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THAT'S A BENEFIT TO THE NATION.
WE PUT IN SOME MONEY FOR LAND
AND WATER.
THAT WILL BENEFIT THE NATION.
AND THERE IS MONEY TO ESTABLISH
AN OCEANS TRUST.
I ASK FOR ANOTHER MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE NATION.
BUT THE BULK OF THAT PENALTY
MONEY -- WILL GO TO -- MONEY
WILL GO TO THE GULF COAST AND IT
WILL NOT BE WASTED, I PROMISE
YOU.
THE GULF HAS TIGHT GUIDELINE
GLIENS ABOUT THE WAY THAT MONEY
IS SPENT, REBUILDING OUR
SIZE OF THE STATE OF RHODE
ISLAND AND I WANT TO THANK SO
MUCH THE GROUPS.
THERE WERE OVER TWO HUNDRED
ORGANIZATIONS FROM DUCKS
UNLIMITED TO THE NATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND TO
NATURE CONSERVANCY THAT
SUPPORTED THE RESTORE.
WITHOUT THEIR HELP, THIS
NEVER, EVER WOULD HAVE
BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET A VOTE
LIKE WE DID ON THE SENATE FLOOR
WITHOUT A LOT OF HELP.
WE GOT I BELIEVE 74 -- I'LL
CHECK THE RECORD -- MAYBE IT
WAS 76 VOTES ON THE FLOOR OF THE
THAT'S HARD TO GET A RESOLUTION
ON MOM AND APPLE PIE TO GET 76
VOTES TODAY.
SO I'M VERY HUMBLD TO SAY IT
WAS -- HUMBLED TO SAY IT WAS
THE WORK OF MANY, MANY PEOPLE,
I WAS PROUD TO LEAD THIS EFFORT
WITH SENATOR SHELBY, MY PARTNER
FROM ALABAMA.
BUT MY FINAL COMMENT IS WORK
NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THAT'S MY
FINAL POINT.
THE AMENDMENT IS IN THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL.
THE TRANSPORTATION BILL HAS NOW
SENATE.
IT'S NOW ON ITS WAY OVER TO THE
HOUSE.
I HOPE THE HOUSE WILL TAKE THIS
BILL -- AND I KNOW THEY HAVE
THEIR OWN OPINIONS ABOUT HOW
THINGS SHOULD BE.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THIS
FOR AMERICA.
WE NEED TO KIEV HE KEEP THIS
RECOVERY GOING.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS,
WELL-PAYING JOBS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, GET THESE CONTRACTS
AS WELL AS LARGE BUSINESSES,
FOR OUR RAIL, OUR WATER, OUR
TRANSPORTATION.
AND I HOPE THAT THE RESTORE
ACT, BECAUSE IT IS SAFELY
TUCKED IN THIS BILL, WILL
GENERATE SOME ADDITIONAL VOTES
ON THE HOUSE SIDE.
I HOPE NIGH COLLEAGUES FROM
THE -- MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE
GULF COAST IN THE HOUSE,
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, WILL
SAY OVERALL IT MAY NOT BE THE
HOUSE'S TRANSPORTATION BILL,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S A GOOD BILL.
AND 22 REPUBLICANS OVER HERE
VOTED FOR THIS BILL.
AS SENATOR INHOFE SAID, THERE'S
STREAMLINING, THERE ARE NEW
APPROACHES, BETTER APPROACHES,
LESS WASTE, LESS FRAUD, LESS
ABUSE IN THIS BILL.
SO THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS THAT
WE CAN VOTE ON, AND I HOPE --
AND I THANK AGAIN IN CONCLUSION
SENATOR INHOFE AND SENATOR BOXER
AND PARTICULARLY SENATOR BAUCUS
FOR HIS HELP IN HELPING US AT
END TO PUT WHAT WE
NEEDED TO GET TOGETHER TO PASS
THIS RESTORE ACT.
AND I'LL CONTINUE TO REPORT TO
YOU HOW THE COURTS ARE GOING TO
RULE, HOW MUCH THIS FINE IS
GOING TO BE AND HOW THAT MONEY
IS SPENT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
YEARS TO HELP SAVE A VERY
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR NATION AND
A PART OF THE NATION THAT
CONTRIBUTES SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE
G.D.P. OF OUR NATION.
