Tighter Borders and Tougher Laws Make Good Citizens

[Jcrowley]

House Passes Bill to Make Voters Show ID

By JIM ABRAMS
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House voted Wednesday to require Americans to show proof of citizenship in order to vote, and the Senate moved to build a 700-mile fence along the Mexican border as Republicans sharpened attacks on illegal immigration before the midterm elections.

The 228-196 House vote on a new photo ID plan and the Senate's consideration of the fence were both part of a get-tough policy on illegal immigrants that Republicans have embraced after Congress' failure to agree on broader legislation that would set a path for undocumented workers to attain citizenship.

House GOP leaders have insisted that tighter borders and tougher laws must precede more comprehensive immigration changes. The House passed the fence bill last week and plans votes Thursday on other enforcement measures: to increase penalties for people building tunnels under the border, make it easier to detain and deport immigrant gang members and criminals and clarify the ability of state and local authorities to detain illegal immigrants.

Republican sponsors of the voter identification bill said it was a commonsense way to stop fraud at the polls. People need photo IDs to board planes, buy alcohol or cash checks, said Rep. Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich., chairman of the House Administration Committee. "This is not a new concept.This is what Americans want," said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., "They want safe borders and they want safe ballots."

http://rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fcustomwire.ap.org%2Fdynamic%2Fstories%2FI%2FIMMIGRATION%3FSITE%3DMIDTF%26SECTION%3DHOME%26TEMPLATE%3DDEFAULT%26CTIME%3D2006-09-20-21-02-16

Enter the Vortex.

[Canuckistanian]

1. More smoke and mirrors

I mean, how many illegal immigrants vote? Is this a priority for illegals? I don't think so. And the Democratic party has no huge funds to "pay off" these immigrants.

This seems to me to be a blatant attempt to exclude the poor (read black, latino) who are less likely to have any photo ID in the first place.

And the fence issue - very popular and sounds sensible, but will do little to stop the flow of immigrants as long as cheap labor is in demand.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[Jcrowley]

3. If

they were serious about stopping voter fraud they would demand diebold machine recalls and a paper trail not to mention finance reform. But of course they are knee deep in all the worst aspects of each modality of corruption.

The poor vote Democrat they know that quite well.

[Change has come]

4. Why is it that voter fraud,

has only benefited re:puke:s?

[VP505]

5. Smoke and mirrors ?

You might want to think about that some more, in my state it's estimated that 30,000 + illegals have a state issued drivers license. Most of them can probably register and vote because there is no provision in the law for them to prove citizenship. That's a significant enough number that could swing a local election to someone who is favorable to their wants. Voting in general is probably not a priority for some illegal migrants, but there is a element that wants open borders and are opposed to any kind control on immigration and are determined to work to that end.

[Canuckistanian]

6. OK, I see your point

But I don't see a big disconnect between the wants of illegal immigrants vs. legal immigrants.

Fair wages, good health care and social justice. These are progressive concerns as well, no?

And it's unlikely that controls on immigration can pivot on illegal immigrant support.

[tyedyeto]

7. Include the elderly and homeless in those who may not have...

photo ID.

[tyedyeto]

8. Let's see... I registered to vote by mail in AZ in 2003

and voted for the first time here by mail. Never had to 'show' any proof of citizenship. I had previously been a registered voter in CA for over 30 years. Of course, that had nothing to do with being an AZ voter.

So, now I had to show my drivers lisence and voter card in order to vote a week ago Tuesday in the primary. How do they actually know who I am since I registered by mail? If I was a non-driver with no ID card, I would not have been able to vote but I could have sent for, received and voted by early ballot.

I have a feeling that in the near future, ALL VOTERS will be required to register and re-register to vote at the county courthouse and will have to have proof of citizenship by either birth certificates or naturalization papers. No more registering by mail or in front of the local supermarket.