Lt. Gov. Dewhurst Says Voter ID Bill Dead; Sen. Gallegos Departs Senate
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst declared the much debated voter ID bill dead Wednesday night as the Senate neared its midnight deadline for passage of all bills in the current session. His declaration prompted Sen. Mario Gallegos of Houston to thank the lieutenant governor and all of his colleagues before departing the Senate floor.
Mr. Gallegos, who is recovering from a liver transplant, returned to the Capitol on Monday against his doctors' wishes to preserve a Democratic blockade of the GOP-backed legislation that would have required Texans to show up to two pieces of identification to vote. The 11 Democrats blocked action on the proposal under the Senate's long-standing rule that requires a two-thirds vote of the 31-member chamber to take up any bill.
"It's time to go home and do what the doctors tell me," Mr. Gallegos said, adding he had no regrets. "It's something that had to be done. If I hadn't been here, they would have passed it," he said. Besides thanking Mr. Dewhurst for ending the partisan standoff over the bill, Mr. Gallegos also thanked Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, a family physician, for monitoring his health this week and arranging to have a hospital bed placed in a room adjacent to the Senate chamber.
"I'll be back," the Democrat promised other senators before leaving. "If you want to fight this battle again, I'll fight it - but with a healthier Mario Gallegos."
Comments
Mario Gallegos--what a freaking joke he is. There is absolutely no legitimate reason why voter id should be a problem with anyone but fraudulent voters. It's a transparent joke because most things in life these days require some form of id. And if you don't have it then I'm sure you could make arrangements for a house call. I'll at least give Gallejoke some credit for not fleeing to New Mexico though.
Posted by: Ray | May 24, 2007 2:01 AM
How about that? Our wonderful State Senate can't pass what I believe to be an important piece of legislation because of less than a dozen people. Is it just me, or isn't it odd the deciding vote was from an Hispanic?
Posted by: Dave Farrar | May 24, 2007 8:39 AM
Yeah, what are they chances a hispanic legislator would be the deciding vote against legislation that would decrease the number of Hispanics who vote? I´m flabbergasted.
Posted by: Jason B | May 24, 2007 11:00 AM
I think it's brave of Gallegos to be willing to risk his own health for an issue that is important to him and his constituents. Such selflessness is a rarity among politicians these days. And, kudos to Dewhurst for recognizing his sacrifice and allowing the man to go home to recuperate.
One side brought up the bill. The other side defeated it. End of story. Now on to other business.
That's why they're called the upper chamber. They act (more often than not) with civility.
Posted by: shay | May 24, 2007 11:25 AM
Ray--how about the elderly, and college students, and poor working-class? I know this is going to blow your mind, but some people don't have such an easy time getting a current government ID. With the embarrassingly low voter turn out we continue to have for any and every election, you'd think we'd be trying to make it as easy as possible for everyone to vote.
Posted by: Mulva | May 24, 2007 11:35 AM
I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't think a person who doesn't have the ability or intelligence to obtain an ID should have a say in our government - they are obviously 'mentally incompetent'!
Posted by: wayne | May 25, 2007 9:47 AM