Missouri ID Bill to Block Nuns, Elderly from Voting Defeated

A GOP-pushed effort, aided by Republican voter-fraud scam artist Thor Hearne, to pass the country's most draconian photo ID bill has been stopped today in the Missouri Senate. Republicans, despite proclaiming the menace of voter fraud, didn't have enough votes to bring it to the floor for a vote. An angry outpouring from senior citizens, nuns, the disabled and others who would be blocked from voting under the proposed constitutional amendment, led by a broad-based progressive coalition that included the AARP, swamped Republican legislators with over 4,000 phone calls and an outcry from local newspapers.

Julie Terbrock, the legislative director for Missouri ACORN and a member of the Missourians for Fair Elections coalition, points out, "The legislators felt the heat from average people in their district, including senior citizens, and it became too much for them to take."

The defeat of the measure, which would have blocked at least 240,000 Missourians from voting, also enhances Obama's chances at winning the state -- and the presidency -- because he'll have an opportunity to compete in could be a fair election.

But the real winner today is voting rights. As Missourians for Fair Elections Reported:

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - In a victory for all voters, Missouri lawmakers ended this year's legislative session without a final vote on legislation that could have prevented up to 240,000 Missourians from voting. The proposed change would have altered Missouri's constitution, allowing for strict citizenship and government-issued photo ID requirements that would make Missouri one of the toughest states in the country for eligible, law-abiding citizens to register to vote or cast a ballot.

"I am relieved that I will be able to vote this fall," said Lillie Lewis, a St. Louis city resident, "I've been voting in every election since I can remember, but if I needed my birth certificate, that would be the end of that. I hope this is the last we hear of this nonsense." Lillie Lewis was born in Mississippi, but the state sent her a letter stating they have no record of her birth.

Birdell Owen, a Missouri resident who was displaced by hurricane Katrina, also voiced her relief. "I should be able to participate in my democracy," she said, "even if Louisiana can't get me a copy of my birth certificate. I'm glad Missouri politicians had the sense to protect my right to vote."

As the bill began to move, a broad coalition of groups and voters across the state worked to educate citizens and legislators about the negative impact of such policy changes on real voters. Missourians for Fair Elections reports over 4,200 calls were made to lawmakers in the past two weeks urging them to not consider this legislation. Catholic organizations, such as the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Mary, and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas issued statements voicing deep concerns with the legislation. The AARP, League of Women Voters, labor organizations, disability advocates, community organizations and progressive leaders worked around the clock for the past two weeks to make sure the concerns of Missouri voters were heard.

In 2006, despite serious opposition from voting rights experts, election officials and voters, the Missouri legislature passed an overly-restrictive photo ID measure that was later found unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court because it amounted to a poll tax and Missouri's current identification requirements are sufficient. This year's proposed legislation would have altered the constitution in an attempt to allow restrictive voting laws to pass constitutional muster. Such restrictive laws include government-issued photo ID and proof of citizenship requirements to register to vote and to vote.

Kathleen Weinschenk, of Columbia, Missouri, has been fighting to protect her right to vote, and that of others, since 2006. She has cerebral palsy, and doesn't drive because of her disability. Without a birth certificate from Arkansas, she cannot get a Missouri photo ID. Kathleen is elated that the constitution will not be changed to prohibit her from voting. "Today, freedom rings," she said.

Progressives everywhere should take heart from this victory, learn from its success, but realize that at least 25 other states have similar bills pending that would either require strict photo ID or proof of citizenship to vote.

And in Arizona, senior citizens like Shirley Preiss, a 97-year-old Kentucky-born woman, still isn't allowed to vote because she can' t produce a birth certificate. You can hear her and her 78-year-old son Joe Nemnich tell their story at the D'Antoni and Levine show with co-host Tom D'Antoni.

Comments

[davidpeace]

"...until the computer system is in place for the retinal scan"

Then next up is DNA sequencing at birth. Only those parents that can afford the several thousand dollars to have their babies genome mapped will be able to prove that Junior was a citizen of the US.

[LittleBrother]

You just don't GET it, do ya, Art?

Ah mean, Ah needed a Photo ID to buy beer and ammo, and I din't have no trouble gittin' one! If these oldsters and poor people cain't get off their lazy, arthritic asses, mebbe they just don't DESERVE ta vote!

Us REAL Americans have had about enuff of the Democrats supportin' voter fraud t' steal elections from our Republican masters!

What's so HARD about gettin' a PHOTO ID? Hell, ya don't even have to know how to READ-- most of my kinfolk cain't, and they ALL get to the polls with Photo ID on Election Day, drunk OR sober!

It's people like you who are ruinin' this great country by givin' all these pinko oldsters and illegal immigrants a crack at our ballot box. Ain't nothin' sacred to you, man?

PS: When Ah gits mad, Ah stays mad.

[LittleBrother]

After reading this sneering gibe, I am practically beside myself!

Is it civil, is it HELPFUL, to resort to such mean-spirited ridicule?

I submit that it is.

[WilliePilgrim]

Maybe the folks in MO should join up with the governor of WY and begin a movement to send those jackbooted hamburger flippers in charge of our security back to the bizarro world they cam from. Are we not all sick and tired of having a bunch of fearfull fundamentalist paranoids pushing us around?

[hopeless277]

One down, 25 to go. I am heartened.

[Atticus]

Now we're gonna have elections turned upsidedown by the machinations of sinister nuns and grumpy old farts.

Disgusting!

[knighthowl]

I hope you are joking. I think you must be.

[drkazmd65]

Good,... citizenry in action,... and lawmakers that are interested in keeping their jobs,....

Way to go citizens of MO!

[TuffPosh]

If those opposed to these measures were intellectually honest and were thinking of the best public policy, they'd simply push to make it easier to verify citizenship in cases such as where people have lost birth certificates, such as through a layered process with a very easy appeals process.

So, why don't they? Oh, yeah, the "future citizen"/"former voter"/pet vote. Sorry, I forgot what this is really all about.

[forsmokey]

You're so right TuffPosh. They can verify their citizenship, get their social security number, thumb printed and be issued their federal i.d. card all in one step. All temporary of course until the computer system is in place for the retinal scan.

[Live4literacy]

Waahoo- reason is making a comeback! The country that exports democracy is determined to make it next to impossible for all to vote here at home. This decision warms my heart!