Democratic legislators argued Tuesday that if Republicans are going to mandate a photo identification for voting, the state should provide free identification cards to those who cannot afford them.
The argument did not work – at least for now -with the GOP majority on the House State and Local Government Committee, which proceeded to approve the “voter ID” bill, HB007, on a voice vote. The bill has already passed the Senate on a 21-11 party-line vote. Tuesday’s action effectively clears the measure for a House floor vote.
In the House committee, Rep. Harry Tindell, D-Knoxville, told House Republican Caucus Chairman Debra Maggart, “I beg you and I implore you” to delay a committee vote to await favorable action on a separate bill on free ID cards before voting on her bill. Maggart, who is sponsor of the bill, declined.
She also declined to directly answer Tindell’s repeated questions on whether she supported the other bill, saying only that “I’m working with the Senate on it.” Tindell sought a “yes or no” answer.
Full Article: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/apr/06/house-panel-passes-id-mandate/