|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
February 7,
2008 Volume
4, Number 5 | ||
|
In This
Issue
E-Mail
cynthia.davis@house.mo.gov
Chair Vice Chair
Vice Chair
Official Homepage for Official Government Homepage for your
Look up Missouri House Bills – View
Entire Text, Summary, and Last Action Look up Consumer Complaints & Fraudulent
Activity, No-Call List Federal
Links |
Making Sure
Voters
Are American
Citizens
“The Honor
System” worked in this country for a very long time, but this is 2008 and
it is time for some verification. This week I presented my bill,
HB1317, which will require the local election authority to verify the
citizenship of those who register to vote. It always amazes me
when anyone argues against legitimizing the process by making sure that
the voter registrant is a citizen of the Over half of the 9/11 highjackers were registered
to vote in this country. Anyone can register to vote by simply
providing a utility bill and checking a box to claim citizenship.
For years, the push has been to make registration almost effortless so
that one can register almost anywhere, including online. Although public hearings allow for testimony from
any group or person, we often receive short notices for our public
hearings. That and the driving distance often limit who can show up to
testify. So, while I heard from many people who would have liked to
testify for this bill, I understand the difficulty in making it to
With HB 1317, the one negative comment noted that
county clerks would have to work harder to verify the legal status of the
voters. Our law already states that the voters must be American
citizens; this is merely verification that existing law is followed.
Citizens expect as much from our clerks. Ultimately, the problem is that registering to
vote is as simple as showing a utility bill to prove your residence.
I like to trust people, but the government owes our citizens a higher
standard than just taking someone’s word for it. The voters expect
our elections to be run fair and square. Every vote that is cast by
a non-citizen disenfranchises a legitimate vote. The
Glory of Immaculate
Conception of Dardenne
“All the foregoing human qualities bind into one
theme, the Glory of Missouri because no people attain these virtues unless
they are great.” Last week, I was delighted to honor students from
Immaculate Conception School, Dardenne Prairie. I presented them
with Certificates of Recognition for demonstrating virtues identified by
Janet Eaton, school principal, brought these
students and their parents to Grace Milburn
Knowledge Ali
Pinkerton Tim Brauss
Equality Ashley Boyle
Law Joey Hampton
Justice Lauren Geringer
Education T.J.
Fine
Progress Chrissy McGuckin
Honor Jameo
Klemme
Temperance Danielle
Wilson Katie Livingston
Charity Any school can participate in the Glory Awards
program by nominating students who exemplify these virtues in their daily
lives. If you contact my office, I would be glad
to provide you with information about starting a Glory Awards program at
your school, and I would be glad to honor students with Certificates of
Recognition, either at the State Capitol in | |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
