Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer is “very disappointed” that Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed Voter ID legislation. “I really thought the governor would sign,” said Kiffmeyer, adding that a campaign finance reporting provision was added to the bill that Dayton favors.
Signing the bill was a way for the governor to appear less extreme, said Kiffmeyer, who carried the legislation in the House. In his veto letter, Dayton argues that the long-debated legislation is flawed in several ways. He questions a basic premise.
“The push to require photo identification in order to vote has been based on the premise that voter fraud is a significant problem in Minnesota,” wrote Dayton. “I do not believe that to be the case,” the governor wrote.
Dayton goes on in the letter to say he will not sign an election bill without broad bipartisan support.
Kiffmeyer argues that broad bipartisan support does exist outside the Legislature in the general public. Polls show this, she said.
Although Kiffmeyer said she believed Dayton would sign the Voter ID legislation, Democrats warned during House floor debate that would not occur.
Full Article: Dayton’s veto of Voter ID draws applause, sighs | Hometown Source.