From: Democratic Leader

Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 6:53 PM

Subject: Democrats Denounce Republican Voter I.D. Bill

NEWS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid

For Immediate Release

Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2006

CONTACT: Laura Capps 202-224-2633 (Kennedy)

           Clinton Press Office (202) 224-2243

           Colleen Flanagan (202)224-0346 (Dodd)

           Kristie Greco 202-226-3210 (Clyburn)

           James Dau (202) 225-6676 (Sánchez)

DEMOCRATS DENOUNCE REPUBLICAN VOTER I.D. BILL

21ST Century Poll Tax Decried as GOP Intent to Suppress Voting Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senate and House Democrats denounced 

Congressional

Republicans' commitment to a voter identification requirement bill that

would disproportionately impact the ability of minorities to vote. Senators

Edward Kennedy, Christopher Dodd, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, House

Democratic Caucus Chairman James Clyburn, and Congresswoman Linda Sánchez

spoke about the negative effects of the voter I.D. requirement on American

democracy and voters in their communities.

Last week, House Republicans approved legislation that would place an undue

burden on the voting rights of every American. The so called "Federal

Election Integrity Act" (H.R. 4844) would require any individual who 

Desires to register and vote in a federal election to purchase government-issued

identification. Such a requirement could create a hardship on minority

communities, the elderly, students, persons with disabilities, and members

of various religious faiths. The burdensome and costly requirements of

obtaining government documents not only could prevent many eligible voters

from participating, but they also suggest to the American people that

supporters of this legislation are trying to gain political advantage in

future elections. Worst of all, this bill recalls a dark era in our nation

when individuals were required to pay a poll tax to cast their ballot and

has been termed a 21st Century poll tax.

  "Instead of fixing the election problems that thousands of Americans have

experienced first hand, House Republicans have forced through a partisan

bill that undercuts the integrity of our election process," said Clinton.

"We need real election reform like the Count Every Vote Act to take

practical steps to build a stronger democracy that is better defended

against abuse, fraud and politics."

"When I came to Congress I took an oath to defend and uphold the

Constitution which protects every American citizen's fundamental right to

vote," Clyburn said. "That right was fortified over 40 years ago with the

Voting Rights Act.  Yet on the heels of renewal of the VRA Republicans in

the House jammed through a divisive and destructive bill last week which

would disenfranchise many of the very citizens that the VRA is designed to

protect. I stand with my colleagues in the Senate to denounce HR 4844 and

defend the principles of this great nation."

  "This 21st Century Poll Tax is a Republican campaign stunt, designed to

distract attention from their long record of inaction and incompetence on

issues like the unending violence in Iraq, the economic strain on the 

middle

class, and the lack of affordable health care," Sánchez said. "They prefer

to block the voting booth for U.S. citizens than address the problems that

really affect families in our communities."

"Our nation should be moving forward to help all Americans participate in

our democracy.  And forcing people to pay what amounts to a poll tax is not

only outrageous and wrong but a giant  leap backwards," said Dodd.  "All of

us want to ensure that elections are free from voter irregularities.  But

enacting laws that effectively allow some people to vote while throwing

roadblocks in front of others is absolutely unacceptable.  I intend to

forcefully fight any effort to reverse years of progress made to ensure 

that all eligible Americans have an equal opportunity to cast a vote and have

that vote counted."

"Poll taxes are unfair, undemocratic, and unconstitutional," Kennedy said.

"I fought hard when we tried to end poll taxes in 1965, and I'm not going 

to see the Senate enact them in 2006. I say we leave poll taxes in the last

century where they belong."

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