Dewhurst Says Voter ID Bill May Join Hanging Chads
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said the much debated voter ID bill - which halted Senate action for a whole day on Wednesday - may be headed for the legislative scrap heap. That's because he and Republican senators have been unable to crack the Democratic blockade that has so far kept the legislation off the Senate floor. Mr. Dewhurst also ruled out any effort to bend Senate rules to bring the bill up for debate, such as setting aside the requirement that two-thirds of the members have to agree to take up any bill.
"Regrettably, unless somebody is absent, I don't think there are the votes for us to bring up the bill between now and the drop-dead date next Wednesday at midnight," the lieutenant governor told reporters after the Senate adjourned for the day. His reference was to a Senate rule that requires the chamber to finishing voting on all bills for the current session by next Wednesday. After that, senators can only approve House changes to Senate bills and compromises on legislation that has already cleared both chambers.
As far the failure to pass any bills on Wednesday with only a week to go before the deadline, Mr. Dewhurst said, "We'll get caught up. This won't slow us down at all." That may mean working on Saturday - something the Senate has not done since the session began in January.