Slog - Comments on My Home State http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state Texas state Sen. Mario Gallegos of Houston, who is fighting complications of a liver replacement and is in Austin against his doctor's wishes, has set up a hospital bed in the Texas Capitol so that he can spring into action if Republicans call a vote on a bill that would require Texas voters to present a Department of Public Safety ID or two other pieces of identification in order to vote. Democrats need Gallego's vote to block the bill, which they oppose on the grounds that it suppresses votes from low-income and elderly residents, who are most likely to vote... Copyright 2008 Tue, 22 May 2007 11:35:25 -0800 Tue, 22 May 2007 20:21:55 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by tsm Does Texas offer any legal form of ID free of charge? If not, then requiring ID from voters amounts to a poll tax, and it should thus be found unconstitutional in no time.

]]> tsm http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723125 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723125 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 11:48:19 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle As a native born Texan, I am outraged that they would require such a thing.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723181 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723181 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 12:20:16 -0800 Comment by In Repose Here I sit
My guts a-flexin'
Just gave birth
to another Texan!

-- traditional toilet-stall poetry

]]> In Repose http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723237 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723237 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 12:43:22 -0800 Comment by torrentprime Gallegos has also fought against limits on asbestos lawsuits

Well, nobody's perfect.

]]> torrentprime http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723263 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723263 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 12:51:50 -0800 Comment by Gomez The R's will probably just filibuster or put it off until she either croaks or is otherwise physically incapable of voting.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723264 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723264 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 12:52:14 -0800 Comment by candid I have to show ID to be let into a bar, to purchase beer at the store, to buy freaking Sudafed, but when I have to show ID to participate in an activity for which it actually matters that I am who I say I am, suddenly it's a huge injustice. Right.

]]> candid http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723327 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723327 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 13:19:12 -0800 Comment by Some Jerk 6:

Voting does not get you intoxicated, and you cannot make meth with a ballot. However, much like a 'literacy test', ID requirements are stongly suggestive of voter suppresion. See, for instance, Georgia and its proposed rule requiring IDs available at only a few locations in the ATL. Just because a statute is facially neutral does not mean it is not discrimnatory in effect.

]]> Some Jerk http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723436 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723436 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 13:58:32 -0800 Comment by hey candid do a little fucking reading. nobody who studies voting supports these policies. the only "think tank" that did consisted of a couple of ideologues who have been so discredited that they have taken the think tank off their resumes. these laws are instituted with the intent of suppressing turnout because THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH POLLING PLACE FRAUD.

http://www.slate.com/id/2166589/

http://truthaboutfraud.org/analysis_reports/

]]> hey candid http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723443 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723443 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 14:02:15 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @3 - GW ain't Texan.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723453 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723453 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 14:17:05 -0800 Comment by Gomez Wait, LOL, did I say 'she'? Sorry bout that, Mario. HE. HE HE HE.

And don't die.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723503 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723503 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 15:14:10 -0800 Comment by Gitai When I think of Texas, I think of a story my District Manager told me. An agent submitted to his FBI background check so he could get his securities license, and they found an indictment that he hadn't mentioned on his application. It was for attempted murder. He explained that back in the '60s, he had gone to a bar after a date with his girlfriend, and sat down next to someone who he soon found out thought the same girl was his girlfriend. They shot at each other, and the prospective agent was the better shot. When taken before a judge, he explained the situation and the judge replied, "Hell, this is Texas. That's how we settle things around here. Case dismissed!"

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723747 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/05/my_home_state#c723747 Politics Tue, 22 May 2007 20:21:55 -0800