It appears the Legislature will not pass a voter identification bill that Republicans desire and Democrats loath as Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst sent ailing Sen. Mario Gallegos home Wednesday night.
Gallegos, recovering from a liver transplant and potentially in danger of his body rejecting the replacement, has stayed in the Capitol despite his doctors’ advice to remain in Houston.
The Democratic lawmaker is the swing vote in determining whether the bill comes up for debate.
“I sent Mario home,” Dewhurst told reporters.
That means the lieutenant governor has no plans to call up the contentious legislation. Doing so would certainly trigger a filibuster by Democrats and kill scores of bills.
The Senate must tentatively approve House bills by midnight. Legislation that doesn’t pass before the deadline is dead.
Thank you, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst. Sen. Gallegos thanks you as well.
He said he wasn’t going to do it, but the emotion of the evening got the better of him.
Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston asked for and received a personal privilege to stand and thank Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and the Senate for agreeing not to consider the Voter ID bill.
“As a human being to another human being, I appreciate it, I don’t mind telling you,” Gallegos said.
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Gallegos said he was sincerely moved by the consideration shown him by a Senate that last week was angrily split over House Bill 218, which would require voters to present identification before casting ballots.
“I’ll be back and if you want to fight this battle again, we’ll fight it, but with a healthy Mario Gallegos,” he said, before receiving a standing ovation.
That is the most-deserved standing O of the year. Sen. Gallegos, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for all you did this session. Enjoy all the yellow roses that have been sent.
For posterity, here’s Sen. Gallegos’ op-ed on voter ID and why he chose to stand and fight. I’m reprinting it beneath the fold for future reference.