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Texas AG files suit over voter ID law

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Monday launched another public rebuke of President Barack Obama’s administration, filing a suit in court seeking quick implementation of the state's new voter identification law.

The law, which requires voters to show photo identification before casting ballots in elections, is on hold as the U.S. Department of Justice determines its compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The act seeks to prevent the disenfranchisement of minority voters in states with a history of discrimination.

Abbott is now trying to fast-track the law, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, by asking a federal panel of judges to give it the go ahead. He suggests in court documents that the Department of Justice is stalling and could ultimately reject the state’s voter identification legislation as it did in South Carolina.

In South Carolina’s case, the Department of Justice said the law discriminated against minorities who had higher numbers of voters without photo identification than their white counterparts.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that voter identification laws are constitutional,” Abbott said in a statement, referring to states that are not subject to the Voting Rights Act. “Texas should be allowed the same authority other states have to protect the integrity of elections.”

Democrats and Republicans in the state have long battled over the passage of laws that require photo identification at the polls. The measure— requiring voters to show a driver's license, state-issued personal ID card, military ID, U.S. passport, citizenship certificate, or concealed handgun license—sailed through the Texas legislature last year after Republican lawmakers established large majorities in the House and Senate.

Voters, who are considered disabled by the Social Security Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs, are exempt from providing photo identification.

The law provides free state-issued “election identification certificates” to Texans who say they need one to vote. It also allows voters to cast a provisional ballot without photo identification but they would have to return in six days with proof. Otherwise, their ballots would not be counted.

Supporters of the law say it curbs fraud in elections and simply requires voters to show a photo at the polls just as they would when writing a check.

Opponents say proof of widespread voter fraud does not exist. They argue that the measure suppresses the votes of poor and minority voters who do not have photo identification.

The Department of Justice, which received Texas’ request that it clear the voter ID law in July, has twice sought a breakdown of minority voters with and without state-issued photo identification.

State Rep. Naomi Gonzalez, D-El Paso, called the voter ID law and the latest legal action by the attorney general a “waste of taxpayer money” and an example of “bigger government.”

Gonzalez, state Sen. Jose Rodriguez and state Reps. Marisa Marquez and Inocente “Chente” Quintanilla—all Democrats--voted against the law. State Reps. Dee Margo, R-El Paso, and Joe Pickett, a democrat, supported the measure.

“Part of the reason the DOJ is requesting information and has not implemented our specific law is there is a gross lack of detail on how exactly Texas is going to implement this voter ID law,” Gonzalez said.

Updated: Democrat calls on Perry to reimburse state for travel expenses

A Democratic leader in the Texas House is calling on Gov. Rick Perry to reimburse state taxpayers for the retirement disbursements and the millions spent on his security detail while he traveled out of the state for his presidential bid.

State Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, who heads the Texas House Democratic caucus, sent a letter to Perry asking that he return the $2.6 million the state paid for DPS troopers to accompany him during his presidential run and the $92,000 he collected in retirement money. She said in the letter "we could put that money back into classrooms, health services, or disaster relief services. I am open to your suggestions."

But that is unlikely, according to Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed, who issued a terse retort. Nashed said "not a dime of the governor’s political travel was borne by Texas taxpayers."

"Gov. Perry is governor no matter where he goes and the Department of Public Safety has a policy of providing security for governors and their families everywhere they travel, as they have back several administrations," Nashed said. "These policies are determined by DPS and not the governor’s office. It’s unfortunate that we live in a day and age where security is an issue. We respect and appreciate the officers who provide security for the Governor and First Lady and other state officials, just as they’ve done for decades."

Perry's retirement allows him to collect his pension while still serving as governor. Nashed said that "is consistent with Texas state law and Employees Retirement System rules." 

"We’re encouraged to see Rep. Farrar wanting to join the ranks of fiscal conservatives in Texas, and look forward to her joining our efforts to persuade Congress and President Obama to repeal the fiscally irresponsible mandates of Obamacare, noting the importance that our nation live within its means," Nashed said.

Below is the letter issued today by state Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston:

Dear Governor Perry:

I want to be the first person to welcome you back to Texas. We have a lot of work to do for our great state, and I know you are ready to get started.

I have a few ideas as to where we should begin our work, but first I want to make a confession to you, and it's a big one. Okay, here it goes: I… am a fiscal conservative. Yes, I admit it.

As a fiscal conservative, I believe government is supposed to be a wise steward of tax dollars. I believe that if the government must spend money, it should be for essential public services, like education, infrastructure, health services for the young and elderly, and disaster relief. I believe that unnecessary government spending is not just morally wrong, it is criminal. Tax dollars do not belong to the government or elected officials; tax dollars belong to taxpayers.

