Update On Voter ID
By: Jared Woodfill
Chairman, Harris County Republican Party

Dear Harris County Republicans,

The first Special Session of the Texas Legislature recently ended. Unfortunately, it did not include Voter/Photo Identification. Democrats in the House manipulated the House rules in order to kill many important bills that matter to all Texans, including Voter ID. The Voter ID bill was killed as a result of the Democrats stall tactics. Democrats ignore the fact that almost 70 percent of Texans approve of the Voter ID bill. We cannot let them get away with it.

We cannot compromise on Voter ID - we must act now!  Some believe we should change the tone and temperament with which we have pursued Voter Identification, encouraging us to back down, be less partisan, make nice and build a natural consensus with the Democrats.  This "go along to get along" approach  did not work with redistricting, appraisal caps, the marriage amendment, or the sonogram bill, to name just a few pieces of legislation.  We as a party must realize that there are some who will do whatever it takes to stop conservative legislation from being passed.  One need only go back a few years and remember the Democrats running to Albuquerque and Ardmore to prevent a fair redistricting plan from being passed by our duly elected representatives.  As your party Chairman in 2003, I and many other party leaders called on  Governor Perry to hold the Democrats feet to the fire and make them do what Texans elected them to do - vote.  He did and today we have districts that represent voting patterns across Texas.

Compromising on the conservative principles that brought us to the majority is the quickest path to the minority. The Democrats believe their stall tactics succeeded in killing legislation that 70% of all Texans support. We must not get weak-kneed during this crucial time.  The SREC recently passed a resolution stating the following:

WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Texas and its Platform has stood with the overwhelming majority of Texans who support Voter Photo I.D., and
 
WHEREAS the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, openly called for and encouraged passage of strong Voter Photo I.D. legislation, and
 
WHEREAS Lt. Governor Dewhurst and the Texas Senate passed Senator Fraser’s Voter Photo I.D. bill, SB362, and sent it to the Texas House, and
 
WHEREAS such legislation eventually passed out of committee and had the opportunity to be debated and voted on,
 
WHEREAS the Democrat party filibuster tactic of stalling by "chubbing" prevented consideration of key legislation, including Voter Photo I.D., from being acted on during regular session, thus causing tax payers extra expense in a special session,
 
LET IT BE RESOLVED that the RPT denounces Democrat Members of the House whose actions caused added expense to taxpayers and denied citizens to have an up-or-down vote on key issues of our day.
 
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that this be done in the form of a press release and electronically transmitted to Republican County Chairmen and all elected leaders of both Chambers of the Texas Legislature.

Some may criticize me for being too aggressive on this issue, but we must continue this fight.  It is time for everyone to get off the sidelines and get on the front line and fight for the conservative principles that inspired us to get involved in the political process.  Please help me by letting the Governor know how important it is to pass this legislation this year.  Please join me in the fight for conservative principles.

Action Needed:
Please contact Governor Perry's office and request that he call another Special Session with Voter ID on the agenda.  Governor Perry's office number: 512-463-2000 or 800-252-9600.  If you have access to a fax machine, send a fax also to: 512-463-1849.  Tell Governor Perry that you and 70% of all Texans support Voter ID.