Capitol Updates

By Richard

January 11, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this

I am greatly in favor of voting integrity and the only way to make sure is to have a strict voter ID system. Not only should a picture ID be required but a valid voter registration card with the registrant’s voter ID number. Without both, no vote, no discussion, no appeal.

By claude

January 11, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

OH my! Richard! you are going to set off the real rascist that love to blog this site. Get ready…well they may be at the capital complaining about the possibility of a flat consumption tax! Hmmm? wait for it…

By scott

January 11, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

It is time for the General Assembly to let this issue go and focus on more important state measures. It is apparent that the courts are not going to back this measure; which is one of the most restrictive in the nation.

Let it go and move on.

By Rickster

January 11, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

Hey Richard, Walmart has White Sheets on sale!

By MC

January 11, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

I might actually buy this if voter fraud in the past 15 years or so was documented in this state.

By MP

January 11, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

I am against voter ID. Every body has a Constitution right to vote. No voter ID has been needed in the pass why do we need one now. This voter ID puts a un fair burden on poor and elderly people. Some don’t have and will have trouble producing the papers need to get a voter ID. They will also have trouble getting to the places they need to get voter ID and keeping up with it. We don’t need to make voting complicated.

By matt

January 11, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

why can’t blacks/latinos keep a driver’s license or some other form of ID ? What’s so difficult about that ? Oh, and while we’re at it let’s make receiving welfare dependent on passing a drug screen …

By D

January 11, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

please don’t let the rich politicians talk you into a flat tax, yes our tax system is broken and yes it needs to be simplified, but it doesn’t need to be trashed completely. every month a middle class person spends all of their paycheck to survive, getting taxed 100% on all their income, but someone like Home Depot’s Nardelli may only need to spend 5 million dollars a year to pay his bills out of that 210 million he got, that means he’s only getting taxed on a little more than 2% of his income. can someone tell me what the heck is ‘fair’ about that?

By Dlandry

January 11, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

You have to show an ID for so many other things in life so it only makes sense that you show a valid, picture ID when you vote. The whole hardship ID is total BS. If they can get out to vote, they can get out one more time to get an ID. The Democrats know they will loose the ability to have dead people and illegal immigrants (their two biggest constituent groups) vote with this bill and they’re scared to death. There’s no other valid explanation I can think of as to why they’re so against this common sense measure.

By Dlandry

January 11, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

D, please explain to me why you feel that because Mr. Nardelli should be taxed at a higher rate? It sounds like you want to penalize him for working hard during his life and achieving wealth.

By Alvin

January 11, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

According to all statistics that I have seen, voter fraud is not a big enough issue in this state to warrant any changes in the current program. This does lead me to believe that their are other motivating factors for this sudden want to change the law. The legislature should focus on bills that actually matter and are less divisive. If voter fraud becomes a major issue in the state, the matter can be revisted.

By Bob

January 11, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this

Why is it that some don’t like the photo I.D.? How can it be a burden on eldery blacks since a Ga.State van will come to your home and issue you an I.D. And it’s free!

By Todd Gallagher

January 11, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

Let’s see, is Publix racist for requiring an ID to write a check?

Oh, but the government is for voting …

By Bruce Wilcox

January 11, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

We can not get people to the polls now, yet the Republicans want another roadblock? Like redistricting, lower voter turn out favors the incumbent. They should call it what it really is, “The Job Protection Act.”

By D

January 11, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

I can guarantee you that Nardelli came from wealth and never has worked as hard as myself and my piers, but the vast difference between his tax rate and a middle class person’s rate just is clearly wrong and definitely not ‘what Jesus would do’ kinda thing. Nardelli will take that money invest it and never really have to pay taxes on it, while just living off of the interest, the rich get richer, and the lower classes are kept in their place. the brain-washed sheep will go along with this, rather than have an opinion of their own. now it’s your turn to tell me how this is the land of opportunity and I only have myself to blame for not making it to billionaire status, now you’ll probably tell me how this stupid war in Iraq is winnable, how the economy is booming, and how you idiots are doing it all for God, the flag and children, just go drink your kool-aid with the rest of them.

By CB

January 11, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this

How in the world can you document voter fraud if you can’t verify the identity of a person trying to vote? Only franchised CITIZENS of the USA that are over 18 have the right to vote, and only at their registered polling place. I see no problem with requiring proof.