THANK YOU.
AND LET ME ASK, MR. PRESIDENT,
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE ORDER
TO PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
AT 2:00 P.M. BE VITIATED AND
THAT MORNING BUSINESS BE
EXTENDED UNTIL 5:00 P.M. WITH
SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK
THEREIN FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES
EACH AND THAT THE TIME BE
EQUALLY DIVIDED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW YORK IS
FIRST LET ME
COMPLIMENT MY COLLEAGUE FROM
LOUISIANA FOR HIS DILIGENCE, HER
HARD WORK.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
EFFECTIVELY DELIVERS MORE FOR
HER STATE IN THIS CHAMBER THAN
THE SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA, AND
I CAN ASSURE YOU KNOWING HER,
NOW THAT SHE'S DONE THIS, SHE'S
GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER PROPOSAL
AND SHE'LL BE TALKING TO US
HOURS.
AND SHE, BECAUSE OF HER HARD
WORK AND CHARM AND MANY OTHER
GOOD QUALITIES, SHE NEVER WEARS
OUT HER WELCOME, AT LEAST WITH
THE SENATOR FROM NEW YORK.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE BIG ISSUE
EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT IS
GASOLINE PRICES.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A DISCOURAGE
FOR AVERAGE FAMILIES -- SCOURGE
FOR OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY AND
MANY FAMILIES.
THERE ARE MANY LONG-TERM
SOLUTIONS WE DEBATE, THE
PIPELINE, INCENTIVES FOR GREEN
ENERGY, MORE IS MORE EXPLORATION,
NUCLEAR ENERGY, AND, OF COURSE,
CONSERVATION, PROBABLY THE
NUMBER-ONE IN THE LONG-TERM WAY
TO REDUCE FOREIGN IMPORTS INTO
THE COUNTRY AND REDUCE THE
BUT EVERYONE'S ASKING, WHAT ARE
SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS?
WELL, TO ME, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY
ONE THAT WOULD MATTER MORE THAN
ALL THE OTHERS AND THAT HAS THE
BEST HOPE OF GETTING SOMETHING
DONE, AND SO TWO WEEKS AGO, IN A
LETTER TO SECRETARY OF STATE
HILLARY CLINTON, I ASKED THE
STATE DEPARTMENT TO PRESSURE THE
GOVERNMENT OF SAUDI ARABIA TO
USE ITS EXCESS OIL CAPACITY AS A
MEANS TO CALM OIL MARKETS.
IT'S BEEN MY POSITION THAT THIS
IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO BRING
DOWN GAS PRICES AND THE REASON
IS VERY SIMPLE, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE NUMBER-ONE THING JACKING UP
PRICES RIGHT NOW IS THE FEAR IN
THE MARKETS THAT IRAN WILL SHUT
OFF ITS PRODUCTION.
WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC BOYCOTT,
MANY NATIONS OF THE WORLD, A
MAJORITY OF THE NATIONS OF THE
WORLD, TO IRAN TO PREVENT THEM
FROM GOING NUCLEAR.
AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
SHEER SABER RATTLING.
SAYING IF YOU SQUEEZE US TOO
HARD, WE'LL CUT OFF OIL.
IN FACT, THEY'VE CUT OFF OIL
SALES TO BRITAIN AND FRANCE,
THOUGH THEY WERE JUST SYMBOLLISH
BECAUSE BRITAIN AND FRANCE DON'T
BUY MUCH IRANIAN OIL.
BUT WITH IRAN'S SABER RALTSING
THAT THEY MIGHT WELL -- SABER
RATTLING THAT THEY MIGHT WELL
CUT OFF OIL EXPORTS, THE PRICE
HAS GONE UP AND UP AND UP.
AND THOSE WHO SPECULATE IN OIL
USE THAT AND PROBABLY HAVE IT GO
UP EVEN FURTHER.
AND SO THAT IS WHY I'VE BEEN FOR
THE LAST TWO WEEKS SUGGESTING
THAT SAUDIS SAY THAT THEY WILL
PRODUCE MORE OIL, THAT THEY WILL
REPLACE EVERY BARREL OF
PRODUCTION THAT IRAN TAKES OFF
THE MARKET FOR THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE WITH A NEW BARREL.
