Governor Dayton Vetoes Voter ID Bill - Well Done Governor! IRRESPONSIBLE, GOP!

From this morning's STrib (5/27/'11)

Following his veto of the Republican Legislature's budget, anti-abortion legislation and his symbolic veto of their marriage constitutional amendment, Gov. Mark Dayton Thursday vetoed their move to require voters to have photo identification when they go to the polls.

"The push to require photo identification in order to vote has been based on the premise that voter fraud is a significant problem in Minnesota. I do not believe that is the case," the DFL governor wrote in his veto letter.

Well said, Governor.  There is NO credible evidence for the premise that we have a SIGNIFICANT voter fraud problem, not in this state, not in other states. There have been plenty of fraudulent attempts by the right to create the impression that there is voter fraud, like the case in Crow Wing County, but they consistently and repeatedly turn out to be false when investigated. CONSISTENTLY. REPEATEDLY.  By significant, I use the word to reference a problem which changes the outcome of elections, or which amounts to a statistically important number.

But the letter, available here and here, references all of the OTHER problems with this legislation which clearly underlines why it was such a bad GOP priority ahead of far more important legislation, like budget and jobs/economy efforts.  It makes it clear why and how the GOP majority FAILED, FAILED UTTERLY the citizens of Minnesota with passing this bill, but not arriving at a workable budget that was actually FAIR to Minnesotans.

A prime example of the failures of the GOP  majority to pass workable, important, LEGAL legislation.  The two paragraphs of the Dayton letter which most struck me were not the one which addresses voter fraud - although the governor was perfectly correct, but the ones about the legality of the law, and the unfunded mandate inherent in it - those damned Republican UNFUNDED mandates that have plagued our country and our state every single time that Republicans have had any power whatsoever:    

"This bill would put Minnesota in violation of the Federal and Military Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE), which requires absentee ballots to be sent to military and overseas voters at least 45 days before each federal election......I cannot sign legislation that does a disservice to military and overseas voters and is so clearly in violation of federal law.
     In addition, this bill is an unfunded mandate on local units of governments at all levels--counties, cities, townships, and school boards.  There is a $23 million dollar cost, documented with a local impact note from the Department of Management and Budget, that has been totally ignored.  At a time when local governments are facing dramatic cuts, adding another mandate without financial assistance is irresponsible.

I would encourage every Penigma reader who has supported a voter ID bill anywhere in this country to read the entire letter, and certainly it would be a good idea for every reader who lives in the state of Minnesota to do so.  We need an accountability in our government; this kind of legislation should result in those who proposed it and those who voted for it being held accountable by being removed from government at the earliest opportunity before they can successfully trash what is best and brightest about Minnesota any more than they already have.  Sadly, that will not be before the next election; perhaps we need a recall option like that in Wisconsin.

Thank you Governor Dayton, and thank God you won the election.