State Rep. Lon Burnam: Voter ID bill "a disgraceful attempt" to suppress votes

Here's a statement by state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, on Thursday's Voter ID ruling.

"The court has recognized the Voter ID bill for what it was: a disgraceful attempt by Republicans in the Texas Legislature to hold onto power by suppressing minority voters. Our history of discrimination at the polls in Texas is the great shame of our state, and any politician seeking to revive it should resign his office in dishonor. If we as legislators are not here to protect the fundamental rights of our constituents, what the heck are we there for?

 "This decision follows Tuesday's court ruling that Texas' redistricting map was purposefully discriminatory and Wednesday's exposure of Colorado's purge of "non-citizen voters" as not yet identifying one single non-citizen. Now even the Texas delegates to the Republican National Convention are complaining that the elites of their party are retroactively changing the rules to keep any challenger to their nominee from even speaking. I call on them to join the rest of us who recognize that the heart of democracy is to convince citizens through your arguments, not by denying those who disagree with you the right to vote. "

-- Anna M. Tinsley

 

Comments

[D. HAST]

I couldn, agree less. The law requires id for a drivers license, marriage license, enroll children in school, to get employement ete.... This law I beleive is to make sure the person voting is the same person who is eligble to vote. And, you saying the State of Texas is " suppressing minority voters" is your partys' way of using the race card.. SHAME ON YOU!!!