AND THE SAUDIS, OF COURSE, CAN
DO THAT.
THE SAUDIS HAVE 2.8 MILLION
BARRELS OF EXTRA PRODUCTION,
THEY IN THE GULF STATES.
IRAN'S TOTAL SALES TO THE REST
OF THE WORLD IS 2.2 MILLION
BARRELS A DAY.
THEREFORE, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY
TO DO IT.
WELL, TODAY I WAS PLEASED THAT
SAUDI ARABIA DECLARED IT WILL
FILL ANY OIL GAP AS A RESULT OF
EMBARGO.
AT THE 13th INTERNATIONAL
ENERGY FORUM IN KUWAIT, THE
LARGEST GATHERING OF OIL
PRODUCING AND CONSUMING
COUNTRIES, THE SAUDI OIL
MINISTER, ALI AL NAMI, SAID THE
FOLLOWING -- QUOTE -- "SAUDI
ARABIA AND OTHERS REMAIN POISED
TO MAKE GOOD ANY SHORTFALLS,
PERCEIVED OR REAL, IN CRUDE OIL
SUPPLY."
RIGHT AFTER THE SAUDI OIL
MINISTER MADE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT,
PRICES DROPPED .6%.
MY BELIEVE IS IF THE MARKETS
BELIEVE THIS IS REAL, THE PRICE
WILL COME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY
AND SO WE ARE ASKING THE SAUDIS
TO REPEAT THIS PROMISE, BECAUSE
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE MORE THE
SAUDIS REPEAT THE PROMISE TO
OFFSET IRAN -- IRAN'S OUTPUT,
THE MORE EXPLICIT THEY ARE, THE
MORE EMPHATIC THEY ARE, THE MORE
THEY ASSURE THE MARKETS THAT
THEY'RE FOR REAL HERE, THAT THIS
IS NOT JUST A PSYCHOLOGICAL
DEVICE TO CALM THE MARKETS FOR
MORE THE MARKETS
WILL CALM DOWN MORE PERMANENTLY
AND THE MORE THE PRICE WILL COME
DOWN.
NOW, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FOR DOING
TREMENDOUS WORK BEHIND THE
SCENES.
I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE IN
THE ADMINISTRATION OVER THE LAST
FEW WEEKS AND THEY ASSURED ME
AND GAVE ME -- TOLD ME SOME
DETAILS OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING
AND THEIR PRESSURE HAS FINALLY
GOTTEN THE SAUDIS TO MAKE THIS
STATEMENT.
THIS STATEMENT IS A GREAT START
BUT, AS I SAID, IT SHOULD BE
REPEATED, REEMPHASIZED AND
ELABORATED UPON BY THE SAUDIS SO
THAT THE MARKETS WILL BE ASSURED
ASSURED.
THE PRESIDENT'S RIGHT ON THE
MONEY WHEN HE SAID WE ALSO NEED
LONG-TERM TO OUR DEPENDENCE ON
HE'S RIGHT THAT DRILLING ALONE
WON'T SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS.
WE ARE PRODUCING MORE DOMESTIC
OIL IN THE UNITED STATES THAN WE
HAVE IN EIGHT YEARS AND WE'VE
DISCOVERED A HUGE SUPPLY OF
NATURAL GAS.
BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL
FRONTS.
HAVE TO LOOK AT GREEN
ENERGY -- WIND, SOLAR.
THERE ARE TAX BREAKS THAT
ENCOURAGE THESE NEW INDUSTRIES
THAT WILL EMPLOY THOUSANDS.
WE OUGHT TO PASS THEM.
OUR COLLEAGUES VOTED AGAINST
THEM ON THIS HIGHWAY BILL.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE.
I, FOR ONE, WOULD LOOK AT
NUCLEAR.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT PRODUCES
CLEAN ENERGY, THAT DOESN'T
PRODUCE GLOBAL WARMING.
IT HAS TO BE SAFE.
AND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO
OIL.
I WAS ONE OF SIX OR SEVEN
ACTUALLY AT THE THE SENATOR FROM
LOUISIANA'S IMPORTUNING, SIX OR
SEVEN ON THIS SIDE, WHO VOTED TO
OPEN UP PARTS OF THE EAST GULF
TO PRODUCE MORE OIL AND IT HAS
HELP.