By R2D2

January 11, 2007 01:01 PM | Link to this

If I’m an illegal alien, the last thing I want to do is go up into a polling place to vote for a blood-sucking leech of a politician! And dead people just don’t care anymore! So why don’t you just be man enough to voice your true feelings and tell the real reason why you favor this ID thing and stop making yourselves look stupid in trying to justify your real reasons and masking the truth!

By rlc

January 11, 2007 01:05 PM | Link to this

I can not remember a time when I was not asked for proof of identity at the poll. This issue is one created by those not wanting you to keep your attention on the real problem. Remember the last Presidential elections? Florida lost the voter ballots from entire districts that just happened to be traditionally Democrat. Ohio had installed machines that would not register certain selections. Although both states said whoops there was no recourse for the voters who had not been allowed their constitutional right to have their vote counted. I would like to see a Republican leader introduce legislation to address this.

By Todd Gallagher

January 11, 2007 01:07 PM | Link to this

I had to show an ID (along with 100 other documents) to join the military. Is the military racist?

I have to show an ID to drive. Is driving racist?

I have to provide my SSN for taxes. Is the IRS racist?

Where does this stop? The Democrats just want stupid people to be able to vote who don’t even know how to get a FREE ID!

By Bruce Wilcox

January 11, 2007 01:10 PM | Link to this

Why not bring it back to the good old days where only landowners could vote?

The biggest fraud is in absentee voting, how does one show an photo id in the mail? The electronic voting machines without any paper ballot is another questionable area.

Typical Republicans, create a problem that does not exist, then act quickly? Sound familier?

By John

January 11, 2007 01:35 PM | Link to this

Hey Matt - what makes you think this is targeted at Blacks and Latinos? It will probably effect more PWT like you than them. If they really wanted to fix this alleged problem they would be thinking about using retinal scans or thumb prints. This is just a ruse to keep the losers in office. Those who want to beat the system will just go to the absentee ballot. Think for a change..

By DebbieDoRight

January 11, 2007 01:45 PM | Link to this

There is no voter fraud in Georgia……Just like there were no WMD’s in Iraq. However, there are certain people in this good ole state/nation, who’d like to pretend otherwise.

Maybe, if we’re lucky, our president and our governor can get a bag of pretzels for their upcoming birthdays, choke on them, knock themselves out, die heroes and make the world a better place.

By michelle

January 11, 2007 01:50 PM | Link to this

the last election when i went to the poll, a lady in front of me did not have her i.d. (she did however have her work i.d.); she was asked to fill out a “paper ballot” and her vote was set aside.

i asked the person at the polling place what would happen to her vote, they replied to me that her vote would not be counted until they made sure that she was a registered voter by checking her information with the computers at the main office.

this has been the policy for YEARS; people without i.d. votes’ are set aside until a confirmation can be made. why can’t that program continue? what is happening now to offset a proven system? how much documented fraud is there in Georgia?

By Michael H. Smith

January 11, 2007 01:58 PM | Link to this

We need a new set of bums in office why not throw out the same old voters for a change?

I support voter photo ID at the polls and to “validate absentee ballots” including paper trails on e-voting machines and actively auditing voter registration rolls to remove any of the dead, felons and non-citizens from the ranks of the legitimate voters.

By Bruthaman

January 11, 2007 02:11 PM | Link to this

I don’t get the need for this. Every time I’ve gone to vote. from the very begining to now, I’ve also shown a picture ID. The majority of indivdiuals out there probable do the same. There is no need for a voter id law. Thats like making a law that says you have to put your pants on one leg at a time. Most people already do it that way. FOCUS PEOPLE, How about passing a law that FOCUSES on education. We are so worried about an illegal alien voting that we lose sight of what’s really important. I have another idead. Lets pass a law that requires sex offenders to wear tracking devices for the 1st 10 years of there release. That would make me feel safer. The majority of Americans don’t even exercise their right to vote anyway….

By DLandry

January 11, 2007 02:21 PM | Link to this

So now “D” wants to fault Mr. Nardellia for investing his money which in turn drives the ecomomy…..he would much rather him pay taxes on it to support the many welfare and govt. handout programs for which I assume he is a big supporter. And finally, the economy is booming and I am doing great. If you’re not, then your either too stupid, made poor choices in life (for which only you are responsible, or both. Best of luck to you!

