GOP Governor Vetoes Voter ID Portions of Michigan Elections Reform Package
- Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:03pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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Governor Rick Snyder has surprised Michigan Democrats and fellow Republicans by vetoing three bills within a Republican-backed elections reform package that would have placed new restrictions on voter registration drives, required voters reaffirm U.S. citizenship and show photo ID before receiving a ballot. While signing into law 11 less controversial bills of the package, the rejection of H.B. 5061, S.B. 754 and S.B. 803 has stunned members of his own party.
“The speaker believes strongly that only U.S. citizens should be voting in U.S. elections,” Ari Adler, a spokesman for disappointed Michigan Speaker of the House Jase Bolger, told the Detroit Free Press. “Having a simple check box on the registration also may protect noncitizens from placing themselves at legal risk by voting when they are not yet eligible.”
“All that my measure required was for registered voters to answer whether they are U.S. citizens before being allowed to vote. It is a common-sense solution that corrects the problem of noncitizens voting,” sponser of vetoed S.B. 803, state Sen. Darwin Booher told POLITICO. “Governor Snyder has missed an opportunity today to protect the integrity of our elections process.”
“I introduced this bill to reduce election fraud and make sure every vote is fairly counted,” H.B. 5061 State Rep. Brad Jacobsen also said. “Like the governor, I don’t want to create any confusion in the upcoming election.”
The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law says Snyder is the first Republican governor to veto any of the “180 restrictive voting measures” that have been introduced across the country since the beginning of 2011.
Snyder received praised for the move from long-serving Democratic Congressman John Conyers of Detroit.
“I was strongly opposed to the voting measures passed by the Republican-controlled State House, and I am pleased Gov. Snyder did the right thing and vetoed three of the measures,” Conyers said in a press release.
“There is no more fundamental right in our democracy than the right to vote,” Conyers went on to say. “I hope that both parties can work together in Lansing, Washington and around the nation to facilitate this precious right.”
Snyder explained his vetoes in a press release.
“While Snyder supports the concept of training individuals involved in voter registration, he said changes with the registration of third party voter registration organizations, and the timing and training of those entities, may cause confusion with ongoing voter registration efforts,” the release reads for S.B. 754.
For H.B. 5061 and S.B. 803 aimed at preventing voter fraud through reaffirmation of U.S. citizenship and photo ID before receiving a ballot, the release reads “Snyder said he appreciates the issue of ensuring voters are eligible and U.S. citizens, however this legislation could create voter confusion among absentee voters.”



















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Comments (248)
OlefromMN
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:04pmAnd we were appalled over the manner in which Anthony Wiener exposed himself? Gov. Snyder just topped that.
Report Post »Politician University
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:16pmWould this Governors claim to be a conservative republican considered “Lying, Cheating, or stealing”? http://www.thePUschool.com
Report Post »321481
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:18pmOn Independence Day no less! He is helping to deliver Mich to Obama. How many more surprises are coming before Nov?
Report Post »BreeZee
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:28pmLessons from Roberts “How to be a RINO 101”
Report Post »This is why I am leaving Republican party after Nov. I am sick and tired of the GOP constantly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Time after time the GOP has done this stupid crap. Lets see?, all the GOP had to do with the Bush tax cut extension was? NOTHING! NADA! ZIP ZERO but NOOOOOOO! It would have been the obama tax hikes! The GOP held all the aces,, it was the same with the debt ceiling. I am done with the progressives attacking and the GOP kissing their asses and then thanking them for it……
AzThunder
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:37pmI left the REPUBLICAN PARTY after roberts ruling on heathcare. I won’t vote for any republican even in November.
Report Post »Bum thrower
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:37pmIs he gonna switch parties or declare himself a RINO?
Report Post »mils
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:20pmour nation appears to be a house of cards….
Report Post »historyguy48
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:22pmJust another “progressive”. It doesn’t matter anyway because Obama will use the coming crises to cancel the elections anyway.
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:24pmWhat is fun to read are the comments that claim disdain for “less than conservative” politicians by stating they will not vote for a Republican again. Really? The current Democrat party has a more conservative platform? I think not.