AND THE NUMBER-ONE THING WE HAVE
TO DO IN THE LONG RUN,
MR. PRESIDENT, IS CONSERVATION.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE GETTING
MORE MILES PER GALLON, BY 2020
WE'LL REDUCE OUR IMPORTATION OF
FOREIGN OIL, WHICH RAISES THE
PRICE, BY MORE THAN 1.1 MILLION
AND, IN FACT, SINCE WE GAVE THE
PRESIDENT THE ABILITY TO
INCREASE THOSE CAFE STANDARDS
FURTHER -- AND HE DID IT -- THE
PREDICTION IS BY 2030, WE WON'T
NEED TO IMPORT ANY OIL AS OUR
CARS GET 45 AND 50 MILES A
GALLON AND THE DEMAND FOR
GASOLINE GOES DOWN.
AND THE NUMBER-ONE REASON WE
HAVE TO IMPORT OIL IS BECAUSE OF
GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUEL AND
AIRPLANE FUEL.
MOST OF OUR ENERGY CAN COME FROM
NATURAL GAS, CAN COME FROM WATER
POWER, WIND POWER AND SOLAR
POWER.
SO, BOTTOM LINE, THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT'S A GOOD
ANNOUNCEMENT.
I HOPE THE MARKETS WILL HEED IT.
I HOPE THE SAUDIS WILL REPEAT
IT.
AND I HOPE AS A RESULT THE PRICE
OF OIL WILL COME DOWN.
IT IS THE BEST NEWS ON A VERY
BAD FRONT -- THAT IS, OF RISING
GASOLINE PRICES -- THAT WE'VE
HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME.
AND LET US HOPE IT BRINGS
TOGETHER SOME GOOD NEWS.
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN --
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM TEXAS IS
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE RESCINDED.
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
THERE THEY GO AGAIN.
ON MONDAY THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT, UNDER ATTORNEY
GENERAL ERIC HOLDER, ADDED
ANOTHER COUNT TO ITS LITANY OF
SHAMEFUL ACTIONS BY REFUSING TO
PRECLEAR A COMMONSENSE TEXAS
STATE LAW THAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL
VOTERS TO SHOW A PHOTO I.D.
PRIOR TO CASTING THEIR VOTE.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S REFUSAL
TO PRECLEAR THIS CHANGE IN TEXAS
LAW BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IS
SIMPLY INEXCUSABLE.
THE TEXAS VOTER I.D. LAW IS
CONSTITUTIONAL AND IT IS A
POPULAR MEASURE NECESSARY TO
PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE
TEXAS ELECTION PROCESS.
THIS IS NATIONAL AND SHOULD NOT
BE A PARTISAN ISSUE -- THIS IS
NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE A PARTISAN
THE POLLING THAT I'VE SEEN SHOWS
THAT REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND
INDEPENDENTS IN THE 70% RANGE
ALL AGREE THAT VOTER I.D. LAWS
ARE COMMONSENSE RESPONSES TO THE
CONCERNS THAT MANY HAVE ABOUT
THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION
PROCESS.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN ONLY
CONCLUDE THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL
HOLDER AND THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT HAVE CHOSEN THE LOW
ROAD OF POLITICS AS OPPOSED TO
THE HIGH ROAD OF THE RULE OF
I BELIEVE, UNFORTUNATELY, THE
EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSION
THAT THIS REPRESENTS THE LOWEST
FORM OF IDENTITY POLITICS.
IN THE FACE OF HIGH GAS PRICES,
THE SLUGGISH ECONOMY, AND
STRUGGLING -- AND A RISING
NATIONAL DEBT, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE
EVERYTHING -- HAS USED EVERY
TOOL IN ITS POLITICAL TOOLBOX TO
TRY TO DISTRACT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE FROM THEIR PRIORITIES --
JOBS, THE ECONOMY, AND DEBT.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, DIVIDE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WHILE THEY
ISSUES.
POLITICAL GAMES SHOULD NOT FORCE
THE STATE OF TEXAS OR ANY OTHER
STATE TO SPEND ITS TAXPAYER
DOLLARS SUING THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE IN FEDERAL COURT, WHICH
IT NOW MUST DO, TO ENFORCE A
STATE LAW THAT IS CLEARLY
CONSTITUTIONAL.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD
FOR IT.
