The Minority Report

Looks like the same folks are back at it trying to suppress the vote.  The House passed a Voter ID Bill on yesterday after hours of much debate.  This legislation would require voters to present 2 forms of identification to cast a ballot in the absence of a voter registration card.  In addition, it would require voters that did have a voter registration card to present identification to cast a ballot.  The proponents of this bill believe that it will fight off voter fraud.  However, this bill is nothing more than a modern attempt to surpress this vote.  This is nothing more than a strategic effort that has taken place nation wide by conservatives.  The bill was put forth 2 years ago in the state of Georgia and other states around the country. The bill also passed the House of Reps in Texas two years ago, but was defeated in the Senate after a threatened  filibuster by State Sen. Rodney Ellis.  Communities of Color and the elderly will be the highest demographic by this piece of legislation.  Althought the methods have changed, the game remains the same.  Someone once told me that if it wasn’t important to vote that people would not have tried so hard to keep it away from us.   This speaks to the issues of the day, where see the same old problem of attempted voter surpression.

Yesterday Governor Rick Perry’s Office released as statement regarding Texas Southern University being placed under conservatorship.  The interesting thing about this action is that it comes against the recommendation of the Governor’s own TSU Blue Panel Commission.  I don’t think Gov. Perry gets it. Texas Southern University does have financial issues this is true.  But understand that these issues have come as a result of his actions.  He appointed the board that he has now asked to resign.  Now, he is going to appoint this conservator.  Mr. Governor, it may be time to return TSU to the hands of those that it serves.  Perhaps the answer is simply stop appointing folks that are owed political favors and start appointing folks that are going to take a strong stance in reforming the university.   Mr. Perry proceeded to take this action after receiving a letter from State Rep. Garnet Coleman and Sen. Rodney Ellis who represent Texas Southern University, and 15 other legislators asking him not to take conservatorship as an option.  I think it’s about time for Gov. Perry to start listening and stop hearing his own drummer. 

See Chronicle Link:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4714348.html