With Snyder and Roberts we have two people that have strayed from the flock and need to be brought back in or left for the tundra. Nothing more, nothing less.
Report Post »BreeZee
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:28pmI didn‘t say I wouldn’t vote for a GOP, I am tired of the “establishment” GOP. They are spineless and losers. They have not stood up to the progressives and that is why our country is in trouble. When some of the GOP members, new and old voted to have our rights stripped by barry last year in that defense bill was the final straw.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 10:46pmThe parties have been infiltrated, nothing is what you think it is. The same people are in charge either way. The solution here is going to be quite the challenge and it will take someone a hole lot smarter than me to figure this out.
Report Post »txjb
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:07pmoldfrommn, it’s not just thoses two . Probably most repubs really don’t care about this country , if they do then where are they ? I don’t hear them shouting , protesting , demanding obama resign . This country is swirling down the toilet , we have no God fearing leaders . They are all scared !!
Report Post »Patrick Henry II
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:24pmThese Rinos are going to be exposing themselves in mass in the coming months. Just wait until January when it comes to repealing Obamacare, If the Rinos are unable to deliver a Obama victory in November they will fight repeal even if it means they do not get re-elected. Obama care can hypothetically be repealed by the end of Romney’s first day if we have enough Republican cooperation. ** Assuming Republicans gain control of the Senate and Romney wins office. It only reqiuires 51 votes to repeal in the senate not 60 due to the way it was passed and what the SCOTUS defined it.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:22amThese guys are frauds. They’re all the same. Roberts, Snyder, Obama, Bush, Romney… all the same.
Report Post »On Eagle Wings
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:50amThis is something your Republican base will remember, as a proud Michigan voter, guess what, you just lost my vote
Report Post »Leavon
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:40amMichigan is lost to the Muslims anyway, the whole state will have to be retaken.
Report Post »contkmi
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:41amPitiful. We in Michigan finally got rid of the complete failure that was J. Granhole (now residing on Algore’s TV network or something – doesn’t that say it all?), now we have to put up with this lib-lite.
I’m gonna have a hard time voting for him again once the election comes around.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:45am.
Report Post »Look up RINO in the dictionary and
Snyder’s picture is next to it.
Al Otto
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:22amhey its nothing…. US citizens dont have rights because the illegal are without a voice in congress…
Report Post »Michigander
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:25amI know for a fact that there are thousands of illegal aliens registered to vote in Michigan.
I used to work for the Michigan Secretary of State. For many years we gave Michigan driver’s licenses and photo ID cards to illegal aliens. We had to, there was no law against it, then they changed the law to require a SS# or proof of legal entry into the US before you could apply for DL or ID, and before you could renew it. We also got a program that would tell us if the person with the DL or ID card was registered to vote. On those occasions when I had to deny a renewal because there was no SS# or proof of legal entry, I checked the computer to see if they were registered to vote. The number who were made me sick. Unfortunately, there was no process to report these things, there was no way to deny a voter’s registration. The ONLY way this could be corrected is to ask for a DL or ID card when the person votes, because now the ILLEGALS CANNOT GET ONE. Just common sense and they still oppose it.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:14pmHe is committing political suicide in the name of political correctness.
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:31pmFire this RINO. At a bar you have to show your license. How can you let anyone vote before they prove who they are? OH GOD, stop the world, I want to get off.
Report Post »anomnomnommm
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:06pmJust because you don’t do everything that your party does does not mean that you are not part of it. This is the whole problem with politics today. Everyone just wants an “us vs. them” war, when really it is (and should be) much more subtle than that. We are human beings after all.
Report Post »charleyrocks
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 3:35pmevery person in canada has to produce ID , this avoids voter fraud! Why on earth would the usa complain about this the left does not want a legal vote?????
Report Post »wezzie
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 4:29pmWhat a trader to Michigan. You coward for not standing up to the people who elected you. What? Did you get a big paycheck from Obana or Roberts. Your even for agenda 21. We need another Scott Walker, sure as he– not these COWARDS
Report Post »toto
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 5:29pmConforming to ethics and honestly on paper is not to be allowed. Disgusting, Sick. The more I see and hear about our dear leaders the more convinced I am that we have already lost the very essence of America. Neither party behaves in a way that the founding fathers could stomach.
