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Floor Speech
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Mr. BARRASSO. What we are supposed to be discussing here is what Senator Husted just offered, a voter ID proposal. And it is revealing to hear my Democratic colleague try to change the subject from something that is very popular--voter ID--to his very unpopular position, which is his opposition to having voters present voter ID.
You need a photo ID to buy a beer, to board a plane, to cash a check. Why not voting in elections? Why do you want to keep changing the subject?
Senator Husted's bill is simple. It simply requires voters to show a photo ID when they show up to vote. Senator Husted knows about administering elections, and he knows it better than any other Member of this body because he spent years as Ohio's secretary of state. His job was to run elections that were fair and safe and secure, and he did it successfully. He did this in one of the most closely watched battleground States in America. If anyone knows what it takes to protect the integrity of elections, it is Senator Jon Husted of Ohio. He knows that this simple, commonsense requirement of a photo ID would make elections more secure.
Now, here is what is astonishing. Just a few days ago, the minority leader said that his caucus is not opposed to a photo ID when you show up to vote. Well, I agree with that. Yet here we are, just days later. The Democrats are here on the floor opposing Senator Husted's commonsense bill to require a photo ID when you show up to vote.
Apparently they were for it before they were against it. And here is what is most interesting. Thirty years ago, the minority leader, Senator Schumer, then a Member of Congress, championed photo ID requirements to receive welfare benefits. He famously called photo ID requirements then anti-fraud. Again, he was for it before he was against it.
Democrats are here on the floor objecting, as we have just seen, to commonsense photo ID requirements to vote in American elections. Photo IDs are common sense. They are necessary. Senator Husted's bill should pass without amendments, without delay.
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