Kevin Sieff (The Brownsville Herald)
BROWNSVILLE -- Proposed changes in the state's voting laws could force thousands of South Texans to prove their citizenship in order to vote in local, state and national elections.
During the coming legislative session, Texas Republicans plan to introduce a measure that would target perpetrators of voter fraud, especially non-citizens. The stringent voting regulations -- dubbed the "voter suppression bill" by opponents -- are already being discussed by Texas state representatives.
On Friday, members of the House's elections committee met at the University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College to take testimony related to voting reform.
If voters are required to provide proof of citizenship - as last year's failed House Bill 626 would have mandated -- South Texans will likely be among the most adversely affected.
Many Rio Grande Valley residents delivered by midwives are currently struggling to get passports because of U.S. State Department suspicions that their birth certificates were fraudulently provided. See ACLU Lawsuit
At the hearing Friday, immigration attorney Lisa Brodyaga estimated thousands of passport applicants -- almost all of them South Texas residents -- are struggling to prove they were born in the United States. If voters are required to provide proof of citizenship, many worry the same people will be disenfranchised.
"These cases reveal serious flaws with the proposal to require proof of citizenship in order to vote," said Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, the chairman of Friday's hearing.
But House Republicans continue to stress the importance of voting reform.
In a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott wrote that "serious allegations of voter fraud have persisted, especially in South Texas, for more than a century."
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has made it clear that cracking down on voter fraud will be one of his priorities this session, said Rich Parsons, a spokesperson for Dewhurst.
"He wants to make sure that only U.S. citizens are casting their vote in U.S. elections," Parsons said.
In addition to the proof of citizenship requirement, House Republicans have also pushed a voter-identification bill that would require voters to present government-sanctioned photo identification, such as a driver's license, at the polls, in addition to a valid voter registration card.
But two recent studies found that voter-identification requirements could keep current voters away from the polls.
In 2006, the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law found that 25 percent of African-Americans, 18 percent of seniors over 65, and 15 percent of voters earning under $35,000 a year do not have government-issued photo identification.
A study commissioned by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, conducted by researchers from Rutgers and Ohio State universities, found that in 2004, states with voter-identification laws experienced a drop in turnout, including a 10 percent drop in Hispanic voters.
Showing posts with label Ghost Voting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ghost Voting. Show all posts
September 5, 2008
July 8, 2008
Both Obama, McCain avoid immigration policy discussion
10:39 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 8, 2008
By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News
tgillman@dallasnews.com
WASHINGTON – John McCain and Barack Obama will happily engage on Iraq, taxes or health policy. The economy? Anytime, anywhere. But when it comes to immigration, neither is enthusiastic to talk, even though they largely agree on the solutions.
Both candidates view Hispanics as a vital target audience. But immigration policy is fraught with political risk.
On the right, hardliners remain suspicious of Mr. McCain, even after he pledged to focus on border security and suspended his push for a guest worker program and other elements of a comprehensive reform. In the Democratic camp, most labor unions also resist policies that would bring in more foreign workers.
"There is no benefit. They've said as much as they can safely say about it," said Demetrios Papademetriou, president of the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. "There's no reason to agitate any part of their constituencies."
That's one reason activists on both sides of the immigration fight are watching closely as the candidates navigate a three-week gantlet of appearances before Hispanic groups – wooing those voters without alienating others.
"I do not feel they've addressed it directly. We need a lot more from them," said Rosa Rosales of San Antonio, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "They have not been very specific on the plan of action."
3 gatherings
Today's audience is the LULAC convention in Washington. Next Monday, they'll be in San Diego at the National Council of La Raza. They spoke 10 days ago to Latino officials.
The presumptive nominees support so-called comprehensive reform, as do most Hispanics. Both back tighter borders, a crackdown on workers and employers who break the law, and a new guest worker program to match demand for labor with job-seekers. Both voted to build 700 miles of fence along the southern border. Both would let most illegal workers stay and apply for citizenship, with some penalties – a policy denounced as amnesty by critics.
The issue never rose to the top tier in the Democratic primaries. On the GOP side, Mr. McCain survived by denouncing his own years-long push for a reform package. At a January debate, he even said he wouldn't vote for his own 2006 package, co-authored with Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Still, many conservatives remain skeptical, and he may face a fight this summer when the GOP platform is rewritten. The current plank supports comprehensive reform, in keeping with President Bush's views, and Mr. McCain's from 2004.