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:58pmMichigander: Our fine DOJ Holder sued Florida for what the state is required to do…clean to voter roles. Is there irony there or what? And Snyder stands along side whom?
WEZZIE: Snyder is no Scott Walker. In fact he is Scott Walker X .15 – the state knew he would he would coddle Detroit and pander the Union vote. He may be Granholm minus the moles and out of drag.
Report Post »TaterSalad
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:24pmI am from Michigan and we will now primary this jerk when his next re-election bid comes up. He is history!
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:03pmhe says it causes confusion for who ? what a RINO what part of voter ID dosen’t he understand he was a mistake for Michiganders unless your a progressive
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:38pmThe Tea Party has been alerted . This twerp is finished
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:46pmIllegal Mexicans and their anchor babies arent the majority YET.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:57pmThese R’s need to get some backbones .. seems the MEN are the ones who are born spineless .. the women (Brewer, Palin, ME!) have a spine … another CAVE! Stick a fork in him he is DONE! btw .. I have a friend in the Michigan Senate (R) .. I am certain to hear the backstory on this.
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:30pmTea Part alerted?
Give me a break.
They couldn’t stop the Supreme Court from legitamizing the HealthCare Law or Orin Hatch from keeping his seat.
They are nothing but a bunch of blowhards trumped up with more delusion than Obama.
Report Post »ObserverOnTheHill
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:02pmA great book on how the communists have taken over our institutions – churches, schools, businesses, government, Military and now our court system is
– The Naked Truth: The Naked Communist – Revisited
by James C. Bowers
http://www.amazon.com/The-Naked-Truth-Communist-Revisited/dp/093616316X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339153878&sr=8-1
He discusses how W. Cleon Skousen ( author of the 5000 Year Leap ) was an FBI agent for 16 years and was concerned about the implementation of what he felt were the top 45 stated goals of the communists at that time. You will be shocked how successfully their plans have been completed. A MUST READ book for any freedom loving American. Please pass on to others when done reading – SPREAD THE WORD
Also – A MUST SEE – watch the youtube video of Yuri Bezmenov, from the 80′s with G. Edward Griffin ( Jekyll Island author ). A Soviet KGB defector, he tells how it was his job to infiltrate these institutions and place communist supporters in positions of leadership and power. He was successful in doing so. Mind boggling stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qkf3bajd4
Report Post »321481
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:01pmJohn Roberts, Rick Snyder, these are just two people that have mislead Americans when they pretended to be conservative and loyal to our country and are not. How many more are going to show themselves for what they really are! Our country is in the shape it is in because the rot is in both parties. This problem is much bigger than any thought it was. Obama has more “conrads” than just the guys with a D.
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:00pmOh no….another traitorous RINO. Hope the Tea Party, other patriots note this and take it seriously and vote him OUT…..only good news I see is that it exposed him for what he really is. I just hope there’s enough people with common sense and patriotism to do something about it.
Report Post »masimo
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:28pmI think we are past the point of voting people, we need to think about what our founding fathers said when the government stops representing us. It doesnt appear that voting matters anymore
Report Post »million
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:54pmOne day soon it will dawn on you that our political system has become a sham. Both parties have been in kahoots for years and years taking turns playing kiss the baby or should I say screwing the pooch, the pooch being the American citizen. Just think about Obummer sealing all his records that would exspose the rat for who he really is without a whimper about it from the repugs during the 2008 sham, err-um-aa election I mean. Wake-up people! We are lambs being prepped slaughter. BAAAAAA
Report Post »bdandsl
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:45pmHe must be coming up on an election and needs his base.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:01pmHe just had a Chief Justice John Roberts’ moment.
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:39pmThey are trying to recall him so he has to suck up to the unions he is finished either way.
Report Post »fckrisk
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:42pmWell pal, you just lost my and my wife’s vote next election. Next time run as a Democrat which I think you really are especially with the bridge issue.
Report Post »Sewn Together
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:14pmAnd here I thought we might be finally moving in the right directions after the disaster that was Jenny. *sigh*
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:06pmI‘m surprised the bridge issue hasn’t garnered more attention. It is an obvious payoff for the Unions but it has yet to reach the attention of the voters in Michigan. are they all asleep?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:58pmSo glad I got out when the getting was good … I left in Jenny’s first term .. .it was enough for me!
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:42pmMichigan ranks right up to Chicago and New York for corruption.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:21amIf John Conyers is praising him, you know you have the wrong man in the Governor’s mansion.
Report Post »bdandsl
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:33pmWhy are democrats so afraid of a fair and honest election? Because the CITIZENS would not vote in liberals, so they need illegals, convicts and dead people to win!
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:28pmOn reflection: The mooslums have taken over Detroit. He wants to be re-elected, so he looks to the base that he thinks will give him the votes.
There are 2 thougfhts here, since he is supposedly a Republican: Sellout and Traitor!
Report Post »oddball130
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:28pmIllegals are voting in elections across America. Dems dont want to require an id for obvious reasons. It depends who you are as to whether the laws work for you. And really when the law applies to some and not to others, then there is no law.
Report Post »randy
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:26pm“There is no more fundamental right in our democracy than the right to vote,” Conyers went on to say.
We are a FREA@#ng REPUBLIC!!!
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:34pmWrong! The operative word here is WERE!
Remember in November!
Lock and Load!
Report Post »rawmilker
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:13pmAmen SKEWEDRETIREE…its soon be time to tar & feather some of these weasels in office…nothing a good assbeating and thrashing won’t fix.
We have been passive for too long!
I’m with you, lock and load. brothers & sisters……lock & load.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:52pmEvery body knows that, but it doesn’t mean anything. Almost every country in the world today is a republic, since that just means that it isn’t a monarchy. We aren’t living in ancient Greece or ancient Rome or in the eighteenth century. When anyone uses the word democracy today, they mean a republic like ours with an elected legislature. That’s what every country that is ever referred to as a democracy has. There are no countries with pure democratic governments in the ancient Greek sense where the people directly vote on every issue. Making a big deal out of using the words republic and democracy the same way they were used centuries ago is just a verbal gimmick conservative pundits use to imply without saying that the Republican Party more embodies the founding principles of this country than the Democratic Party does without looking like hypocrites when they turn around and claim that the two parties are just the same to support a different argument about another issue.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:47pm@Chet Hampstead: Some of us are ready to give what we already gave: our lives in service to our Country. We swore the oath and declared a pledge to Protect and Defend the Consitution of the United States. We expected our “elected representatives” to do the same.
Remember the scence in The Untouchables with Sean Connery?
“What are you prepared to do?”
Well, we did not swear the oath for nothing. Take that as Gospel.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:43pmSkrewedretiree
Report Post »Our elected representatives also take an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Under the Constitution that you respect so much your opinion on whether they’ve kept that oath or not doesn’t count for any more than anybody else’s, so the only thing you can do without violating your own oath is to vote for somebody else in the next election.
Inlightofthings
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:00pmCHET HEMPSTEAD
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 7:52pm
Every body knows that, but it doesn’t mean anything. Almost every country in the world today is a republic…
________________________________
I canNOT stop laughing…
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:25pmInlightofthings
Report Post »Yeah, that’s right. Try looking in a dictionary. You’ll find that one definition of the word republic is a state with an elected legislature like ours, but another is any state that isn’t run by a monarch. Most of the world’s dictatorships have the word republic in their name – People’s Republic of China, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Cuba. The difference between our kind of republic and their kind of republic is that ours is democratic, in the sense of that word as it is used in this century (excerpt in North Korea where they also stuck the word democratic in the name of their country in an attempt to make it as meaningless as republic).