By D

January 11, 2007 02:44 PM | Link to this

even after telling you what you would say, you still said it, how programmed is that? in the 90’s that was a booming economy, for whatever reason. it was great, pay raises were good because there were so many other jobs available and emploers knew it, that is definitely not the case today. and what entitlement programs have the Republicans cut? none, and have they made government smaller? no. are we safer today than we were? no. the trickle down affect does work, it’s more like the tinkle on affect, if it did work, we would all be getting our rebate checks from the time companies started hiring illegals. but, yeah, because I don’t know anybody in the Skull and Bones society, it must be my own fault for being such an underacheiver, God knows President Bush and his compassionate buddies have given me every chance to be as wealthy as themselves. the tax system needs to be fixed and simplified, but the affluent do not need more of a break than they are already getting. and no, I am not in favor of entitlement programs, and because I don’t support the rich, it doesn’t make me a Democrat or a liberal, and because I don’t support illegal immigrants, it doesn’t make me a conservative. politicians are the problem, to believe in politicians is like believing in the Tooth Fairy. they work both sides of the fence getting us to fight amongst ourselves, the whole time taking focus off of their accountability.

By DLandry

January 11, 2007 02:52 PM | Link to this

“D”, we finally agree on something….the politicians are the problem!!! It seems like even the best person gets corrupted and looses sight of what’s important when they get to Washington. Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer on how to fix that problem.

By D

January 11, 2007 03:07 PM | Link to this

it’s easy to agree on. rich is perfectly ok with me, people sometimes truly deserve it, and even when they don’t, what the hell, in this mean ol’ world enjoy yourself while you can. it’s greed that bothers me, it’s manipulation using children and patriotism, and especially God to get what someone wants for their own selfish desires, that kind of stuff bothers me. and believe me, Republicans don’t like me and Democrats don’t like me either, I have my own thoughts, based on life experience, common sense and what I think Jesus would do, and no, I don’t go to church, love God, just don’t like religion. self-employed, honobly discharged veteran, I love my country and I am quite saddened by what is being done to it, by greed and self interest. dividing us, censoring us, lessening our freedoms and mortgaging our future.

By Michael H. Smith

January 11, 2007 03:07 PM | Link to this

What so many well meaning citizens don’t seem to grasp is this. Our ballot box should be “the most protected item in this country”, right up there with the Declaration and the Constitution. What transpires at the ballot box determines what form of government we shall have. Instead of having countless revolutions we cast ballots rather than fire bullets. The FOCUS is too little on this issue not too great. Through immigration alone it is not inconceivable that our country could be taken over by some foreign entity without firing a shot, so long as their ballots could be cast.

By Priscill

January 11, 2007 03:09 PM | Link to this

You need to show ID, suppose you came to the poll and the poll workers said Mr. or Ms. you already voted how would you feel.

By GS

January 11, 2007 03:17 PM | Link to this

Why do all you liberal lovers want a photo id so much. Sorry, I am a conservative and will stand by my traditional roots. What has worked in the past will continue to work in the future. Georgia has never had a problem with voter id’s in the past so it is obvious the traditional solution works. Keep you commie photo ids to yourself.

By Michael H. Smith

January 11, 2007 04:13 PM | Link to this

Yeah, Tucker and Bookman are conservatives too!

By Bruce Wilcox

January 12, 2007 08:31 AM | Link to this

Welcome home Jim Crow!

By Bruce Wilcox

January 12, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

GS. Liberals? Check who introduced the Bill and what party supported it? Remember which party is in the majority now.

By Northern Crow

January 12, 2007 01:45 PM | Link to this

Fly away Bigot!

By Curious Observer

January 12, 2007 01:48 PM | Link to this

Every election, I show up at the polls with my government employee ID. Every election, the same old crone peers at my ID, asks me if I know her niece who also works where I do (my employing agency consists of only 15,000 people in nine different locations), and lately tries to master that new-fangled computer to check me in.

I’m left to wonder how many people are allowed to vote without an acceptable ID. (Hint: the answer is zero, none, zip, nada.)

The photo ID movement has run its course. It always was and still is a scare tactic of the right, supporters of which see hordes of illegal immigrants and felons flocking to the polls. The same people see no problem with a voter’s applying for a ballot by mail in the name of his dead father. No ID needed there.

Georgia has hundreds of issues the legislature needs to address. Photo ID is not one of them. Move on. The horse is dead, and all the whipping in the world won’t make it go any faster.