Tag Archives: South Carolina

Following the pro forma session, the Senate will adjourn until 2:00pm on
Monday, October 3, 2011.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until
3:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the
motion to proceed to S.1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act
with the time until 4:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two
Leaders or their designees.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the
following nominations:
- Cal #113 Henry F. Floyd, of South Carolina, to be US Circuit Judge for the
  Fourth Circuit
- Cal #171 Nannette Jolivette Brown, of Louisiana, to be US District Judge for
  the Eastern District of Louisiana
- Cal #172 Nancy Torresen, of Maine, to be US District Judge for the District
  of Maine
- Cal #173 William Francis Kuntz, II, of New York, to be US District Judge for
  the Eastern District of New York
- Cal #184 Marina Garcia Marmolejo, of Texas, to be US District Judge for the
  Southern District of Texas
- Cal #357 Jennifer Guerin Zipps, of Arizona, to be US District Judge for the
  District of Arizona
With one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators
Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Calendar numbers 171, 172, 173, 184 and
357 will be confirmed by unanimous consent.
At 5:30pm, there will be 2 roll call votes in relation to the following:
- Confirmation of Calendar #113, Henry F. Floyd, of South Carolina, to be US
  Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, and
- Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #183, S.1619,
  the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act.

At 5:30pm, the Senate will conduct 2 roll call votes in relation to the
following:

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #113, Henry Floyd, of South Carolina, to
be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit and
Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #183, S.1619,
the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act.

VOTES

5:33pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Henry Floyd, of
South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Fourth Circuit;
Confirmed: 96-0

6:00pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the
motion to proceed to S.1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act;
Invoked: 79-19

No LEGISLATIVE
ITEMS

EXECUTIVE
ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #359, Robert Stephen Ford to be Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Syrian
Arab Republic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2:00:10 P.M.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

2:00:23 P.M.

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.

2:02:10 P.M.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

2:02:13 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

2:02:37 P.M.

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

2:08:00 P.M.

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 P.M. today.

4:02:11 P.M.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of October 3.

4:02:13 P.M.

Mr. Bishop (UT) asked unanimous consent That it be in order to take from the Speaker’s table H.R. 2608, with the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment thereto, and to consider in the House, without intervention of any point of order, a motion offered by the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or his designee that the House concur in the Senate amendment; that the Senate amendment be considered as read; that the motion be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without intervening motion. Agreed to without objection.

4:04:02 P.M.

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

4:04:16 P.M.

H.R. 686

Mr. Bishop (UT) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 686 — “To require the conveyance of certain public land within the boundaries of Camp Williams, Utah, to support the training and readiness of the Utah National Guard.”

4:04:45 P.M.

H.R. 686

Considered under suspension of the rules.

4:04:47 P.M.

H.R. 686

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 686.

4:07:43 P.M.

H.R. 686

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

4:08:13 P.M.

H.R. 765

Mr. Bishop (UT) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 765 — “To amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding additional recreational uses of National Forest System land that is subject to ski area permits, and for other purposes.”

4:08:24 P.M.

H.R. 765

Considered under suspension of the rules.

4:08:25 P.M.

H.R. 765

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 765.

4:12:16 P.M.

H.R. 765

4:13:00 P.M.

H.R. 489

Mr. Bishop (UT) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 489 — “To clarify the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir, and for other purposes.”

4:13:14 P.M.

H.R. 489

Considered under suspension of the rules.

4:13:19 P.M.

H.R. 489

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 489.

4:24:46 P.M.

H.R. 489

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

4:24:52 P.M.

H.R. 489

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

4:25:26 P.M.

H.R. 473

Mr. Bishop (UT) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 473 — “To provide for the conveyance of approximately 140 acres of land in the Ouachita National Forest in Oklahoma to the Indian Nations Council, Inc., of the Boy Scouts of America, and for other purposes.”

4:25:38 P.M.

H.R. 473

Considered under suspension of the rules.

4:25:40 P.M.

H.R. 473

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 473.

4:31:53 P.M.

H.R. 473

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

4:31:56 P.M.

H.R. 473

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

4:32:34 P.M.

H.R. 470

Mr. Bishop (UT) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 470 — “To further allocate and expand the availability of hydroelectric power generated at Hoover Dam, and for other purposes.”

4:32:49 P.M.

H.R. 470

Considered under suspension of the rules.

4:32:52 P.M.

H.R. 470

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 470.

4:44:08 P.M.

H.R. 470

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

4:44:12 P.M.

H.R. 470

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

4:45:00 P.M.

H.R. 670

Mr. Bishop (UT) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 670 — “To convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands.”

4:45:01 P.M.

H.R. 670

Considered under suspension of the rules.