Inlightofthings
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:43amChester:
Report Post »I’m still chuckling. The founders clearly knew the Republic they developed and also made it clear it’s there if we can keep it. I don‘t much care for other country’s views or definitions of Republic or Democracy unlike Justice Ginsburg. If people understood it we certainly wouldn’t spend as much time working to modify and shape it into something it was never intended to be. I felt your comment marginalized what we have accomplished and the sacrifices made. I have no doubt if a progressive developed and Ad campaign they could effectively market the Republic of Botswana over the U.S. Want to pack your bags?..I don’t.
dennisS
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:25pmThe simple fact is: dead people, non-citizens and felons make up a large percentage of the Progressive vote. That along with ‘vote early, vote often‘ and you have the perfect formula for obama’s next 40 years in office, and yes, that’s what it will be if he gets in in November. Snyder see’s the handwriting on the wall and wants to ingratiate himself to the Dear Leader.
Report Post »JDale
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:21amAbsolutely agreed. Gov. Rick Snyder has practically handed Michigan to Obama based on voter fraud alone. A fair vote with voter ID requirements might even give Romney a chance this election cycle. But Snyder wanted to be on the “correct side” of the future Fuhrer, I suppose.
That the Tea Party has been alerted is a good thing — but they really can’t do anything about it before the election now. That’s the nature of a betrayal like this. The Tea Party didn’t see it coming. They can PROMISE a primary challenge to this jerk when he faces re-election again (2014) — but that assumes that there will BE elections in 2014 — or for that matter, in 2012. Right now, I think there is a chance they DON’T happen….
Critical period: from Labor Day weekend to October 15th. I look for a European economic collapse, and/or an attack on Iran by Israel and/or us — either way we will be drawn in, as will most if not all the Middle Eastern nations. That will be a MESS — and economic collapse here would become much more likely. ANd of course, with economic collapse, war with Iran and possible terrorist attacks by Iranians going on here on our soil — I WONDER what President Obama might do?
Declare a national emergency? Maybe martial law? Possibly suspend the Constitution? “Postpone” elections?…. NO! He’d NEVER do that. Silliness. Forgive such idle speculation….
Report Post »randy
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:25pmHis Political days are numbered.
Report Post »When it the next governors race?
Skrewedretiree
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:24pmRINO! Republican In Name Only!
So: How many Hispanic votes does he expect to get as opposed to those Repubcan votes he will LOSE? Or does he figure the Reps will just vote for him anyway, as they “have no where else to go”?
Tea Party: Run a candidate. You will win.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 8:35pmWe will. And it will be an American.
Report Post »intercepter
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:24pmI don’t get why they think this is right ,last I looked US citizens can’t vote in canada or mexico or other countries,,I guess they don’t want things swayed one way or the other ,,,go figure
Report Post »My Two Cents
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:21pmHe must be currying favor. Show favoritism to the illegals and get their vote.
Report Post »aChameleon
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:21pmEver get the feeling this whole politics thing is just a waste of time?
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:32amI do. And the people keep lapping it up like a dog laps up his own puke. They actually think that things will change by voting. lol. Yep, I believe that one.
Report Post »homeschooler
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:20pmI am sick and tired of this!!!!!
The excuse of causing confusion with absentee voters is ridiculous.
In MA you are in the minority speaking English and paying for your groceries. Everyone else is speaking some other language and using a welfare card to pay for their full carts of food.
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!
Either you are a citizen and have some skin in the game by paying taxes and voting or you are not!!!!
Report Post »Vydunas
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:18pmSo, what does it take to override a veto in MI?
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:17pmCommunists/Globalists/Marxists/anti-Americans/Progressives 2
Report Post »America 0
horsehockey
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:13pmNo doubt a John Roberts Republican, with Republicans like this, we don’t need democrats.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 9:23pmDitto!
Report Post »fixer
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:11pmwhat’s wrong with these idiots?you need an id to even buy a pack of smokes.afraid that your voter fraud buddies won’t be able to vote for you?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:10pmR-i-n-o !!!
Report Post »marine249
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:15pmyou beat me to it
Report Post »rickc34
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:16pmJust like Roberts another traitor.
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:24pmAnother one that needs to hit the road……….
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on July 4, 2012 at 6:09pmEffing Progressive GOP rino.
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