By Shelley Kofler
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-839692.mp3
Austin, TX – In the final minutes before midnight representatives tried to quickly debate a measure that would have allowed Texas to accept a half billion dollars in federal unemployment stimulus money Governor Perry rejected. As the clock ran out Republican Larry Taylor of Friendswood blamed Democrats for that loss.
Taylor: We finally got to a bill that really deserves debate. And we didn't have time to do it. After sitting here for five solid days of about fourteen [or] fifteen hour days. I don't think you can fault Republicans for that. .
But Democrat Jim Dunnam of Waco does fault Republicans saying the only bill Democrats had refused to debate was Voter ID.
Dunnam: We said we'd take up anything else they wanted; and they're not interested in that. It's because the priority for them this session is to try and achieve a partisan advantage at the polls by voter suppression.
Democrats claim stricter voter identification requirements would lead to some 3- percent of eligible voters not casting ballots, and many of those voters are democrats.
Many bills are still alive and will be decided before the session ends Monday.