4:45:05 P.M.

H.R. 670

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 670.

4:52:05 P.M.

H.R. 670

4:52:52 P.M.

S. Con. Res. 29

Mr. Harper moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. S. Con. Res. 29 — “Authorizing the use of the rotunda of the United States Capitol for an event to present the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., Michael Collins, and John Herschel Glenn, Jr., in recognition of their significant contributions to society.”

4:53:07 P.M.

S. Con. Res. 29

Considered under suspension of the rules.

4:53:09 P.M.

S. Con. Res. 29

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. Con. Res. 29.

5:01:25 P.M.

S. Con. Res. 29

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

5:01:28 P.M.

S. Con. Res. 29

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

5:01:44 P.M.

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting legislation and supporting documents to implement the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement – referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-58).

5:06:31 P.M.

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting legislation and supporting documents to implement the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement – referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-59).

5:10:14 P.M.

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting legislation and supporting documents to implement the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement – referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-60).

5:13:58 P.M.

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting letters exchanged between the United States and Korea that contain commitments to level to the playing field for U.S. businesses, workers, farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, investors, and service providers – referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-61).

5:15:00 P.M.

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.

6:30:00 P.M.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of October 3.

6:30:30 P.M.

H. Con. Res. 83

Mr. Rogers (KY) asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table and consider.

6:30:38 P.M.

H. Con. Res. 83

Considered by unanimous consent. H. Con. Res. 83 — “Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a further correction in the enrollment of H.R. 2608.”

6:30:41 P.M.

H. Con. Res. 83

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

6:30:44 P.M.

H. Con. Res. 83

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

6:31:01 P.M.

Mr. Nugent filed reports from the Committee on Rules, H. Res. 418 and H. Res. 419.

6:32:29 P.M.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

6:32:52 P.M.

H.R. 686

Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 686 — “To require the conveyance of certain public land within the boundaries of Camp Williams, Utah, to support the training and readiness of the Utah National Guard.”

6:54:10 P.M.

H.R. 686

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 400 – 0 (Roll no. 742).

6:54:10 P.M.

H.R. 686

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

6:55:11 P.M.

H.R. 765

Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 765 — “To amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding additional recreational uses of National Forest System land that is subject to ski area permits, and for other purposes.”

7:01:53 P.M.

H.R. 765

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 394 – 0 (Roll no. 743).

7:01:54 P.M.

H.R. 765

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

7:02:00 P.M.

H.R. 670

Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 670 — “To convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands.”

7:09:52 P.M.

H.R. 670

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 397 – 0 (Roll no. 744).

7:09:52 P.M.

H.R. 670

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

7:11:14 P.M.

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

7:30:29 P.M.

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

8:19:04 P.M.

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting the District of Columbia’s 2012 Budget Request Act – referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-62).

8:20:01 P.M.

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed Special Order speeches.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress: – the Republican led House – the Senate …Meeting only on pro forma basis so President Obama cannot apply recess appointments – in case you forgot, 3yrs later Republicans&some DEMS are still blocking Presidents nominees!

09/29/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene for a pro forma session only on Thursday, September
29, 2011 at 1:45pm.

Following the pro forma session, the Senate will adjourn until 2:00pm on
Monday, October 3, 2011.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until
3:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the
motion to proceed to S.1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act
with the time until 4:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two
Leaders or their designees.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the
following nominations:
- Cal #113 Henry F. Floyd, of South Carolina, to be US Circuit Judge for the
  Fourth Circuit
- Cal #171 Nannette Jolivette Brown, of Louisiana, to be US District Judge for
  the Eastern District of Louisiana
- Cal #172 Nancy Torresen, of Maine, to be US District Judge for the District
  of Maine
- Cal #173 William Francis Kuntz, II, of New York, to be US District Judge for
  the Eastern District of New York
- Cal #184 Marina Garcia Marmolejo, of Texas, to be US District Judge for the
  Southern District of Texas
- Cal #357 Jennifer Guerin Zipps, of Arizona, to be US District Judge for the
  District of Arizona
With one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators
Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Calendar numbers 171, 172, 173, 184 and
357 will be confirmed by unanimous consent.
At 5:30pm, there will be 2 roll call votes in relation to the following:
- Confirmation of Calendar #113, Henry F. Floyd, of South Carolina, to be US
  Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, and
- Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #183, S.1619,
  the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