JUST READ AN OPINION BY JUSTICE
STEVENS IN 2008 UPHOLDING THE
CONSTUTIONALITY OF A SIMILAR
INDIANA LAW BACK IN, AS I SAID,
IN 2008.
IT'S NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE ONE
IN TEXAS, AND IT IS JUSTIFIED BY
A VALID INTEREST IN PROTECTING
THE INTEGRITY AND RELIABILITY OF
THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
BUT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
CONTINUES TO INSIST THAT THERE'S
SOMETHING WRONG WITH REQUIRING
EVERY VOTER TO PROVE THEIR
IDENTITY BEFORE THEY VOTE, JUST
LIKE YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO
BEFORE YOU BOARD AN AIRPLANE,
BEFORE YOU BUY A PACK OF
CIGARETTES AT A CONVENIENCE
STORE, BEFORE YOU BUY A SIX-PACK
OF BEER AT THAT SAME CONVENIENCE
STORE.
OR IF YOU LOOK ON THE WEB SITE
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, IN
ORDER TO GAIN ENTRY TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BILLING,
YOU NEED -- YOU GUESSED IT.
A PHOTO I.D.
SO THIS MAY SOUND LIKE COMMON
COMMON SENSE IS EVIDENTLY NOT
THAT COMMON AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE THESE DAYS.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE BLINDED TO
REALITY TO DENY THAT A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VOTER
STATES.
EVERY STATE HAS HAD ITS
EXPERIENCE WITH VOTER FRAUD.
IN TEXAS, BACK IN THE FAMOUS BOX
13 ELECTION BETWEEN COCH
STEVENSON AND LYNDON JOHNSON FOR
THE UNITED STATES SENATE, THEY
FOUND A NUMBER OF VOTES FOR
PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T EVEN ALIVE,
OF DEAD VOTES.
PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST RECENT
BOOKS ON THIS WAS WRITTEN BY
A BOOK
HOW
VOTER FRAUD THREATENS OUR
DEMOCRACY."
IN THAT BOOK, MR. FUND AMPLY
DEMONSTRATES WHY THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND TEXANS FEAR THAT
THEIR LEGALLY CAST VOTE WILL BE
DILUTED WITH THE VOTE OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE NOT LEGALLY QUALIFIED TO
CAST A VOTE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT IDENTITY THEY
RAMPANT.
WE'VE SEEN THIS IN OUR BROKEN
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE
CLAIM SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS
AND IDENTIFICATION WHICH IS NOT
THEIR OWN BUT IS ACTUALLY
SOMEONE ELSE'S.
IT'S ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO
PROVE BECAUSE OFTEN THE LEGAL
AUTHORITIES LACK WHAT THEY NEED
IN ORDER TO DISPUTE A VOTER'S
IDENTITY.
THUS, THE NEED FOR A
GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO I.D.
RESULT, OFFICIALS
FREQUENTLY HESITATE TO ACCUSE
SOMEONE OF CASTING AN ILLEGAL
BALLOT, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE ALMOST
CERTAIN THAT A CRIME IS BEING
COMMITTED.
IT'S EASY FOR IDENTITY THIEVES
TO USE ANOTHER PERSON'S VOTER
CERTIFICATE TO FRAUDULENTLY CAST
A BALLOT WHERE THERE'S NO REAL
REQUIREMENT FOR VOTERS TO PROVE
THEIR IDENTITY.
WE SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT MAKING
THEIR JOB MORE DIFFICULT, NOT
EVERY CASE OF ACTUAL, ALLEGED OR
PERCEIVED VOTER FRAUD HOLDS THE
POTENTIAL TO DRIVE PROSPECTIVE
VOTERS OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS, UNDERMINE THE
LEGITIMIZE MY IS I -- THE
LEGITIMACY OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND
SWING THE RESULTS IN CLOSE
ELECTIONS.
THE TEXAS VOTER I.D. LAW IS
NECESSARY TO PREVENT THESE
THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE
YOU BELIEVE, THOUGH, THAT STATE
ARE INTENDED TO DRIVE
DOWN THE TURNOUT AMONG CERTAIN
ETHNIC GROUPS, BUT THIS COULD
NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
IF PEOPLE ARE LEGALLY QUALIFIED
TO VOTE, THIS IS A LAW DESIGNED
TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS AND TO
MAKE SURE THEIR VOTE COUNTS AND
THAT IN A CLOSE ELECTION IT WILL
NOT BE SWUNG BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE
NO LEGAL RIGHT TO VOTE.
IN FACT, IN THEIR OWN LETTER TO
THE TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE,
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PRESENTED
NO EVIDENCE -- ZERO, ZIP, NADA,
NO EVIDENCE -- OF DISCRIMINATORY
LAW.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE LAW WAS
CLEARLY INTENDED TO UPHOLD THE
SACRED PRINCIPLE OF ONE-PERSON,
ONE-VOTE, AND IS NARROWLY
TAILORED TO AVOID ALL
RETROGRESSI SR E EFFORTS ON
VOTING RIGHTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER TEXAS LAW,
EVERY REGISTERED VOTER IS
ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A PHOTO
IDENTIFICATION CARD FOR FREE.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DRIVER'S
LICENSE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
OTHER FORM OF PHOTO I.D., YOU
CAN GET ONE FOR FREE.
AND IT ALSO EXEMPTS FROM ITS
REQUIREMENT ANYONE ABOVE THE AGE
OF 70.
WHAT'S MORE, LET'S SAY ELECTION
DAY COMES, YOU DON'T HAVE A
PHOTO I.D. BUT YOU WANT TO VOTE,
YOU CAN CAST A PROVISIONAL
BALLOT EVEN WITHOUT A PHOTO
I.D., JUST SO LONG AS YOU COME
BACK WITHIN SIX DAYS AND PRODUCE
ONE, SHOWING THAT YOU ARE WHO
YOU SAY YOU ARE AND, THUS, PROVE
THAT YOU ARE LEGALLY QUALIFIED
TO VOTE.
THE TEXAS VOTER I.D. LAW WILL
ALSO MAKE SURE THAT NO
LEGITIMATE VOTER IS CAUGHT OFF
GUARD BY REQUIRING THE STATE TO
INFORM AND EDUCATE ALL CITIZENS
AS TO WHAT THE NEW LAW REQUIRES.
THESE MULTIPLE LAYERS OF
PROTECTION, THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT INSISTS ON PUSHING
THEIR FALSE NARRATIVE THAT THIS
LAW WILL SOMEHOW SUPPRESS
LEGITIMATE VOTER TURNOUT.
JUST THE CONTRARY IS TRUE.
THE ONLY VOTES THAT THIS I.D.
LAW WILL SUPPRESS ARE THOSE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT
TO VOTE, AND IT WILL PROTECT AND
PRESERVE THE RIGHT OF LEGITIMATE
VOTERS TO CAST THEIR VOTE
UNDILUTED BY VOTES OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO VOTE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS DATA
FROM STATES THAT HAVE RECENTLY
PASSED VOTER I.D. LAWS THAT
DEMONSTRATE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
WHATSOEVER TO SUPPORT THE CLAIM
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
THAT IT WILL SOMEHOW POTENTIALLY
SUPPRESS MINORITY VOTES.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN INDIANA, THE
SUBJECT OF THE SUPREME COURT
DECISION IN 2008 WAS AN INDIANA
VOTER I.D. REQUIREMENT.
AND IN GEORGIA, ELECTION DATA
SHOWS THAT TURNOUT HAS ACTUALLY
INCREASED SINCE THE PACKAGE OF
THESE COMMONSENSE PHOTO I.D.
THE DATA ALSO SHOWS THAT THE
VOTER I.D. LAWS IN GEORGIA AND
INDIANA HAD NO NEGATIVE IMPACT
ON MINORITY GROUPS.
AND THESE FINDINGS SHOULD BE
UNSURPRISING GIVEN SOME OF THE
RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED
BY A NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, THE
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, THE
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, AMONG
OTHERS.
RESEARCH COMPILED AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FROM 2000
TO 2006 LEAVES NO DOUBT ABOUT
THE CONCLUSION.
THEY SAY -- QUOTE -- "CONCERNS
ABOUT VOTER IDENTIFICATION LAWS
AFFECTING TURNOUT ARE MUCH ADO
ABOUT NOTHING."
CLOSE QUOTE.
