Chad’s Morning Brief: SB 5 Killed By Abortion Proponents, Voter ID, Supreme Court to Weigh in on Gay Marriage Cases Today, and More
Here is your Morning Brief for the morning of June 26, 2013. Give me your feedback below and tune in to The Chad Hasty Show for these and many more topics from 8:30 to 11am. Remember, you can listen online at KFYO.com or with the radioPup App.
1. Democrats Along With Uncontrollable Protesters Kill SB 5 (link)
An 11 hour filibuster by Democratic Texas Senator Wendy Davis and unruly crowds made it a long night in Austin and ultimately, SB 5 was killed by the Democrats. As the clock struck midnight, chaos continued to erupt on the Senate floor and in the gallery. News agencies started reporting that Republicans had actually passed SB 5, but at 3am we learned that wasn't the case.
Senator Wendy Davis (D- Fort Worth, pictured) started off Tuesday with a filibuster against SB 5. Armed with pink tennis shoes for comfort, Davis began her filibuster at 11:18a. The filibuster lasted until over 11 hours until 10:03p, when Lt. Governor David Dewhurst ruled Davis broke senate rules by straying off topic.
After Dewhurst ruled, appeals came from Davis supporters that her filibuster should stand. With the clock ticking toward midnight, and the end of the special session, numerous points of order and parliamentary inquiries were brought up.
Then, just after 11:40p, with Senator Bob Duncan (R- Lubbock) presiding over the senate in his president pro tem duties, the senate discussion became solely parliamentary inquiries.
Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D- San Antonio) then struck the match that lit the proverbial powder keg. Van de Putte asked Duncan, “At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over the male colleagues in the room?”
At that point, the galley erupted into deafening cheering (“Wendy, Wendy”), screaming and jeering. The protesting lasted over 20 minutes. Senator Duncan tried to record roll call vote and maintain order as the protesting got underway.
15 minutes later, amid the continued din in the chamber, a final vote on SB 5 was conducted. Senator Dan Patrick (R- Houston) told the Austin American Statesman the bill passed by a 19-10 vote.
At least that's what everyone thought, until 3am.
At 3:03a, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst returned to the senate floor to officially state that time ran out in the special session before a vote was taken on SB 5. “Regrettably, the constitutional time for the First Called Session of the 83rd Legislature has expired,” Dewhurst said. “Senate Bill 5 cannot be signed in the presence of the senate at this time and therefore cannot be enrolled.”
After gavelling out the session, Dewhurst deadpanned, “It’s been fun. But, see you soon,” with no official sine die noted.
The special session ended at midnight, with SB 5 and a few other bills being killed. Various reports have the vote for SB 5 occurring at 12:03a amid the chaos in the senate chamber.
Governor Rick Perry does have the option to call a second special session to try to pass the abortion-restricting legislation, or any other legislation he deems necessary to the state.
I believe that Governor Perry will call another Special Session and that SB 5 will ultimately pass. We will break the night down on the show today starting at 8:35am.
2. Texas Voter ID Law Will Take Effect Immediately (link)
Attorney General Greg Abbott didn't waste anytime after yesterday's ruling from the Supreme Court. Starting tomorrow, Texas DPS will begin to hand out free Voter ID cards.
The implications of today’s landmark ruling could be swift and stunning.
With the Supreme Court suspending the mechanism that forced Texas to get a federal OK before it can implement any election law change, state Attorney General Greg Abbott asserts that nothing now can stop the state from activating its controversial voter ID law.
“With today’s decision, the State’s voter ID law will take effect immediately,” Abbott announced. “Redistricting maps passed by the Legislature may also take effect without approval from the federal government.”
Laughlin McDonald of the ACLU, on a call with reporters, conceded that Texas has “a very strong argument” that in light of today’s Supreme Court decision, it can implement the Voter ID law and other laws that previously required federal approval.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has announced that starting Thursday, “Photo identification will now be required when voting in elections in Texas.”
Starting Thursday, Texas driver license offices will begin issuing photo IDs to anyone who doesn’t already have one. Under the 2011 state law creating one of the state’s most strict voter ID laws, the certificates are free and valid for six years. To qualify, an applicant must show U.S. citizenship and Texas residency. The required documents are listed here to verify U.S. citizenship and identity.
Voters only need that document if they lack a current Texas drivers license, personal ID card or concealed handgun license; U.S. passport or military ID or citizenship certificate with photo.
After the Legislature enacted the voter ID law, the Justice Department invoked Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act to block implementation. The Obama administration, siding with minority advocates, says the law would discriminate against low-income and minority voters. An appeal is pending at the Supreme Court.
Good job to Attorney General Abbott for being on top of this. Voter ID makes sense and is not racist. Everyone must show an ID when they vote.
3. Obama Not Happy About the Supreme Court Ruling (link)
Maybe it's just me, but seeing the first black President complaining about how racism is still everywhere in America makes me laugh at the stupidity. President Obama called yesterday's ruling on the Voting Rights Act a "setback".
"I am deeply disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision today. For nearly 50 years, the Voting Rights Act – enacted and repeatedly renewed by wide bipartisan majorities in Congress – has helped secure the right to vote for millions of Americans. Today’s decision invalidating one of its core provisions upsets decades of well-established practices that help make sure voting is fair, especially in places where voting discrimination has been historically prevalent," reads Obama's statement.
"As a nation, we’ve made a great deal of progress towards guaranteeing every American the right to vote. But, as the Supreme Court recognized, voting discrimination still exists. And while today’s decision is a setback, it doesn’t represent the end of our efforts to end voting discrimination. I am calling on Congress to pass legislation to ensure every American has equal access to the polls. My Administration will continue to do everything in its power to ensure a fair and equal voting process."
Of course Obama didn't have a problem with the Black Panthers intimidating white voters in 2008. It's amazing what the left will say in order to try and convince people that we are still in the 50's.
4. SCOTUS and the Supreme Court (link)
It will be another historic day at the Supreme Court as the court will decide gay marriage cases.
One way or another, the Supreme Court will deliver history when it hands down its decision on two landmark cases involving the fundamental social institution of marriage.
“This is the first time an issue of such importance to the Marriage Equality Movement is before the court,” Katie Belanger, Executive Director of Fair Wisconsin said.
Fair Wisconsin is an advocacy group working for gay equality.
“Marriage is really about love and commitment and family and the denial of marriage equality does negatively impact gay and lesbian and same-sex couples and their families,” Belanger said.
Conservatives see gay marriage as an erosion of the family — believing if gay marriage is allowed, the traditional family will suffer.
“What we’re saying is kids don’t need both a male and a female, a married mom and dad — that two men and two women are just the same. That statistically in the research just isn’t true,” Julaine Appling with Wisconsin Family Action said.
Gay men and lesbians do not have legal equality when it comes to marriage in all parts of the country. States allow it, but the Federal Defense of Marriage Act prevents federal recognition of any same-sex marriage.
That is being challenged in one case.
The other case deals with California’s Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage, and the decision could impact whether Wisconsin’s ban is Constitutional.
“Wisconsin does have a Constitutional ban, so if the Proposition 8 case is decided a certain way, it could strike down all bans,” Belanger said.
What do you think the Supreme Court will do about the gay marriage cases? How will they rule? We will keep an eye on the news and bring you the latest during the show.
Other Top Stories:
These and many more topics coming up on today’s edition of The Chad Hasty Show. Tune in mornings 8:30-11am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App. All guest interviews can be heard online in our podcast section after the show at kfyo.com.
More From News/Talk 95.1 & 790 KFYO
