Psychoblues
05-16-2007, 02:42 AM
It's a responsibility thing, don't you know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By GARY SCHARRER
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN — Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, stayed in bed Tuesday morning — dizzy, nauseated, feverish and chilled from a nasty case of the flu — until he got an urgent call to run over to the Senate floor.
Uresti ran, sprinting up the Capitol steps to reach the chamber just seconds before his name was called, thwarting Republicans trying to rush through a controversial voter identification bill.
And then Uresti hurried off to the Senate lounge — to vomit.
Moments before the dramatic entrance, a verbal skirmish had erupted between Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and the Senate's senior member, Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. When Whitmire cursed, Dewhurst threatened to evict him.
The tension followed Republican efforts to require photo or other forms of identification as a prerequisite to voting.
"Overwhelmingly, Texans believe that only American citizens who are Texas residents should vote in elections," Dewhurst said later. "We believe in the right of every individual to vote, but that individual should be an American citizen."
House Bill 218 would require voters to present photo identification, such as a driver's license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, a U.S. military ID card or a U.S. passport or, alternatively, two copies of utility bills, bank statements, a marriage license, a divorce decree or similar documents showing the person's name and address.
Dewhurst criticized the Democratic Party for trying to kill the bill, which has been opposed by civil rights organizations, the AARP and the League of Women Voters.
Republicans almost universally support the voter ID bill, while Democrats call it an attempt to suppress turnout among low-income minorities and the elderly.
Uresti said some of his elderly relatives never obtained a driver's license. "It would be very difficult (for some people) to gather that information," he said. "It's an attempt to discourage them from voting."
It takes a two-thirds majority in the Senate to bring up a bill for debate, meaning 11 senators can block legislation if all 31 are present. With Uresti ill, Democrats were one vote short of 11. GOP leaders seized an opportunity to call up the bill.
One Republican, Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, was not on the floor to support that move. But Dewhurst did not see Whitmire, who had entered the Senate lounge behind the chamber. Dewhurst announced that 19 senators voted for debate and nine opposed, allowing debate.
A livid Whitmire said, "I have the right to have my vote reflected," adding an expletive. Dewhurst warned: "You are going to compose yourself, or you are going to leave the floor."
After some tense moments, Dewhurst agreed to call the roll again, but Hegar was back and the outcome would not change.
More: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4807864.html
Some Americans do better than others as to holding up their responsibilities. Most time it is Democrats that carry the banner and the repukes use every trick in the book to chill the good feelings of what the Democrats are attempting to do!!!!!!!
By GARY SCHARRER
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN — Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, stayed in bed Tuesday morning — dizzy, nauseated, feverish and chilled from a nasty case of the flu — until he got an urgent call to run over to the Senate floor.
Uresti ran, sprinting up the Capitol steps to reach the chamber just seconds before his name was called, thwarting Republicans trying to rush through a controversial voter identification bill.
And then Uresti hurried off to the Senate lounge — to vomit.
Moments before the dramatic entrance, a verbal skirmish had erupted between Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and the Senate's senior member, Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. When Whitmire cursed, Dewhurst threatened to evict him.
The tension followed Republican efforts to require photo or other forms of identification as a prerequisite to voting.
"Overwhelmingly, Texans believe that only American citizens who are Texas residents should vote in elections," Dewhurst said later. "We believe in the right of every individual to vote, but that individual should be an American citizen."
House Bill 218 would require voters to present photo identification, such as a driver's license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, a U.S. military ID card or a U.S. passport or, alternatively, two copies of utility bills, bank statements, a marriage license, a divorce decree or similar documents showing the person's name and address.
Dewhurst criticized the Democratic Party for trying to kill the bill, which has been opposed by civil rights organizations, the AARP and the League of Women Voters.
Republicans almost universally support the voter ID bill, while Democrats call it an attempt to suppress turnout among low-income minorities and the elderly.
Uresti said some of his elderly relatives never obtained a driver's license. "It would be very difficult (for some people) to gather that information," he said. "It's an attempt to discourage them from voting."
It takes a two-thirds majority in the Senate to bring up a bill for debate, meaning 11 senators can block legislation if all 31 are present. With Uresti ill, Democrats were one vote short of 11. GOP leaders seized an opportunity to call up the bill.
One Republican, Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, was not on the floor to support that move. But Dewhurst did not see Whitmire, who had entered the Senate lounge behind the chamber. Dewhurst announced that 19 senators voted for debate and nine opposed, allowing debate.
A livid Whitmire said, "I have the right to have my vote reflected," adding an expletive. Dewhurst warned: "You are going to compose yourself, or you are going to leave the floor."
After some tense moments, Dewhurst agreed to call the roll again, but Hegar was back and the outcome would not change.
More: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4807864.html
Some Americans do better than others as to holding up their responsibilities. Most time it is Democrats that carry the banner and the repukes use every trick in the book to chill the good feelings of what the Democrats are attempting to do!!!!!!!