Pennsylvania House Republican majority leader Mike Turzai's candid boast that the state's new voter identification laws would succeed in delivering Pennsylvania to the GOP is drawing widespread ridicule from Democrats across the Keystone State. State Sen. Daylin Leach thinks its proof that Turzai and his fellow Republicans have ideas that "suck."
Over the weekend, Turzai addressed the Republican State Committee and appeared to admit that, contrary to popular Republican claims, voter ID efforts were about more than simply combatting alleged voter fraud.
"Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it’s done. First pro-life legislation -- abortion facility regulations -- in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is going to allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done," Turzai said, drawing ringing applause from the group.
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Republican officials in Pennsylvania have responded to the resulting criticism, saying that Turzai was simply arguing that voter ID laws produced a "fairer playing field," but state Democrats like Leach aren't buying it.
Philadelphia Weekly reports:
Leach said that explanation does “not pass the laugh test.” He noted voter fraud is virtually nonexistent in Pennsylvania and the United States and ended his opening statements with this burn: “If you have to stop people voting to win elections, your ideas suck.”
Other Democrats went on to suggest that Turzai's remarks were evidence that Republicans knew they had a "bad candidate" with "bad ideas," and were willing to cheat to make up for the lack of enthusiasm.
Pennsylvania's new voter ID law was passed March with the help of a Republican legislature. It will require voters to show a driver's license or government-issued photo ID before voting, a requirement that the measure's opponents say could disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters who frequently lean Democratic.
Below, more controversial voting laws:
