POLS ON THE STREET: Sabatina Offers Easy Access To Voter ID

LOU FARINELLA unloads items belonging to Party Chairman Congressman Bob Brady into new Democrat City Committee home at 219 Spring Garden Street. Photo by Joe Stivala

State Rep. John Sabatina, Jr. (D-Northeast) is introducing a bill that would allow members of the both the State House and State Senate to provide voter-identification cards at their district offices.

He noted, “My district offices are conveniently located to make it easy for constituents to visit. The regional PennDOT office is not. By allowing the House and Senate district offices to issue voter ID cards, we are able to ensure every registered voter has the opportunity to obtain the proper identification for the general election.”

The identification proposed by Sabatina would be similar to the identification cards issued by an institution of higher learning or a care facility, two types of identification that are acceptable for voting. For more information, contact Danny Bauder at (215) 821-9842.

Under normal circumstances, legislation introduced by a Democrat in the Republican-controlled State House of Representatives will face an uphill battle winning consideration and a vote. However, Sabatina’s measure may have unusual appeal for Republicans. It empowers state legislators, after all; and Republicans form a majority of legislators in both House and Senate. His bill can hardly be called hostile to Republican interests, then.

VOTER-I.D. RULING LEAVES ELECTION BOARDS UP IN THE AIR

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court tossed a final decision on the controversial voter photo-ID law back to a lower court, which may not reach a decision until Oct. 2.

Allowing time for a final Supreme Court review, county Election Boards may have no more than a month before the Nov. 6 election to train election workers on what to expect. That’s not much time.

SAVVY PANEL led by Gov. Ed Rendell, left, commemorated Constitution Day at national Constitution Center by discussing voter-ID controversy. Joining Governor were, from left, Michael Williams of NAACP’s Voter Empowerment Project, Rutgers-Camden Law Prof. Robert Williams, Witold Walczak of Penna. ACLU, veteran vote-fraud reporter John Fund and Penna. Dept. of State spokesman Ronald Ruman.

SUPREME COURT WILL CHART POLITICAL MAP

The redrawn topography of Pennsylvania’s 203 House districts and 50 State Senate seats may again have to be redrawn. Some Representatives and Senators hope it does. The majority hopes it doesn’t.

Now in the hands of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, after a unique televised hearing with a substantial viewing audience, both the voter photo-ID law and the second go-around for redistricting. More imperative for the pols is the redistricting.

The Supremes did approve the congressional districts, but now it’s the second time out for the lower chambers’ plan. Amanda Holt, a Lehigh Valley resident who made news earlier this year when her home-drawn legislative maps were cited in the high court’s 4-3 decision tossing an earlier redistricting plan, finds her efforts have been noted by a high-court jurist as “superior.” Their last decision forced this year’s State House and Senate elections to be based on the exisiting districts which were drawn after the 2000 census.

The redistricting plan now before them will effectively pit some Democrat legislators against each other.

The constitution mandates that State Senate and House district boundaries be redrawn every 10 years, based on the latest census, to ensure that members of each chamber speak for roughly the same number of constituents. Districts are required to be compact, contiguous and as equal in population as practicable. The constitution also prohibits the division of any county, city or other political subdivision into multiple districts unless absolutely necessary.

The justices peppered attorneys on either side of the voter-ID dispute with questions during the final appeal of an attempt to stop the law before the November elections. Groups appealing a lower court’s decision upholding the law argued the requirement would disenfranchise or burden many rightful voters. Attorneys for the State and two of its top officials disputed that claim and argued the Constitution allows the legislature to regulate elections through laws like the voter-ID requirement.

FIRING UP large crowd at Kingsessing Rec Center to obtain voter photos IDs, State Sen. Anthony Williams was joined by host of government officials including State Reps. Ron weaters, Vanessa Lowery Brown and Jim Roebuck, and Deputy City Commissioner Tracey Gordon.

COMMITTEE OF 70 ANSWERS DAILY QUERIES

From now until Nov. 6 the Committee of 70 will daily post answers to election questions on its website. First question answered follows:

Q: The State House Majority Leader predicted that the voter-ID law would win Pennsylvania for Mitt Romney. Why isn’t the Obama campaign heading up the anti-voter-ID rallies?

