Archive for Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Gov. rejects voter ID bill
May 20, 2008
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Topeka — Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Monday vetoed legislation that would have required Kansans to show photograph identification and a signature to vote.
The voter ID bill was touted by supporters as a way to prevent voter fraud.
“When we require a photo ID for purchasing alcohol or cigarettes, getting on a plane, writing or cashing a check, or even renting a video, similar ID safeguards are reasonable to protect the integrity of something as important as our election system,” said state Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler.
But Sebelius said there were no instances of voter fraud in Kansas, making the measure unnecessary and adding a burden to some citizens in exercising their right to vote.
It is unlikely that supporters of the bill could get the necessary two-thirds majorities to override the veto because the measure was approved in the House 67-56.
The Kansas Republican Party said exemptions to the photo requirement in the bill would have ensured people’s access to voting.
But Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew said it would have caused problems because proposed exemptions — for people 65 or older, with a temporary or permanent disability or members of the military — would have been difficult to check. And there have been no documented cases of significant voter fraud, he said.
Kansas law already requires people new to a county to show identification.
The bill vetoed by Sebelius also would have set the 2012 presidential preference primary in Kansas for the first Saturday in February. The governor supports that move and urged the Legislature to readopt the provision next year.
Meanwhile, Sebelius signed into law bills that will:
• Increase school funding by $37.2 million.
• Expand eligibility for HealthWave.
• Increase campaign finance disclosure.
• Allow an electric utility to recover expenditures for development of a new nuclear plant.
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20 May 2008 at 9:11 a.m.
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conservativepunker (Anonymous) says…
What a load from Kit-Kat. What burden? The people she's worried about have to show id to cash welfare checks or social security checks, get food on the WICS program….I'm feeling disenfranchised as a citizen that actuall has common sense.
20 May 2008 at 9:40 a.m.
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consumer1 (Anonymous) says…
Increase school funding by $37.2 million.
Keep throwing money at a wasteful, system that has no check and balances to verify accountability. How long are we going to keep flushing money (taxes) down the toilet of the schoool baord. Will this woman retire a millionaire?
F.A. Morons
20 May 2008 at 9:51 a.m.
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malcolm_x_obama (Anonymous) says…
This Governor must go. We need to recall her. She is Nancy Pelosi's clone. Kansas is the laughing stock of America because we have a moron for governor. What a pathetic lady. I'm almost wishing for an Obama victory so Sebilius will leave and take a cabinet position. Almost anything is better than her as governor. At least at the federal level change isn't going to happen. Obamunists are idiots if they think a lying, silver tongued racist is going to change DC.
20 May 2008 at 10:01 a.m.
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stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…
this is an admirable, courageous move by the governor…
it’s good to see somebody is standing up to the rampant growth of fascistic-socialism…
and for all you so called conservatives who are all for being obliging when the State says: “Papers, please…” why don’t you just get your SS numbers tattooed on your foreheads…
20 May 2008 at 10:08 a.m.
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stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…
by the way… things that make Kansas a laughing stock:
rejection of science
gay hating
Phil Kline and Paul Morrison
Kansas State football
20 May 2008 at 6:16 p.m.
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MichaelJ (Anonymous) says…
I really don't understand what the big deal is of asking for ID to vote. Voting is a big deal. You SHOULD show ID. I always offer mine. And as far as what makes Kansas a laughing stock, I want a bumper sticker that says simply
“Kansas……if you don't like it, MOVE”
20 May 2008 at 6:22 p.m.
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beobachter (Anonymous) says…
typical mindless response, “Kansas……if you don't like it, MOVE”. Why is it the right wings only response is we're always right, and we won't change. Therefore if you disagree get out. My thought is, if an idea is totally bad and shows ignorance, change it. The problem is, right wingers lack capacity to think and reason for themselves.
Right gigolo?
20 May 2008 at 6:27 p.m.
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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
I placed mine on the registry table, I assumed it was necessary. The days of “knowing our neighbors” are long past.
It also helps them comprehend my frickin name.
20 May 2008 at 6:28 p.m.
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MichaelJ (Anonymous) says…
Well, beobatcher, when I see a bumper sticker that says “Lawrence, 27 square miles surrounded by KANSAS” …it makes me wonder why (some of) the folks in Lawrence seem to think that if the rest of the state doesn't agree with us then they're full of it! The rest of Kansas apparently isn't entitled to their own opinion on anything that contradicts with dear old larryville!
BULL!
20 May 2008 at 6:41 p.m.
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beobachter (Anonymous) says…
MichaelJ
Seems like we are having a familiar argument. If I agree or disagree with something, why should I have to “leave” because my opinion differs from yours. The country was founded on freedom of speech. We all want the best for our country, state, community, etc. That I would think we agree on. However, why should I be told to leave when your opinion differs from mine? That doesn't sound like freedom of expression to me. Have I ever suggested someone get out because they don't agree with me? It would be a very sad place if we all always had same mindset and same thoughts and ideas.
20 May 2008 at 6:43 p.m.
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TheSychophant (Anonymous) says…
Well said, stuckinthemiddle. In actuality, the governor has done nothing but improve our national credibilty since the debacles of voodoo science, hate mongering and Kline/Morrison. (not to mention KSU, but I hate to kick a fellow Kansas in the rear when they are down)
20 May 2008 at 7:04 p.m.
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notajayhawk (Anonymous) says…
beobachter (Anonymous) says…
“My thought is, if an idea is totally bad and shows ignorance, change it.”
