By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-839562.mp3
Austin, TX – Lawmakers at the state capitol today looked for ways to keep their legislation alive as Democrats continued stalling tactics in the House. KERA's Shelley Kofler reports.
The Democrats goal is to kill the Voter ID bill which will die at midnight if it doesn't reach the House floor. Republican Speaker Joe Straus has called the Democrats obstructionist for holding up business and potentially taking hundreds of other bills down with Voter ID. Democrats have said they wouldn't be in this position if Republicans in the Senate hadn't changed procedural rules and pushed the controversial measure in that chamber.
While lawmakers scurry to attach favorite initiatives onto other bills to keep them breathing veteran legislators say the vital initiatives will survive. House Education Chair Rob Eissler of the Woodlands, a Republican, says he's already salvaged a number of important public school bills.
Eissler: The only bills that I think are going to be really jeopardized are the major ones everyboyd's been talking about. Wind insurance, department of insurance sunset, the voter id has been the focus and that'll be gone.
Democrats oppose the Republican voter ID bill saying a requirement that voters show photo identification would keep about 3 percent of eligible voters from casting ballots. Many Republicans say photo ID's are important to prevent voter fraud.