A: Despite what Mike Turzai said, current polls show Obama comfortably ahead – or at least comfortably enough that the GOP is now putting its money elsewhere. The Democrats seem to be worried too much open talk about voter ID, and the problems of getting a photo ID to vote, will scare voters who need the ID. The Obama folks are quietly helping ID-less Pennsylvania voters one-by-one, and Obama’s Justice Dept. is aggressively fighting voter-ID laws in some states, but not in Pennsylvania.

Another question, touching a more sensitive issue, was: Q: In 2005, after the General Assembly passed a middle-of-the-night pay raise, incensed voters denied retention to Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro and nearly sent Justice Sandra Shultz Newman into early retirement as well. Are the Supreme Court justices thinking about retention – and preserving the backing of their respective political parties – as they consider whether the voter-ID law should stay or go in November?

A: You never know what’s on a judge’s mind and none are up for retention (which happens every 10 years) this November. But two justices will be on the November 2013 ballot. One is Chief Justice Ron Castille, a Republican who court-watchers speculate could join the three Democrat justices in blocking the law. But even if he wins, he can only stay on the bench until Mar. 16, 2014, when he turns 70 and must step down. Castille could decide the few extra months are not worth running for retention – however he rules on voter ID. The wrath of voters could be on the mind of Max Baer, the other justice up for retention in 2013. He won’t turn 70 until 2017.

Have a question? Post it on www.myvotemyright.org.

DESPITE candidate’s sudden absence (he is attending mother-in-law’s funeral), GOP congressional candidate John Featherman’s funder went off in fine form at waterfront Society Hill villa of 5th Ward Leader Mike Cibik, right. Keynoter Republican State Party chief Rob Gleason enjoyed long talk with Temple Young Republican activists Erik Jacobs and Darrin Bartholomew.

WANT TO JOIN N.F.L. VOTER RALLY?

The NFL Players Association unions, community and voting-rights groups will team up to hold a “My Vote, My Right” voter-ID awareness event in Philadelphia this Saturday outside PennDOT office at 919-B Levick Street. AFL-CIO Executive VP Arlene Holt-Baker will attend the event.

10TH WARD LEADER WELCOMES CONTACTS

Tenth Democrat Ward Leader Edgar Howard, though he is kept busy handling his ward’s chores, welcomes those who wish to reach out to him as he rehabilitates at Einstein Moss Rehab, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park. His phone number is (215) 379-2732. He is in Room 390-1.

TAXPAYERS TURN AWAY FROM CAMPAIGN SUBSIDY

Only 7% of tax-filers now check the block to donate to public funding of federal elections. In 2008, Obama was the first candidate for President to reject public campaign funding. This year both Obama and Romney rejected public funds, knowing they can raise more with far less restrictions.

S.V. SUSPENDS MULGREW FOR NOW

Philadelphia Traffic Court Judge Bob Mulgrew, charged alongside his wife and the chief of staff to State Rep. Bill Keller (D-S. Phila.) in a federal indictment, has been removed from the bench for now. The Supreme Court issued an emergency order of suspension to Common Pleas Court Judge Gary Glazer in his capacity as the Administrative Judge of Traffic Court, directing Judge Glazer to suspend Judge Mulgrew from all official duties and assignments in Philadelphia Traffic Court until further notice.

OBAMA OBVIOUSLY DOMINATING INTERNET

For every one pro-Romney email received by media outlets, there arrive anywhere from 6 to a dozen emails from various groups support President Barack Obama. Much of the material received is of little relevance to what concerns voters most, but it is an indication of the scope of the Obama presidential campaign.

COUNCILWOMAN Jannie Blackwell, who succeeded her husband in 3rd Council Dist., along with tournament coordinator Fred Jenkins, are expecting another exciting tournament. Young boxers from virtually every gym in city are expected to compete and follow in footsteps of some of tournament’s past participants, which include numerous Philly professionals, some of whom went on to acquire worldwide fame.

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