WISCONSINREPORT.COM (05/12/2011) - Now that Republicans are in control of both the Wisconsin Assembly and State Senate, Wisconsin will likely have a Photo ID requirement in order to vote in place before too long. The Assembly passed AB-7 60-35 and Senate Republicans are expected to follow the Assembly GOP lead by doing the same, making it possible for Governor Scott Walker to sign it into law in short order. Architects of the law are saying it will restore faith in Wisconsin elections, but opponents say this bill is not the answer.

Assembly Representative Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) continues to lead the charge to protect Wisconsin’s election process with the passage of AB-7 from the Assembly. The Assembly has taken what is hoped to be one of the final steps in finally getting a photo ID law in place. With the Senate expected to pass the bill on the floor next week, Governor Walker will have the opportunity to sign the bill into law.

Assembly Representative Donna Seidel (D-Wausau) says claims of voter fraud are being exaggerated to ram the bill through. She called it a “fiction manufactured to persuade voters they should be afraid enough to allow suppression.”

From the time Representative Jeff Stone first co-sponsored a photo ID bill, he has authored or co-authored 22 bills or joint resolutions that would have put in place a photo ID law on the books or in the state Constitution.

“It is almost too hard to believe that after a decade of effort we will put in place a common sense law that will go a long way to ensure that we have fair and accurate elections. I would like to thank all of the many people that have worked on the many versions of the photo ID bill and the Joint Resolutions that would have helped to secure our elections over all these many years,” Assembly Representative Stone said.

“The arguments that have been used to prevent this from becoming law ring so very hollow. The vast majority of people in Wisconsin agree that making sure the person voting is indeed that person is a reasonable protection and requirement to vote here in the State. We have taken a huge step forward in restoring the faith we once had in our elections,” Stone continued.

Representative Stone and Senator Leibham have worked from the time they both co-sponsored the first photo ID bill back in 2001. The previous bills and Resolutions had met numerous ends, including being vetoed three times by Governor Doyle.

A spokesperson for the team says, "most disappointing was a pocket veto of a second consideration of a Constitutional amendment that was one step away from going to the voters of Wisconsin. The people of Wisconsin would have had the chance to vote on the requirement to require a photo ID in order to receive ones ballot."

“It is truly interesting to look back at everything that has been said about photo ID over the last decade. At one time the phrase was ‘show me one name’ to prove that fraud did not exist. Then it became ‘well there is no wide spread fraud’ and now it is this is ‘a solution in search of a problem’," Representative Stone said.

"I have been consistent over the last decade that ensuring our election process is worthy of every effort we put forward. I take great pride in being now known along with Senator Leibham as the leaders and authors of the photo ID bill,” stated Stone.

Representative Jeff Stone says the day this bill is signed into law will be one of the highlights of his legislative career.

"The people of the 82nd Assembly district have been clear in the overwhelming support of the photo ID requirement. Soon, the promise I have made repeatedly as a candidate and as a Representative will come to fruition. The time has come for us to see a photo ID used to vote here in Wisconsin,” Stone said.

----
TRUST WISCONSINREPORT.COM FOR THE REAL TRUTH
WisconsinReport.com is an independent online internet news publication not affiliated with Wisconsin Government, Wisconsin Public Broadcasting, the University of Wisconsin System, or any other entity, agency, department, network, business or organization with Wisconsin in it's name. WisconsinReport.com is a Morbizco Media Group/Morbizco, Inc., non-partisan, internet publication.

BE A FAN OF WISCONSINREPORT.COM ON FACEBOOK!
WisconsinReport.com now has a page on Facebook. We would love to have you as one of our Facebook friends. If you haven't already done so, search for WisconsinReport.com on Facebook. Then follow the Facebook link to the WisconsinReport.com page on Facebook. While you're there, Click on LIKE. You'll receive brief notifications when new WisconsinReport stories are added.

You can also find our Facebook page by going to the WisconsinReport.com website front page and clicking on the Facebook Link at the bottom left side of the website front page. OR, copy and paste this internet address into your browser's address field: http://www.facebook.com/pages/WisconsinReportcom/132641770112067
----