trying to do a little studying on the Voting Rights Act and TX is one of the jurisdictions. :hi:

[sonias]

4. Boy do we have VRA violations in Texas

There's a good reason while we're still under Section 5 of the VRA and require all changes in voting procedures to be cleared by DOJ. Not that bush's DOJ was doing anything but clearing everything the repubs wanted of course. Well you know the stories already about the career employees advising against voter ID in GA and against the redistricting plan in TX etc.

One witness for the State Democratic party said "this hearing reminds me a lot of the redistricting hearings where you had hearings all over the state and 92% of the people testified against the redistricting and you (Rs) did it anyway, because you control the legislature. I have a feeling your going down the same path today."

:scared:


Sonia