A Voters Hero in Texas...
By
John Gideon on 5/23/2007, 8:00pm PT
Guest Blogged by John Gideon of VotersUnite.org
In an AP article we learn:
Against his doctor's advice, a stooped and feeble Sen. Mario Gallegos arrives at the state Capitol each day, just to make sure the Senate does not take up a bill that would require voters to produce ID at the polls. And when the rigors of the job start to wear on the Houston Democrat, whose body is rejecting a liver transplanted four months ago, he retires to a hospital-style bed — donated by a Republican colleague — in a room next to the Senate chamber. From there, he can be summoned at a moment's notice should his vote be needed. In a life-and-death drama playing out under the Capitol dome, Gallegos is putting his health at risk to block a measure that he and others say could prevent many minorities and the elderly from taking part in elections in Texas.
I’ve mentioned Senator Gallegos here a couple of times now. Texas law requires that two-thirds of the State Senators must agree before a bill can come to the floor for debate. The Democrats have just enough members to block the bill. The bill now appears to be in trouble because the bill must come to the floor by midnight tonight in order to be considered. Senator Gallegos is a true hero.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHT FROM BRAD: The Gallegos story is extraordinary. A must read. I don't have anything substantive to add, but I just wanted to underscore John's thoughts on what a champion this man is. For both Texas and America.
More on that mess in Texas, and many other voting news stories of note today, all linked below...
NAtional: Local officials take on voting rights groups LINK
NAtional: E-Voting Threatens Election Integrity LINK
NAtional: Ensure fair elections LINK
CA: San Diego County - Voting Groups Want Former Diebold Saleswoman Ousted from San Diego Elections Job LINK
CA: San Diego County - Protesters criticize county elections hirings LINK
CA: San Diego County - Protesters cry foul over election hires LINK
CA: Siskiyou County - Clerk’s Column LINK
FL: Optical Scan Vote Machines To Be Budgeted By Pasco County LINK
IN: St. Joseph County - Can Democracy Be Downsized? LINK
KY: Jefferson County - Precinct has trouble transmitting results LINK
PA: Luzerne County - Candidates asked to seek credit for write-in votes LINK
TX: Op-Ed - Why right to vote, without an ID, is worth fighting for
This lawmaker counts his grandmother among reasons LINK
TX: Senate rules stall bills for voter ID, primary's new date LINK
TX: Texas lawmaker risks health for voter-ID bill LINK
TX: Voter ID, early primaries likely doomed LINK
UT: Voting-machine bill worries Utahns LINK
UT: Voting machines: Already junk? LINK
UT: County officials stand behind voting machines LINK
Ireland: Result may take days as Ireland votes with a ‘stupid old pencil’ LINK
**"Daily Voting News" is meant as a comprehensive listing of reports each day concerning issues related to election and voting news around the country regardless of quality or political slant. Therefore, items listed in "Daily Voting News" may not reflect the opinions of VotersUnite.Org or BradBlog.Com**