11:00:00 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:01:07 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:01:19 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
11:02:45 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
11:02:49 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Culberson to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:03:20 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 27, 2011 at 10:54 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 2017, with amendments; and that the Senate passed H.R. 2608, with an amendment.
11:04:02 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 27, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 1280; that the Senate passed H.R. 2005, without amendment; that the Senate agreed to S.J. Res. 22, without amendment; and that the Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 81, without amendment.
11:05:00 A.M.	H.R. 2017	Mr. Culberson asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
11:05:23 A.M.	H.R. 2017	On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.
11:05:24 A.M.	H.R. 2017	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:05:25 A.M.		Mr. Culberson asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, September 29, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2011. Agreed to without objection.
11:06:00 A.M.		Mr. Culberson moved that the House do now adjourn.
11:06:10 A.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
11:06:11 A.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on October 3, 2011.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

State Voter ID Laws Draw National Scrutiny … what about North Carolina

09/15/2011 Nativegrl77

ABC News’ Michael Ono reports:

The Department of Justice is reviewing, and has the power to reject a controversial new law passed in South Carolina that requires a registered voter to present a government -issued photo ID before his or her vote is counted.

Gov. Nikki Haley signed the bill into law in May and she’s not alone. Four other states have passed similar voter ID laws in 2011, including Wisconsin, Texas, Tennessee and Kansas. But thanks to the DOJ, South Carolina’s law could still be rejected by federal officials.

And while other states have passed voter photo ID laws in the past, the laws passed in 2011 are by far the strictest with the exception of the law passed in 2005 by the state of Indiana.

Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act empowers the DOJ to review election laws passed in select southern sates as well as Alaska and some counties throughout the country. Crafted in a time of great racial stife, the act was meant to codify the power of the 15th Amendment, which forbids racial discrimination at the polling booth.

South Carolina, which is subject to federal review, is the only state to have petitioned the Obama Justice Department for approval while other states such as Texas opted to clear their law through the D.C. District Court, which is also permitted.

Critics of a stricter photo ID law argue that the requirement will make it tougher for poor and minority voters to cast their ballot while proponents call it a common sense provision.

Voters without the means to produce correct documents or the disabled can verify their identity through an affidavit but many still see the ID requirements as too burdensome.

“A number of state legislatures have taken up these bills and I think that it’s a growing concern nationally that the effect is going to be the suppression of the vote,” said Victoria Middleton, executive director for the South Carolina ACLU.

Republicans, in 2010, swept state legislatures across the country and have used the ensuing authority to pass various controversial measures, including laws that restrict funding to Planned Parenthood at the state level.

As for why the Obama Justice Department might be interested in the South Carolina law, fewer eligible minority voters could hurt the president because they tend to vote Democratic.

“These kinds of voter ID laws could make a difference on the margins and President Obama is fighting for every last percentage he can get,” said David Wasserman, a political analyst for the Cook Political Report.

As many as 11 percent of the voting population, or about 21 million people, do not have access to a government issued ID, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. Still, studies highlighted by the Heritage Foundation show that photo ID laws have no effect on minority voter turnout.

Wisconsin College students voting in their local college towns might also have trouble voting because the new voter ID law in Wisconsin require the ID to show an address that matches their voting precinct when many students will have an ID that comes from their hometown.

“It’s a significant impediment to a lot more casual younger voters,” Wasserman said.

And the college city of Madison, Wis., generates the state’s largest number of Democratic votes, according to Wasserman.

Still, there are many who like the new voter ID laws and disapprove of the DOJ’s inquiry, arguing that the federal government has no business in “pre-clearing” state election laws.

“It’s a historical artifact of the civil rights era,” said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch. “The idea that South Carolina needs to be treated today by the federal government is absurd.”

Hans von Spakovsky, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said, “The kind of widespread discrimination that occurred just doesn’t happen today.”

Some Democratic politicians aren’t so sure. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois will hold hearings on the new laws today in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham is the ranking Republican member on that Subcommittee and will attend the hearing.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Voter ID: The Phantom Menace

05/19/2011 Nativegrl77

At a time when states are struggling to close record budget deficits and grappling with important issues on everything from education to health care, Republican-led state legislatures across the country have fixated on a problem that doesn’t exist, but is politically advantageous: voter fraud. Although voter fraud is exceptionally rare and, when it does occur, is usually the result of confusion rather than malicious intent, Republicans have used the crisis atmosphere to advance laws that require voters to present certain approved forms of identification before they can cast their ballots. In this legislative session, at least thirty-seven state legislatures are considering or have considered voter ID or proof of citizenship legislation. As ThinkProgress has documented, these laws disenfranchise millions of voters and disproportionately affect key progressive constituencies, including seniors, college students, minorities, and low-income voters. Although voter ID laws cost states millions to implement, Republican governors and state legislatures have often pushed them through as “emergency measures” that demand expedited consideration for the sake of the budget. As Campus Progress first reported, the original prototype bill for voter ID legislation was drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative organization linked to the billionaire Koch brothers. In the run up to the 2012 election, these bills have a clear partisan intent and are predicted to depress voter turnout, in addition to robbing millions of citizens of their fundamental right to have a voice in the democratic process.