THESE FACTS, IN
SPITE OF THE EVIDENCE, IN SPITE
OF THE LAW, THE HOLDER JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO CLING TO
THEIR FALSE NARRATIVE, CLAIMING
THAT TEXAS HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED
SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH EVIDENCE OF
VOTER FRAUD TO JUSTIFY ITS VOTER
IDENTIFICATION LAW.
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT TURNS THE
LAW OF THE LAND ON ITS HEAD.
TEXAS IS NOT REQUIRED TO PROVE
TO THE SATISFACTION OF ERIC
HOLDER AND THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT THAT THERE IS
SUFFICIENT BASIS FOR THEM TO
PASS A STATE LAW.
AS THE OCCUPANT OF THE CHAIR
KNOWS, AS THE FORMER ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF HIS STATE, THE BURDEN
IS ON THOSE WHO WOULD CONTEST
THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE LAW
TO PROVE IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL
OR TO OTHERWISE PROVE THAT IT
VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW.
UNDER ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER'S
VIEW, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ANY
STATE THAT PASSES A VOTER I.D.
REQUIREMENT IS PRESUMED GUILTY
UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT.
AS I SAID, THAT TURNS THE LEGAL
QUESTION ON ITS HEAD AND GETS IT
EXACTLY OPPOSITE OF WHAT IT
SHOULD BE.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ALSO
CONVENIENTLY FAILS TO MENTION
THAT VOTER IMPERSONATION IS
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT OR
PROVE WITHOUT A PHOTO I.D.
REQUIREMENT LIKE THE ONE PASSED
BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
THEY SIMILARLY FAIL TO MENTION
THAT THIS TYPE OF LAW IS PERHAPS
THE BEST WAY, THE LEAST
BURDENSOME WAY, THE LEAST
INTRUSIVE WAY TO ELIMINATE
IN-PERSON VOTER FRAUD.
WHY WOULD THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
WANT TO PREVENT STATES LIKE
TEXAS FROM ENFORCING LAWS THAT
BOTH HELP DETECT AND DETER VOTER
FRAUD?
I CAN'T FIND AN ANSWER FOR THAT
ANY OTHER WAY THAN TO SAY THAT
IT'S PURE POLITICS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
DOING EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO
ENCOURAGE STATES TO PROTECT THE
INTEGRITY OF THE BALLOT, TO MAKE
SURE THAT EVERY LEGITIMATE
VOTER'S VOTE COUNTS AND IS NOT
DILUTED BY THE ILLEGAL VOTE OF
SOMEONE WHO IS NOT QUALIFIED
UNDER THE LAW TO CAST A BALLOT.
INSTEAD, ERIC HOLDER'S JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT IS THROWING UP ROAD
BLOCKS TO THOSE STATE-BASED
EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY
OF THE ELECTION PROCESS, FORCING
MY STATE, THE TAXPAYERS IN MY
STATE TO WASTE MONEY TO TRY TO
GO TO COURT AND NOW TO OVERRIDE
HIS DECISION, WHICH THE COURT
WILL DO.
AND WHY WILL THEY DO THAT?
WHY CAN I BE SO SURE?
BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES
SUPREME COURT IS THE LAW OF THE
LAND, NOT ERIC HOLDER AND NOT
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE
SUPREME COURT HAS SPOKEN ON THIS
ISSUE, BUT THAT'S IRRELEVANT TO
MR. HOLDER AND THE JUSTICE
SO MY STATE HAS TO SPEND --
WASTE, REALLY, TAXPAYER MONEY TO
DEFEND THIS LEGITIMATE AND
EVENHANDED REQUIREMENT WHEN WE
SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES.
THIS WASHINGTON GAME OF DIVISIVE
IDENTITY POLITICS IS
REPREHENSIBLE, AND ATTORNEY
GENERAL HOLDER SHOULD BE ASHAMED
OF HIMSELF FOR ENGAGING IN IT.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN
ME IN CALLING ON ATTORNEY
GENERAL HOLDER TO RESPECT THE
RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS
AND OF THEIR STATES BY REVERSING
HIS DECISION TO BLOCK OUR
COMMONSENSE VOTER IDENTIFICATION
LAW.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR
AND SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
CALL:
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW YORK.
I NOTE -- I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
QUORUM BE VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE SENATOR FROM NEW