One way to protect taxpayers' money is by not spending it unnecessarily. But, if someone discovers tax dollars have been spent unnecessarily, it should be reimbursed either to general revenue or directly to taxpayers. With this in mind, I suggest you reimburse Texas taxpayers for the money you spent on travel expenses leading up to your withdraw from the GOP primary race. As of mid-January, you spent approximately $2.6 million of taxpayer money.

Additionally, because I know you take pride in being a fellow fiscal conservative, please also return the $92,376 in "retirement" pension you received last year, despite the fact that you have not retired.

 Please submit to the Texas Comptroller's Office a check in the amount of $2,692,376, plus any other expenses related to your out-of-state campaign activity that you charged to Texas taxpayers.

Given that $2,692,376 million amounts to about ten cents for each Texan, direct reimbursement from the Comptroller to taxpayers does not seem like a wise expenditure of taxpayers' money -- stamps are expensive these days. Instead, we could put that money back into classrooms, health services, or disaster relief services. I am open to your suggestions.

As a fellow fiscal conservative, I look forward to working with you during your final term as Texas governor to identify ways to eliminate unnecessary government spending. We have a lot of work to do, so let's get started before you leave.

Very sincerely,

Jessica Farrar

State Representative, District 148

Text of Perry's speech

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's campaign released the text of his speech dropping out of the race for president.

Here is a copy:

Text of Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks

1/19/12, North Charleston, S.C.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - Below is the text of Gov. Perry's speech today. 

*NOTE: Gov. Perry sometimes deviates from prepared remarks.

Thank you. As I have stated numerous times on the campaign trail, this campaign has never been about the candidates.

I ran for President because I love America, our people and our freedom.  

But the mission is greater than the man.  

As I have traveled across this great country: from New Hampshire to California, from Iowa to Florida, and to numerous states in between, I have discovered a tremendous purpose and resiliency in our people. 

They have never lost hope despite current circumstances. 

They haven't stopped believing in the promise of America or the American Dream. 

Americans are down, but we can never be counted out. We are too great a people. 

What is broken in America is not our people, but our politics. 

And what we need is a Washington that is humbler, with a federal government that is smaller so our people can live freer.

I entered this campaign offering a unique perspective: a governor who has led a large state leading the nation in job creation, an executive leader who has implemented conservative policies, a son of tenant farmers born with little more than a good name, but who has experienced the great possibilities of freedom. 

But I have never believed that the cause of conservatism is embodied by any one individual.

Our party, and the conservative philosophy, transcends any one individual. 

It is a movement of ideas that are greater than any one of us, and that will live beyond our years.

As a former Air Force pilot, I know we can't lose track of the ultimate objective in carrying out our mission, and that objective is not only to defeat President Obama, but to replace him with a conservative leader who will bring about real change.

Our country is hurting with more than 13 million unemployed, nearly 50 million on food stamps and a debt of more than $15 trillion and growing.

We need bold, conservative leadership that will take on the entrenched interests and give the American People their country back.

I have always believed the mission is greater than the man. 

As I have contemplated the future of this campaign, I have come to the conclusion that there is no viable path to victory for my candidacy in 2012.

Therefore, today I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich for president.

I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform our country. 

We have had our differences, which campaigns inevitably bring out. And Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?

The fact is, there is forgiveness for those who seek God and I believe in the power of redemption, for it is a central tenet of my own Christian faith. 

And I have no question Newt Gingrich has the heart of a conservative reformer, the ability to rally and captivate the conservative movement and the courage to tell the Washington interests to take a hike if it's what is best for the country.

As a Texan, I have never shied away from a good fight, especially when the cause was right. 

But as someone who has always admired a great Texas forefather -- Sam Houston -- I know when it is time for a "strategic retreat."

So I will leave the trail, return home to Texas and wind down my 2012 campaign organization.  And I will do so with pride knowing I gave myself fully to a cause worthy of our country. 

And as I head home, I do so with the love of my life by my side, a woman who makes every day a good one when she is by my side, my wife Anita. 

Thank you Anita for all you have done.

I also want to thank my son Griffin, my daughter Sydney, and my daughter-in-law Meredith for standing with us in this great effort.

With a good wife, three wonderful children, and a loving God in my life, things will be good no matter what the future holds.

I'm proud of the policies we put forward to the American people and believe they provide the right path forward for our party and our nation: overhauling Washington and returning power to state and local governments and to the people, creating energy jobs and energy security, cutting spending and eliminating unnecessary federal agencies and cutting taxes to a flat, fair 20 percent.   

And I will continue to fight for these conservative reforms because the future of our country is at stake and the road we are traveling today - President Obama's road - endangers our future.

I want to thank some wonderful individuals who have stood by my side in this state: Katon Dawson, Ambassador Wilkins, and a strong and good man serving you in Congress, Mick Mulvaney.