As president of the Texas Vegetable Association, J Carnes keeps close tabs on the issue. He favors a guest worker program and predicts both candidates will be forced to offer details soon.
"If it wasn't for the Hispanic vote, I don't think either candidate would bring it up at all," said Mr. Carnes, president of Winter Garden Produce in Uvalde, which grows onions, cabbage, broccoli and melons.
Business leaders are frustrated at the logjam in Washington, which has pinched industries such as agriculture, construction and hospitality that depend on immigrant labor.
"We need the workers. That's the deal. And we need them in a way that's legal," said Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business. "There are labor shortages right now."
But analysts and advocates don't expect either candidate to buy ads highlighting the issue, nor to spend precious time visiting border crossings, lettuce farms or meatpacking plants. High gas prices, a housing crisis and the Iraq war have eclipsed immigration as campaign issues.
"There's as much frustration and resentment as there ever was," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation of American Immigration Reform, which pushes for tighter borders and an end to illegal immigration. "They haven't approached this issue with nearly the same rigor and detail that they have health care or Middle East policy. It's all platitudes."
'Poison pill' vote
The latest round began with back-to-back speeches to the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. Mr. Obama emphasized support for a "pathway to citizenship" for the 12 million people here illegally. Republicans tweaked him for helping torpedo a bill last year by pushing "poison pill" provisions.
Mr. McCain sent mixed signals, reiterating his security-first pledge while calling comprehensive reform his "top priority yesterday, today, and tomorrow."
Illegal-immigration foes weren't impressed. "He speak with forked tongue," Mr. Stein said. "We've all tangled with McCain for years. We know where his heart lies."
Adrian Rodriguez of Plano, LULAC's vice president for Texas and nearby states, called it understandable for candidates to be cautious.
"If they take one side, they alienate the other side. People know right now they have to kind of tiptoe through the middle," he said. "But at some point they're going to have to come out and say, 'This is what I believe.' "
AT A GLANCE: Hispanics' choice
Barack Obama, 59 percent
John McCain, 29 percent
SOURCE: Gallup Poll, telephone interviews from March to June with 4,604 Hispanic registered voters, age 18 and older. Margin of error plus or minus 3 percentage points.
By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News
tgillman@dallasnews.com
WASHINGTON – John McCain and Barack Obama will happily engage on Iraq, taxes or health policy. The economy? Anytime, anywhere. But when it comes to immigration, neither is enthusiastic to talk, even though they largely agree on the solutions.
Both candidates view Hispanics as a vital target audience. But immigration policy is fraught with political risk.
On the right, hardliners remain suspicious of Mr. McCain, even after he pledged to focus on border security and suspended his push for a guest worker program and other elements of a comprehensive reform. In the Democratic camp, most labor unions also resist policies that would bring in more foreign workers.
"There is no benefit. They've said as much as they can safely say about it," said Demetrios Papademetriou, president of the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. "There's no reason to agitate any part of their constituencies."
That's one reason activists on both sides of the immigration fight are watching closely as the candidates navigate a three-week gantlet of appearances before Hispanic groups – wooing those voters without alienating others.
"I do not feel they've addressed it directly. We need a lot more from them," said Rosa Rosales of San Antonio, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "They have not been very specific on the plan of action."
3 gatherings
Today's audience is the LULAC convention in Washington. Next Monday, they'll be in San Diego at the National Council of La Raza. They spoke 10 days ago to Latino officials.
The presumptive nominees support so-called comprehensive reform, as do most Hispanics. Both back tighter borders, a crackdown on workers and employers who break the law, and a new guest worker program to match demand for labor with job-seekers. Both voted to build 700 miles of fence along the southern border. Both would let most illegal workers stay and apply for citizenship, with some penalties – a policy denounced as amnesty by critics.
The issue never rose to the top tier in the Democratic primaries. On the GOP side, Mr. McCain survived by denouncing his own years-long push for a reform package. At a January debate, he even said he wouldn't vote for his own 2006 package, co-authored with Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Still, many conservatives remain skeptical, and he may face a fight this summer when the GOP platform is rewritten. The current plank supports comprehensive reform, in keeping with President Bush's views, and Mr. McCain's from 2004.
As president of the Texas Vegetable Association, J Carnes keeps close tabs on the issue. He favors a guest worker program and predicts both candidates will be forced to offer details soon.
