It’s not every day that House Speaker Gordon D. Fox adds his name to a bill with Republican Joseph A. Trillo or even fellow Democrat Jon D. Brien. But Fox and House Majority Whip J. Patrick O’Neill, along with Brien, Trillo and Republican Tea Party member Doreen Costa, have joined together to support a bill that would require voters to show photo identification at the polls.
The unlikely tandem of state lawmakers is sponsoring House bill H-5680 at the request of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, who argues that the “belief that voter fraud exists undermines the public’s faith in the fairness of our elections.”
“Voting should be at least as secure as renting a car, getting a library card or any of the other tasks that routinely require an ID,” Mollis said.
“Some people look at this as a Republican or a conservative issue. I look it as an electoral issue,” said Brien, the bill’s prime sponsor, noting its support from leading Democrats.
Full Article: http://www.projo.com/news/content/RI_voter_ID_27_03-27-11_J6N78NR_v10.14192d3.html