Texas out to save ‘discriminatory’ voter ID, maps after court ruling

[trailmonkee]

Source: AP



SAN ANTONIO — On Election Day in Texas, the mere act of voting would have been fresh flexing of Republican power: Show a photo ID, then cast a ballot in a political district likely drawn to favor GOP candidates.

The script has changed, though, with two federal courts sizing it up as minority discrimination.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry and party leaders returned from an upbeat Republican National Convention on Friday faced with the weightier task of trying to save two signature legislative pieces: a voter ID law that judges called the nation’s most stringent and a redistricting map that fortifies GOP power for the next decade — at a time when the rate of a booming Hispanic population is coming into sharp focus.

In back-to-back blows this week, a pair of Washington federal courts ruled that both plans ran afoul of the Voting Rights Act. State prosecutors filed notice of appeal Friday with the U.S. Supreme Court, where they predict victory.

It’s the boldest forecast anyone has made in wake of the rulings — including the political fallout, if any, of two opinions that very publicly concluded Texas passed a political map with “discriminatory intent” and a voter ID bill that would impose “unforgiving burdens on the poor,” who are disproportionately Hispanic or black.

State Attorney General Greg Abbott, whose personal Twitter page is splashed with the backdrop of the “Don’t Tread on Me” symbol, isn’t worried about the message the rulings might have sent the state’s fastest-growing demographic.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20120831-texas-out-to-save-discriminatory-voter-id-maps-after-court-ruling.ece

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Love the sign in the photo

[madrchsod]

1. what a horrible way to live

to live one`s life being afraid of the shadows on the wall . to live one`s life afraid of anyone that is a different color,anyone who speaks different language,and anyone who believes differently.

[jsr]

2. Typical GOP strategy

Minorities Should Be Seen, But Not Heard.

[oldsarge54]

3. Tea Party flakes

I was during the last election cycle a Democrat precinct chair. As such I felt it was my duty to spend the day hanging out at the "politics" border. There were a bunch a GOP button types with cameras accosting hispanic voters waving cameras and saying they'd be checking if they are legal. I got as far as asking them who were they and they self identified as Tea Party Republicans taking the state back when they chose the wrong victim. This is Texas, and beyond native americans, who got here next. The target in question was an acquaintance, and a descendant of Juan Sequin, one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, one of the leaders of the Texicans revolt against Mexico. I sat back and enjoyed the ensuing fireworks as he proceeded to tear into them, pointing out that Texicans helped create the state, and chose to join the US. They left. But what can we do about the neo-Republicans who assume if a person is latino, they are illegal?

[Dustlawyer]

4. Little by little we are getting it back! Delay was cause for delay! There is only so many ways to

it up. They had gerrymandered our Districts so bad the election map resembles the craziest jigsaw puzzle you ever saw! Delay got the Courts to make it stick before, but now maybe, we can start to show the rest of the country that we are bluer than they knew. I am sure are voting drives rumble that of Florida. We need to get busy registering if that doen't get us thrown in jail too. Anyone know where voter registration drives stand legally in the State now? Let's show them what real Americans stand for!

[arely staircase]

5. in my town the voting places had sicns saying id was required

even though it wasn't. when this was pointed out to the county election official she said "well, i am not taking them down." though a federal court had already blocked the law. and id wasn't actually asked for inside.