In one week ....Texas FUBAR

[Laura PourMeADrink]

NO CHOICE
Political observers say the abortion restrictions will likely pass when that special session begins July 1.

Opponents say the measures could close nearly all abortion clinics in the Lone Star State.


NO FREE VOTING
“With today’s decision, the State’s voter ID law will take effect immediately,” Attorney General Greg Abbott wrote in a statement. He also said the state’s redistricting maps, created by Gov. Rick Perry and the Republican-controlled legislature in 2011 but struck down in federal court last summer, “may also take effect.”

“Texas may now implement the will of the people without being subject to outdated and unnecessary oversight and the overreach of federal power,” Perry said.

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2013/06/texas-revives-voter-id-law-in-wake-of-supreme-court-decision-opponents-pledge-to-keep-up-fight/

[DonCoquixote]

1. translation

“Texas may now implement the will of the people without being subject to outdated and unnecessary oversight and the overreach of federal power,” Perry said. "

Translated "only WASPS will vote,just as the lord intended."

With all love and respect to Wendy Davis, if they cannot get Perry out of there, we may need to start an asylum program for Liberal Texans.

[BlueCollar]

2. Liberal Texas resident here

Not looking for asylum...

I'll go down fighting...but thanks for the moral support.

I'll be damned if I let the TaliBaptists win without opposition.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Amen. I have been thinking though. What percentage of voter suppression motivation

comes from bigotry and what from "these people vote democratic, let's stop them" ?

To me, first and foremost, it is a matter of "abuse of power"

What they are doing in TX and elsewhere is saying...We are in State power, let's use it to stop people
who have zero power from voting.

Makes any tinge of abuse of power by the IRS seem minuscule

[Honeycombe8]

3. To be clear, the TX voting change is requirement to show photo ID, not a fee to vote.

Although it costs $ to get a photo ID, it's not a fee to vote, strictly speaking.

As I said last year, even though a lot of the states' voting changes were blocked then, I said that people should go ahead and get photo IDs and certified copies of birth certificates, or whatever they need to get a photo ID, because those people were not going to give up. I could see the writing on the wall.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. I absolutely agree. I was thinking - all state dems should coalesce with

the Turn Texas Blue people and start an organized effort to get every single last
Dem a photo ID. And start now.

[Ilsa]

6. So, is something like a huge hurricane, Cat. 4 or 5

interrupts the special session, what happens? Does it end on it's deadline? Is it extended?

I'm just trying to think of ways their plans can be disrupted.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. Nice idea - but Austin's too far inland. Wonder why they

can't just filibuster for the entire special session and not just for one night.

[NoPasaran]

8. A called session of the legislature runs for thirty days

But the governor has the power to call another at any time.