Hewes, Fillingane among GOP senators who killed election reform bill

[Kitty]

Sid Salter's column

For [Sen. Merle] Flowers - who is quickly becoming the Eddie Haskell or Douglas Neidermeyer of his party - to join with fellow GOP Sens. Billy Hewes, Joey Fillingane and Chris McDaniel to kill the election reform bill that House Republicans (and Democrats alike) worked so hard to broker is a slap at legislators who were within inches of finally passing voter ID.

At least Hewes is running for lieutenant governor and Fillingane wants to lead an initiative-and-referendum fight for voter ID. So those two can at lead plead "self-interest" in voting with Flowers.

[Hermione]

Billy Hewes better not look for a vote from me for anything, ever. I remember the events of five years ago too well.

[lamarrebel]

What did Billy Hewes do then, Hermoine?

[Hermione]

I won't go into all of it, but it involved Thames.

[lamarrebel]

I'm not really familiar with it...but enough said!

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by Hermione

Billy Hewes better not look for a vote from me for anything, ever. I remember the events of five years ago too well.

Originally Posted by Hermione

I won't go into all of it, but it involved Thames.

I "think" those events may have involved Sen. Hewes' father, also named Billy Hewes.

I could be mistaken.

I'm surprised McDaniel voted this down.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Hermione]

I'm sorry if I've blamed the wrong person. Didn't realize there were two of them.

However, I'm also disappointed this was voted down.

[RugerHam]

Originally Posted by cubby 1

I'm surprised McDaniel voted this down.
Posted via Mobile Device

Me too. I thought he was all for voter ID.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Old Man River]

The House Bill was horrible. It was watered down by unncessary amendments.

We need real voter id legislation. I'm glad they killed it.

[anndee]

It would have gone to conference with 3 Senate leaders and 3 House leaders to chose the final language. The only vehicle to pass voter ID in any form died when it was killed in the Senate. After seeing the public's comments, the Senate is trying to revive it through other means but it will then have to go to the House where it will probably not pass.

[CircusRide]

Aren't you guys against the government keeping tabs on you?
If so, wouldn't voter ID be the ultimate in government "checking"?

Also, there's no way to create voter ID that works for everyone.

[hendrixfreak70]

Originally Posted by CircusRide

Aren't you guys against the government keeping tabs on you?
If so, wouldn't voter ID be the ultimate in government "checking"?

Also, there's no way to create voter ID that works for everyone.

I'm glad you said it. I didn't want to be the one who wore the tin foil hat again.

[anndee]

Originally Posted by hendrixfreak70

i'm glad you said it. I didn't want to be the one who wore the tin foil hat again.

Attachment 1441

[anndee]

Update:


Senate bid to resurrect voter ID fails

Natalie Chandler
natalie.chandler@clarionledger.comEfforts to revive legislation that combines voter ID with early voting failed Monday in the Mississippi Senate, even after four Republicans who helped kill the bill last week reversed course.
GOP Sens. Merle Flowers of Southaven, Billy Hewes of Gulfport, Joey Fillingane of Sumrall and Chris McDaniel of Ellisville angered many in their own party by nixing House Bill 1533 in a committee last week. They decided to support the bill's resurrection, although Hewes and Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant stressed they still oppose an early voting provision included in it.
Others in the GOP, including Gov. Haley Barbour, are open to allowing early voting as long as the process is secure. But Republicans downplayed their disagreements that resulted in the apparent death of voter ID - one of the party's top legislative priorities.
"It doesn't mean there's a rift in the party. (Early voting) is an issue that's going to take some discussion and understanding and education," said Senate Elections Committee Chairman Terry Burton, a Republican from Newton who opposed killing the bill.
The measure would have required Mississippians to show photo identification and allowed them to head to the polls 15 days before an election. Thirty-three votes were needed for the bill's revival, but it received 32.
Bryant said he also didn't like a part of the bill that would allow nonviolent felons to vote after completing their sentences. Hewes said he had problems with another provision that allowed same-day registration up to three days before an election.
Republicans in the House ultimately voted for the bill that included those provisions, along with early voting, in an attempt to negotiate the bill with Democrats who long have opposed voter ID.
Questioned about early voting during the Senate debate, Hewes said, "I don't think it's necessary. I've always been for straight up, pure voter ID without ornamentation."
Mississippi Republican Party chairman Brad White said that while the party supports government-issued photo ID, it has no position on early voting. He said he would have voted against the bill, also, but was expecting GOP lawmakers to remove parts they found unfavorable instead of killing it.
"I would love to have photo voter ID installed today. The question is, at what cost?" said White, who added that he is open to the idea of early voting. "That bill needed to be amended to a point that it was acceptable."
Democrats have had their own splits about voter ID. In an attempt to put the years-long debate to rest, some members of the Legislative Black Caucus decided this year to support legislation that allowed voters to show various forms of ID.
Others remained opposed to any type of voter ID requirements on grounds that it would intimidate older African Americans who were threatened or harassed while trying to vote during the civil rights movement.
Political analysts say Republicans opposed to early voting are worried it will prompt more Democrats to vote.

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