For the third time this session, Senate Democrats stalled a vote on photo voter ID legislation sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit. The Wednesday night filibuster on HB 1631, authored by Rep. Justin Alferman, stretched to about 1 a.m. early Thursday until the chamber went to an “at rest” period, and the Senate adjourned just an hour later for the day. At a press conference Thursday, Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, voiced his frustration at the Democratic stonewalling, but he remains confident that Republicans will get the bill passed this session despite strong opposition. “The effort of trying to get this done and working with the minority party is there,” he said.
… Democrats have stated their opposition to legislation this session before, staging another filibuster against SJR 39, a religious liberties bill offered by Sen. Bob Onder, and stalling debate on other bills as well. They appear more than willing to put their foot down again on photo voter ID as they have owned the floor each time it has been brought before the body which has totaled 13 hours of debate.
Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, occupied the floor for much of the debate. She believes the measure is discriminatory in nature because the acquisition of new IDs would disproportionately affect minorities in urban areas, women and the elderly. She alleges Senate Republicans are part of a nationwide conservative movement intent on “suppressing the votes [and] disenfranchising groups of individuals that tend to vote for Democrats.” “This is about weakening the Democratic Party, and we know it,” she said during her filibuster.
Full Article: Kraus, Republicans confident photo voter ID will pass despite Democrat’s stall – The Missouri Times.