… or at least, inexperienced in covering the Lege. Senate Bill 362, the voter ID bill, wasn’t quite finished yet. The final reading is happening right now. But again, it’s just a formality, since the GOP has a 19-12 edge in the Senate.

And … there. It’s really done this time. I just heard Dewhurst say “SB 362 is finally passed.”

After passage, Royce West made a statement that of the 31 senators, eight are ethnic minorities, and all have consistently voted against 362. And now Eliot Shapleigh, who represents El Paso, has noted that although he is white, he represents a predominantly Hispanic district, and he too consistently went against 362.

This article appears in March 13 • 2009.

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