Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
Monday, July 29, 2013
New Republican voter ID requirements revealed.
Oh laugh now, but you KNOW it's coming. Especially in the South.
The GOP Won’t Let Congress Fix The Voting Rights Act
Ever since the Supreme Court gutted a centerpiece of the Voting Rights Act and threw it back in Congress’s lap, lawmakers in both parties have engaged in happy talk about the prospects of patching the provision used to proactively snuff out voter discrimination against minorities in the state and local governments where it’s most prevalent.
But it’s looking less and less likely that a fix will be agreed to because Republicans have little to gain and a lot to lose politically if they cooperate.
“Ain’t gonna happen,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) said late last week, according to Roll Call.
A recent House Judiciary Committee hearing made clear that Republicans have little to no interest in reconstituting the Voting Rights Act. Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-TX) opened by emphasizing that even after the Supreme Court’s decision, “other very important provisions of the Voting Rights Act remain in place.”
At issue is the Voting Rights Act’s now-invalid Section 4, the formula used to determine which state and local governments must receive federal pre-approval before changing their voting laws. It was last reauthorized in 2006 by a 98-0 margin in the Senate and 390-33 in the House. But for Republicans, there’s a huge difference between allowing the renewal of a historic law for racial equality, and going out their way to reconstitute it now that the Supreme Court has thrown out part of it.
“Historically I fully understand why they addressed the situations they did,” Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), chairman of the Judiciary Constitution and Civil Justice subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the issue, told reporters. “I am just of the opinion today that we should do as the court said and that is to not focus on punishing the past but on building a better future.”
Attempting to fix the law would require Republicans to give public scrutiny to racial disparity in the party’s geographic base. And it would require backtracking on years of political rhetoric warning of federal government overreach and downplaying racial inequality. On top of that, conservative legal scholars believe the concept of preclearance is unconstitutional.
“There’s no reason for Congress to take any action,” Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said at the Judiciary hearing.
I'd be interested to hear how those who now wish to make it difficult for others to vote, justify that stance...after decades of wanting to sound patriotic by urging everyone to get out and vote.
What can be more "American" sounding, than wanting a big voter turnout?
What can be more UN American sounding, than wanting to see voter suppression?
Here's a suggestion that I have for the Republicans. Why not make sure that the pictures that appear on all photo ID's are taken in very low light, which will allow the identification of white people, but not black people. Poll watchers can then demand that no black people be allowed to vote because they can't be identified by their photo ID. Maybe this won't work, but as it's only one step beyond what the Republicans are up to today, I'd advise them to keep it in mind for the time about ten years from now when there are even less old, ignorant white voters than there are now.
The GOP Won’t Let Congress Fix The Voting Rights Act
ReplyDeleteEver since the Supreme Court gutted a centerpiece of the Voting Rights Act and threw it back in Congress’s lap, lawmakers in both parties have engaged in happy talk about the prospects of patching the provision used to proactively snuff out voter discrimination against minorities in the state and local governments where it’s most prevalent.
But it’s looking less and less likely that a fix will be agreed to because Republicans have little to gain and a lot to lose politically if they cooperate.
“Ain’t gonna happen,” Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) said late last week, according to Roll Call.
A recent House Judiciary Committee hearing made clear that Republicans have little to no interest in reconstituting the Voting Rights Act. Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-TX) opened by emphasizing that even after the Supreme Court’s decision, “other very important provisions of the Voting Rights Act remain in place.”
At issue is the Voting Rights Act’s now-invalid Section 4, the formula used to determine which state and local governments must receive federal pre-approval before changing their voting laws. It was last reauthorized in 2006 by a 98-0 margin in the Senate and 390-33 in the House. But for Republicans, there’s a huge difference between allowing the renewal of a historic law for racial equality, and going out their way to reconstitute it now that the Supreme Court has thrown out part of it.
“Historically I fully understand why they addressed the situations they did,” Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), chairman of the Judiciary Constitution and Civil Justice subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the issue, told reporters. “I am just of the opinion today that we should do as the court said and that is to not focus on punishing the past but on building a better future.”
Attempting to fix the law would require Republicans to give public scrutiny to racial disparity in the party’s geographic base. And it would require backtracking on years of political rhetoric warning of federal government overreach and downplaying racial inequality. On top of that, conservative legal scholars believe the concept of preclearance is unconstitutional.
“There’s no reason for Congress to take any action,” Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said at the Judiciary hearing.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/07/congress-wont-fix-the-voting-rights-act.php?ref=fpb
I'd be interested to hear how those who now wish to make it difficult for others to vote, justify that stance...after decades of wanting to sound patriotic by urging everyone to get out and vote.
ReplyDeleteWhat can be more "American" sounding, than wanting a big voter turnout?
What can be more UN American sounding, than wanting to see voter suppression?
The Oxford Dictionary Is Changing The Definition Of 'Marriage' To Include Gay Couples
ReplyDeletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/oxford-dictionary-re-defining-marriage-2013-7
Here's a suggestion that I have for the Republicans. Why not make sure that the pictures that appear on all photo ID's are taken in very low light, which will allow the identification of white people, but not black people. Poll watchers can then demand that no black people be allowed to vote because they can't be identified by their photo ID. Maybe this won't work, but as it's only one step beyond what the Republicans are up to today, I'd advise them to keep it in mind for the time about ten years from now when there are even less old, ignorant white voters than there are now.
ReplyDelete