Like voting without having to prove who you are? The legislature *tried* to change it, but the governor kept the ignorant status quo.
Let's recap: The United States Supreme Court rules that voter ID laws are okay, and a few days later the governor of Kansas vetoes just such a bill with the same tired argument that failed in front of that court. Yep, just one more reason for the rest of the country to laugh at Kansas.
20 May 2008 at 7:26 p.m.
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booyalab (Anonymous) says…
If Sebelius had actually done any research before automatically bowing to her constituents, she might have learned about Dr. David B. Muhlhausen and Keri Weber Sikich's statistical analysis that flatly concluded that voter ID laws do not have a significant negative impact on voter turnout. When negative relationships were found, the effects were negligible.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/LegalIs…
from the source:
* White survey respondents in photo identification states are 0.002 percent less likely to report voting than white respondents from states that only required voters to state their name.
* African-American respondents in non-photo identification states are 0.012 percent less likely to report voting than African-American respondents from states that only required voters to state their name.
20 May 2008 at 7:29 p.m.
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beatrice (Anonymous) says…
“I'm voting two times for Obama and once for Hillary. It's easy when you know how to steal IDs.” — John Waters
Will requiring someone to show an easily obtained fake ID make voter fraud that much more difficult? Is there a real problem of people voting fraudulently now? If not, then good for the Gov. We don't need people pandering to the fear of voter fraud if it isn't an actual issue of concern.
Personally, I don't see it as that big of an issue either way. Instead, it is just a cause for people to get their panties in a wad.
20 May 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
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booyalab (Anonymous) says…
oh, and to anticipate a common fraction of a percent mistake: .002% is LESS than 1%
20 May 2008 at 8:55 p.m.
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dirkleisure (Anonymous) says…
Yes, booyalab, I am confused why the Governor and her staff didn't consult with The Heritage Foundation.
That is shocking. Perhaps they should have also read news reports from Fox News and some columns by Cal Thomas and Bill Kristol.
Where is the research?
20 May 2008 at 9:19 p.m.
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MichaelJ (Anonymous) says…
Well beobatcher, I totally agree that you are entitled to your opinion. I do, however, get grossly offended everytime I see a “Kansas, as bigoted as you think” bumper sticker. Those who display them are certainly entitled to their opinions. And I am entitled to think they're hypocrites when they in essense say I'm a bigot if I don't agree with THEIR position. plain and simple. I can grant them their opinion, yet they want to mock me if mine differs? then let mne mock them.
20 May 2008 at 9:20 p.m.
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MichaelJ (Anonymous) says…
KANSAS is largely conservative. Lawrence is largely not. Let Kansas be what it is and let Lawrence be what it is. No need to ridicule Kansas because a small piece of it thinks it's better.
20 May 2008 at 9:31 p.m.
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ASBESTOS (Anonymous) says…
The arrogant butts in Lawrence need to shut up and stop telling the rest of Kansas it is off it's collective rocker.
I think there is going to be some powerful political payback, and Lawrence will be left out in the cold.
Your elitist morons just dance with the card and music that the DailyKos serves up.
IF the GOP would get their crap together and stop the “creationism/gay marriage/aboprtion wedge issues and get back to sound political conservative thinking, they would rebound, and Lawrence and their Radical Left Wing Elitism would be blunted.
IT would be easy, politically, if the GOP Talibahn would just shut up.
20 May 2008 at 10:19 p.m.
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dirkleisure (Anonymous) says…
Buddy, wake up. The GOP Talibahn (sic) is, in fact, the Kansas Republican Party. Your real problem is that what you see as “arrogant butts” in Lawrence is actually more in line with the rest of the voters in Kansas than the Talibahn (sic). I
t's all relative, but the Lawrence butts are a 2nd cousin while the GOP is far enough away that it would be safe to marry her, if you could get over that she looks like Eleanor Roosevelt.
The Kansas GOP could no sooner stop harping on their wedge issues than they could stop breathing. Of course, by their logic as soon as they stop breathing they are helping out with global warming.
Decisions, decisions…
5 June 2008 at 7:06 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
Well, Kathy, Besillious, who is angling for the VP slot, refuses to examine the evidence!
Of course there is no reason for voters to present ID when voting!
Having to present ID would keep *DEAD* people from voting!
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/06/04/…
5 June 2008 at 7:27 a.m.
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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…
dirkleisure (Anonymous) says…
Buddy, wake up. The GOP Talibahn”
Marion writes:
Wo ist denn Der “Talibahn”?
Wass bedeutet dieser “Talibahn”?
Is that like a cross highway of the Autobahn?
Or do you mean “Taliban” or “Taleban” as our British friends spell it?
You talkin' about a road or terrorists?
5 June 2008 at 7:59 a.m.
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mancityfooty (Corey Williams) says…
“IF the GOP would get their crap together and stop the “creationism/gay marriage/aboprtion wedge issues and get back to sound political conservative thinking, they would rebound…”
If the GOP stopped pandering to their religious base, they wouldn't win elections. Sort of like how a lot of states put out constitutional amendments “clarifying” marriage at the 2004 election. It sure got a lot of people out to vote.
Now if they could prove that their economic plans could work, then it might be different.