A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM: The allegation of widespread voter fraud is, of course, a Republican myth. During the George W. Bush administration, the Justice Department launched an exhaustive investigation of voter fraud – and turned up only 38 cases nationwide between October 2002 and September 2005, of which only 13 resulted in convictions. In 2007, New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice researched Republican charges of voter fraud and found that, “It is more likely that an individual will be struck by lightning than that he will impersonate another voter at the polls.” One article in a South Carolina paper astutely called voter fraud “the phantom menace” and “a non-existent threat.” Yet to hear Republicans tell the tale, voter fraud is a massive epidemic so threatening to our democracy that it’s necessary to disenfranchise millions of Americans in order to secure the “integrity of the ballot box.” Of course, making it more difficult for minorities, college students, the elderly, and the poor to vote does precisely the opposite — it weakens our democracy, depressing turnout and making election results less representative of the people’s will. In short, the only fraud being perpetrated is the allegation of voter fraud.

LOCKING THE BALLOT BOX: Yesterday, South Carolina became the tenth state to adopt voter identification legislation. Texas will likely become the eleventh this week or next when Gov. Rick Perry (R) signs the bill presented to him on Monday. Earlier this month, the Florida legislature passed a “sweeping rewrite” of state election law at “head-spinning speed.” Governor Rick Scott (R) is expected to approve the legislation when it reaches his desk. Facing an unprecedented recall effort, Wisconsin Republican have been trying to hustle through their own voter ID bill that will go into effect immediately – a clear sign they are scared of the upcoming elections. The speed at which the state’s bill is advancing has alarmed the board that overseas elections, whose director commented, “There has been no time for the careful evaluation and vetting needed to ensure the best options for voters and election officials is enacted.” And even though New Hampshire’s voter ID bill has not yet become state law, illegal signs have appeared at some polling stations demanding voters show ID before they vote. While dramatically restricting access to the ballot box through ID requirements, Republicans have also successfully limited or prohibited early voting and other provisions intended to make it easier for the most vulnerable citizens to vote. In Florida, a state that implemented early voting as a reform to “prevent embarrassments like the 2000 election,” the voter ID bill under consideration would cut the time for early voting from fourteen days to eight. In South Carolina, Gov. Haley and her Republican allies insisted on a “clean” version of the bill that would not allow early voting. One publication noted that passing a voter ID bill without early voting demonstrates a clear “partisan bias.” On Tuesday, Senate Democrats in Wisconsin spent nine hours proposing amendments to the voter ID bill, including an amendment to ensure the disabled community’s ability to vote absentee. Republicans shot down every motion. While these measures will be disastrous for minority voting rights, they’ve already been good for some political careers. A South Carolina Republican was named “Legislator of the Year” for his relentless efforts over three years to pass voter ID legislation.

THE TRUE COST: The dozens of states considering voter ID laws are discovering just how expensive it is to disenfranchise their citizens. A Brennan Center report points out that these laws impose a huge financial burden on states, and concludes that implementing voter ID legislation “will involve money states simply don’t have.” It will cost Texas taxpayers $2 million next year to implement the proposed law — “not a small amount of money for a state with a budget deficit of about $27 billion.” Florida’s bill will cost more than $5.7 million to implement, at a time when Gov. Scott Walker (R) is claiming the state is broke and needs to restrict public employees’ collective bargaining rights to survive. Of course, the real cost to states and the country isn’t just financial. These laws could disenfranchise up to 12 percent of the American electorate. South Carolina’s new law “immediately disenfranchises eight percent of registered voters in the state,” or 180,000 citizens, according to the NAACP and ACLU. In Wisconsin, 175,000 seniors — 70 percent of them women — do not have a driver’s licenses and may have to “get a ride at least 50 miles round trip to obtain an identification card to enable them to continue their constitutional right to vote,” according to one state senator. In a country with a long history of denying suffrage to minority groups, voter ID bills revive painful memories of racial segregation and disenfranchisement. It’s not hard too see troubling echoes of Jim Crow in the new wave of legislation. When the South Carolina House looked as if it would pass the legislation last year, “members of the Legislative Black Caucus and others stood up and walked out of the House chamber to show their collective disgust.” Democrats say it’s no coincidence that Republicans renewed their disenfranchisement efforts after Barack Obama was elected president. “In 2008, we had too many black folk, too many brown folk, too many poor folk voting,” said South Carolina state Representative David J. Mack III. “They (Republicans) can’t have that in 2012.”