Any Good Reason Why?

Can we come up with a single good reason why someone who is legally registered to vote would not be willing or able to identify themselves at the polls? Can you use that excuse to open a bank account, cash a check, board an airline, drive a car? Just asking, because Texas is about to apply common sense over the screams and wails of the Democratic super-minority in the state legislature.

The bill passed the Senate and with a 101 to 49 Republican majority in the House there is little doubt of passage. Gov. Rick Perry will sign it with a flourish:

Texas to Require Photo ID

An exemption for those over 70? Why? C'mon, if they've lived that long it would seem reasonable that they would have had a moment or two during their life to pick up a photo ID. Well, OK, if that's what you think will help, go for it.

This one is great:

“This requirement is just a poll tax by another name,” said Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, referring to the now outlawed practice of requiring voters to pay a fee before voting. The poll tax was used to discourage voting by minorities decades ago.

An amendment by Davis that would have removed the fee for any photo ID that qualifies for voting under the bill — such as a driver’s license — was rejected by the Republican majority.

Likening a photo ID to a poll tax is ludicrous rhetoric. There are very few people who actually don't have a photo ID already and the preponderance of those who don't are very doubtful voters. Let's be honest.

And, what a creative poison pill dear Wendy proposes! During a session grappling with a $17 billion budget shortfall that must be addressed she suggests waiving the fees for those photo IDs that qualify like driver's licenses and concealed handgun licenses. She knows that is impossible. Particularly when viewed in the light of this:

Sen. Troy Fraser , R-Horseshoe Bay, author of the bill, noted that it will allow Texans to get a state ID card for free from the Department of Public Safety. The state ID is one of the photo IDs that would establish the voter’s identity for voting purposes.

In other words, sweet Wendy's constituents need only go rise from their welfare provided abode and haul their food-stamp nourished butt down to the DPS office and get an ID.

And here we have a classic example of a red herring thrown upon the table of debate:

Democrats also criticized Gov. Rick Perry and GOP leaders for elevating the importance of voter ID when the state is facing a huge revenue shortfall expected to bring painful cuts in education, social services and other areas of state government.

“This session we have real problems that require real leadership,” said Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston. “The people of Texas want us to work on those issues, not focus on narrow, partisan games. Voter ID is not an emergency and should not be our first priority.”

If you can deal with an issue quickly and decisively then why not do it? Why get bogged down in complex budget problems that are in the hands of the Legislative Budget Board and won't get to the floor of the chambers until late March if you can conduct meaningful business today?