I want to thank all my supporters from across the country, in particular Governor Bobby Jindal, Steve Forbes and Governor Sam Brownback, as well as Senator Jim Inhofe, Congresswoman Candice Miller and Congressman Sam Graves.

And I want to say a special thanks to three distinguished veterans who have joined me on the campaign trail: Medal of Honor awardee and Navy SEAL Mike Thornton, Navy Cross recipient Marcus Luttrell and Purple Heart recipient, Marine Captain Dan Moran.

I began this race with a sense of calling. 

I felt led into this arena to fight for the future of this country. 

I feel no different today than I did then, knowing a calling never guarantees a particular destination, but a journey that tests one's faith and character.

So now the journey leads us back to Texas, neither discouraged nor disenchanted, but instead rewarded for the experience and resolute to remain in the arena and in the service of a great nation. 

Our country needs bold leadership and a real transformation. 

We must rise to the occasion and elect a conservative champion to put our nation back on the right track.  

And this I know, I am not done fighting for the cause of conservatism. In fact I have only begun to fight. 

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

Updated: Rick Perry drops out of presidential race

South Carolina will no longer be Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s last hurrah.

Perry ended his bid for president at a news conference this morning in South Carolina and endorsed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. GOP candidates will participate in a debate tonight ahead of South Carolina's primary election on Saturday.

"I have come to the conclusion that there is no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign," Perry said. "Therefore, today, I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich for president of the United States."

"I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform our country," Perry said. "We've had our differences, which campaigns will inevitably have and Newt's not perfect but who among us is."

The news has El Paso supporters reflecting on a brief campaign that saw Perry initially take a lead in polls before poor debate performances eroded support.

“I just thought he had a great chance,” Ted Houghton, chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission, said. “I think he would have made a great president and I’m sorry to see that others in the country didn’t get to see him as I know him.”

Contributions to unopposed incumbents

Below are contributions to El Paso incumbents for the state House and state Senate who are unopposed. The figures run from July 1 through Dec. 31, the latest campaign filing period.

•State Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, collected $8,750. He spent $23,633 and has $125,315 on hand.
•State Rep. Naomi Gonzalez, D-El Paso, received $34,879. She spent $33,109 and has $8,043 in the bank.
•State Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, raised $116,260. He spent $99,022 and has $103,255 left to spend.

Margo raises more than $84,000 in contributions

State Rep. Dee Margo, R-El Paso, did not wait for the primary election to wrap up to start gearing up for his rematch against former Democratic state Rep. Joe Moody.

Margo received $84,686 in political contributions between July 1 and Dec. 31, according to campaign finance reports released today. He spent $76,696 and has $67,228 remaining in the bank.

Moody raised $13,025 during the same time period. He spent $5,913 and has $13,986 left to spend.

Newcomer leads House District 75 donations

Newcomer Mary Edna Gonzalez has substantially more money in the bank than her opponents in the race for House District 75.

Gonzalez, with help from Annie's List, a political action committee that raises money for Democratic women candidates, received $21,326 in the month of December. She spent $1,854 and has $19,483 left to spend on her campaign.

County Comissioner Willie Gandara Jr. has no money left in the bank, according to his latest campaign finance report that runs from July 1 to Dec. 31. He collected $5,107 during that time period and spent $11,875.

Community College Board Trustee Art Fierro has about $470 in the bank, according to reports. He raised about $2,625 and spent $2,034.

Campaign finance reports were not yet available for Hector Enriquez with T & T Staffing.

State Rep. Marquez dwarfs challenger's donations

State Rep. Marisa Marquez, D-El Paso, has $33,900 in the bank left to spend on her reelection campaign, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

That is a stark contrast from her opponent, Ricardo Aaron Barraza, who did not have any money in the bank as of the end of the year.

Marquez raised $52,978 and spent $44,052 between July 1 and Dec. 31.  Barraza, who entered the race last month, received a $38.05 in-kind donation for a domain name between Dec. 19 and Dec. 31. He did not spend any money, according to his report.

Check back for more updates.

Transparency task force to meet Wednesday

State Rep. Marisa Marquez, D-El Paso, and school board members will participate Wednesday in the first meeting of the Task Force for School Board Transparency.

The task force, created by Marquez, will address selection criteria for school board members and the superintendent, increased access to campaign financial reports and financial accountability for district employees. 

The meeting will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Board Room of El Paso Community College Administrative Services Center, 9050 Viscount Boulevard. It is open to the public.

"The goal of the task force is to bring the members of different school districts together and identify potential barriers to increased transparency in school boards," Márquez said. 

 

Audience boos Romney's connection to Mexico

The audience at last night's GOP presidential debate seemed to boo Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney's ties to Mexico.

Below is a short video. I will try to find a better clip to post by the end of the day.