"If it wasn't for the Hispanic vote, I don't think either candidate would bring it up at all," said Mr. Carnes, president of Winter Garden Produce in Uvalde, which grows onions, cabbage, broccoli and melons.
Business leaders are frustrated at the logjam in Washington, which has pinched industries such as agriculture, construction and hospitality that depend on immigrant labor.
"We need the workers. That's the deal. And we need them in a way that's legal," said Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of Business. "There are labor shortages right now."
But analysts and advocates don't expect either candidate to buy ads highlighting the issue, nor to spend precious time visiting border crossings, lettuce farms or meatpacking plants. High gas prices, a housing crisis and the Iraq war have eclipsed immigration as campaign issues.
"There's as much frustration and resentment as there ever was," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation of American Immigration Reform, which pushes for tighter borders and an end to illegal immigration. "They haven't approached this issue with nearly the same rigor and detail that they have health care or Middle East policy. It's all platitudes."
'Poison pill' vote
The latest round began with back-to-back speeches to the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. Mr. Obama emphasized support for a "pathway to citizenship" for the 12 million people here illegally. Republicans tweaked him for helping torpedo a bill last year by pushing "poison pill" provisions.
Mr. McCain sent mixed signals, reiterating his security-first pledge while calling comprehensive reform his "top priority yesterday, today, and tomorrow."
Illegal-immigration foes weren't impressed. "He speak with forked tongue," Mr. Stein said. "We've all tangled with McCain for years. We know where his heart lies."
Adrian Rodriguez of Plano, LULAC's vice president for Texas and nearby states, called it understandable for candidates to be cautious.
"If they take one side, they alienate the other side. People know right now they have to kind of tiptoe through the middle," he said. "But at some point they're going to have to come out and say, 'This is what I believe.' "
AT A GLANCE: Hispanics' choice
Barack Obama, 59 percent
John McCain, 29 percent
SOURCE: Gallup Poll, telephone interviews from March to June with 4,604 Hispanic registered voters, age 18 and older. Margin of error plus or minus 3 percentage points.
May 21, 2008
Texas House wants end to 'ghost voting'
Texas House wants end to 'ghost voting'
CBS 42 Reporter: Nanci Wilson
Email: nkwilson@keyetv.com
Last Update: 5/21 6:41 pm
Ghost Voting May End
Legislature To Look At Its Voting Practices
Related Links
CBS 42 Investigates
Click to watch the original story.
http://www.keyetv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=15304
The CBS 42 Investigates report has been viewed on the Web over one-million times. When CBS 42 documented News documented Texas legislators 'ghost voting' -- lawmakers voting in place of one another -- they started looking at ways to curb the practice.
On Wednesday morning, a House committee will hold a hearing to explore solutions. These reforms could curb lawmakers' ability to push the buttons for other members.
Here's what investigative reporter Nanci Wilson caught on tape in the last legislative session. Legislators voting several times on bills. They voted for other members behind them, across the aisles and across party lines.
"There has been many times people have been voted when they were not in Austin, not in the State Capitol and not even in the united states of America," Chairman of the House Administration Committee Tony Goolsby said.
Such voting is fairly common, but according to the official House rules it isn't supposed to happen. After lawmakers saw the story, the Speaker of the House ordered a committee to study the issue and make recommendations on alternative ways for lawmakers to cast their votes.
One idea is to use biometrics, which means a fingerprint is needed to cast a vote. That may also mean that lawmakers may not have to be at their desks, but they will need to be inside the Capitol.
Copyright 2008, Four Points Media Group LLC. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.keyetv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=e7856b03-b388-4bda-84f5-7a9c2bdc1c20&rss=909
CBS 42 Reporter: Nanci Wilson
Email: nkwilson@keyetv.com
Last Update: 5/21 6:41 pm
Ghost Voting May End
Legislature To Look At Its Voting Practices
Related Links
CBS 42 Investigates
Click to watch the original story.
http://www.keyetv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=15304
The CBS 42 Investigates report has been viewed on the Web over one-million times. When CBS 42 documented News documented Texas legislators 'ghost voting' -- lawmakers voting in place of one another -- they started looking at ways to curb the practice.
On Wednesday morning, a House committee will hold a hearing to explore solutions. These reforms could curb lawmakers' ability to push the buttons for other members.
Here's what investigative reporter Nanci Wilson caught on tape in the last legislative session. Legislators voting several times on bills. They voted for other members behind them, across the aisles and across party lines.
"There has been many times people have been voted when they were not in Austin, not in the State Capitol and not even in the united states of America," Chairman of the House Administration Committee Tony Goolsby said.
Such voting is fairly common, but according to the official House rules it isn't supposed to happen. After lawmakers saw the story, the Speaker of the House ordered a committee to study the issue and make recommendations on alternative ways for lawmakers to cast their votes.
One idea is to use biometrics, which means a fingerprint is needed to cast a vote. That may also mean that lawmakers may not have to be at their desks, but they will need to be inside the Capitol.
Copyright 2008, Four Points Media Group LLC. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.keyetv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=e7856b03-b388-4bda-84f5-7a9c2bdc1c20&rss=909
April 2, 2008
Texas lawmaker pushes for end to 'ghost voting': Fingerprint technology proposed for each House member's desk
Texas lawmaker pushes for end to 'ghost voting'
Fingerprint technology proposed for each House member's desk
10:16 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 2, 2008
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News
kmbrooks@dallasnews.com
AUSTIN – Dallas Rep. Tony Goolsby is pushing for an end to so-called "ghost voting" by Texas House members, asking for their input on a proposal to install fingerprint technology into their desk voting machines.
Download: See the letter from state Rep. Tony Goolsby to House members
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/04-08/0403goolsby.pdf
The change would end the practice of lawmakers voting each other in absentia, a long tradition roundly criticized by open-government advocates.
Mr. Goolsby, a Republican who heads the House Administration Committee that would oversee such a project, said in a letter to House members that the situation needs to be resolved "effectively and permanently." He plans to start holding hearings on implementing what he called a "very significant change" in House procedures.
"It would be necessary for members to attend to floor proceedings, in person, beginning with the initial roll call continuing through every record vote," Mr. Goolsby said in a letter he sent to all House members on Wednesday. "Members need to understand that the implementation of this change would end any voting other than by the individual member's own personal presence and physical action."
Installing the machines at all 150 desks, as well as a couple in each corner of the chamber and a few in the members' lounge, could cost roughly $400,000, but Mr. Goolsby said that the committee is still pricing the project.
He declined to comment further, saying he wanted to get more input from House members.
House members have been criticized for voting from each others' desks, which they've defended as a courtesy and matter of trust among members.
They also say that it allows them to not miss votes while they're outside the chamber meeting with lobbyists or constituent groups, who routinely call them off the House floor during session.
But the practice has also led to convenient excuses for changing votes on controversial issues, opening the House with less than a quorum, and embarrassing situations over the years – including an incident in which a House member was shown voting after he'd died.
House Speaker Tom Craddick wants the issue addressed, spokeswoman Alexis DeLee said, though he isn't endorsing a specific approach.
"We recognize it's a concern, and we're asking members to look for solutions," she said.
Open government advocates called it "a great idea."
"Every session there's some embarrassing story about legislators getting caught voting for their colleagues on the floor," said Tom "Smitty" Smith of Public Citizen. "And the citizens are often puzzled by the phenomenon of legislators reaching all over the desks and punching other peoples' voting machines."
Currently, members can simply lock their desk voting machines when they leave the desk, but it's voluntary.
Unlike Congress, where members are given 15 minutes' notice before each vote so they can return to the floor in time to record their votes, a vote on the House floor can come up at any time.
Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, who last session was shown voting in favor of a bill that he had railed against on the floor, said he would consider supporting Mr. Goolsby's proposal only if there were machines in other places, like the chamber corners and the members' lounge, in addition to the desks, to allow them to conduct business away from their desks.
"It has some merit," he said, "but it starts the conversation instead of finishing it."
Instances of 'ghost voting' in the Texas House •In 1991, Houston Rep. Larry Evans died unexpectedly early one morning but was shown voting at least three times on measures throughout the day.
•In July 2005, someone voted as Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer and Craig Eiland, both Democrats, during a crucial vote on a tax-swap bill. Turns out Mr. Eiland was in Boston and Mr. Martinez Fischer was in Spain.
•In 2007, Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, was recorded as voting in favor of a bill exempting the names of concealed-handgun licensees from open-records laws after he had railed against it on the House floor. Mr. Coleman was in his office during the vote.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/040308dntexghostvoting.33655b3.html
Fingerprint technology proposed for each House member's desk
10:16 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 2, 2008
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News
kmbrooks@dallasnews.com
AUSTIN – Dallas Rep. Tony Goolsby is pushing for an end to so-called "ghost voting" by Texas House members, asking for their input on a proposal to install fingerprint technology into their desk voting machines.
Download: See the letter from state Rep. Tony Goolsby to House members
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/04-08/0403goolsby.pdf
The change would end the practice of lawmakers voting each other in absentia, a long tradition roundly criticized by open-government advocates.
Mr. Goolsby, a Republican who heads the House Administration Committee that would oversee such a project, said in a letter to House members that the situation needs to be resolved "effectively and permanently." He plans to start holding hearings on implementing what he called a "very significant change" in House procedures.
"It would be necessary for members to attend to floor proceedings, in person, beginning with the initial roll call continuing through every record vote," Mr. Goolsby said in a letter he sent to all House members on Wednesday. "Members need to understand that the implementation of this change would end any voting other than by the individual member's own personal presence and physical action."
Installing the machines at all 150 desks, as well as a couple in each corner of the chamber and a few in the members' lounge, could cost roughly $400,000, but Mr. Goolsby said that the committee is still pricing the project.
He declined to comment further, saying he wanted to get more input from House members.
House members have been criticized for voting from each others' desks, which they've defended as a courtesy and matter of trust among members.
They also say that it allows them to not miss votes while they're outside the chamber meeting with lobbyists or constituent groups, who routinely call them off the House floor during session.
But the practice has also led to convenient excuses for changing votes on controversial issues, opening the House with less than a quorum, and embarrassing situations over the years – including an incident in which a House member was shown voting after he'd died.
House Speaker Tom Craddick wants the issue addressed, spokeswoman Alexis DeLee said, though he isn't endorsing a specific approach.
"We recognize it's a concern, and we're asking members to look for solutions," she said.
Open government advocates called it "a great idea."
"Every session there's some embarrassing story about legislators getting caught voting for their colleagues on the floor," said Tom "Smitty" Smith of Public Citizen. "And the citizens are often puzzled by the phenomenon of legislators reaching all over the desks and punching other peoples' voting machines."
Currently, members can simply lock their desk voting machines when they leave the desk, but it's voluntary.
Unlike Congress, where members are given 15 minutes' notice before each vote so they can return to the floor in time to record their votes, a vote on the House floor can come up at any time.
Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, who last session was shown voting in favor of a bill that he had railed against on the floor, said he would consider supporting Mr. Goolsby's proposal only if there were machines in other places, like the chamber corners and the members' lounge, in addition to the desks, to allow them to conduct business away from their desks.
"It has some merit," he said, "but it starts the conversation instead of finishing it."
Instances of 'ghost voting' in the Texas House •In 1991, Houston Rep. Larry Evans died unexpectedly early one morning but was shown voting at least three times on measures throughout the day.
•In July 2005, someone voted as Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer and Craig Eiland, both Democrats, during a crucial vote on a tax-swap bill. Turns out Mr. Eiland was in Boston and Mr. Martinez Fischer was in Spain.
•In 2007, Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, was recorded as voting in favor of a bill exempting the names of concealed-handgun licensees from open-records laws after he had railed against it on the House floor. Mr. Coleman was in his office during the vote.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/040308dntexghostvoting.33655b3.html
January 15, 2008
Texas lawmakers voting more than once
Texas lawmakers voting more than once
Last Update: 1/15 10:46 am
CBS 42 cameras caught Texas lawmakers voting more than once on bills during the 2007 Legislative Session. In May, CBS 42 Investigative reporter Nanci Wilson caught Texas lawmakers voting more than once on bills.
It caused outrage across the Internet and with a Travis County man who says he is so outraged that he is asking the Travis County District Attorney to file criminal charges against some Texas lawmakers.
Click to watch the story.
http://www.keyetv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=16846
Last Update: 1/15 10:46 am
CBS 42 cameras caught Texas lawmakers voting more than once on bills during the 2007 Legislative Session. In May, CBS 42 Investigative reporter Nanci Wilson caught Texas lawmakers voting more than once on bills.
It caused outrage across the Internet and with a Travis County man who says he is so outraged that he is asking the Travis County District Attorney to file criminal charges against some Texas lawmakers.
Click to watch the story.
http://www.keyetv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=16846
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