Photo ID legislation is once again up for debate in the Missouri legislature

See Related Stories

Intro:	Once again, one lawmaker is trying to get Missouri to adopt a controversial photo ID law, but fellow lawmakers and interest groups are having none of it.
RunTime:	0:38
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Rep. Tony Dugger of Hartville, admitted he has brought his photo ID bill before the Elections Committee multiple times.

Actuality:	DUGGER.WAV
Run Time:	00:07
Description: "This is basically the same bill I've been presenting for the last several years that I have been here."

That is exactly the problem, says St. Louis County Democrat Stacey Newman.

Actuality:	NEWMAN.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: "I'm not exactly speechless, but I am just amazed that you have the chutzpah to keep bringing this back to this committee. I mean, I'm amazed."

The committee took no action on the bill and it must be voted out of committee before it has a chance of reaching the House floor.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.

Intro:	Interest groups spoke out in opposition to a controversial photo ID proposal Tuesday at the Missouri Capitol.
RunTime:	0:35
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Representatives from the ACLU, AARP, League of Women Voters, NAACP, and Empower Missouri all testfied against Representative Tony Dugger's photo ID proposal.

Denise Lieberman, an attorney from the Advancement Project who worked on the case that eventually struck down Wisconsin's photo ID law, said Missouri's proposal is unlike any she's seen.

Actuality:	LIEB.WAV
Run Time:	00:06
Description: "The provision before you stacks up as the most strict in the nation."

Proponents of the measure say requiring a photo ID when voting would cut down on voter impersonation fraud.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.

Intro:	A former Republican Secretary of State candidate says a photo ID law is needed to cut down on voter fraud
RunTime:	0:44
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Mitch Hubbard, who ran unsuccessfully against Robin Carnahan for Secretary of State in 2008, testified before the House Elections Committee and said a photo ID law in Missouri is needed.

He also commended bill sponsor Tony Dugger for continually bringing the bill in front of the legislature.

Actuality:	HUBBARD.WAV
Run Time:	00:14
Description: "In England, we had William Wilberforce who for 30 years filed legislation to end the slave trade. It took 30 years, but he kept doing it. And this is not a comparable issue, but sometimes it's important to keep important issues in the fore-front even if they don't pass right away."

Opponents of the bill told the committee repeatedly that the measure is too restrictive and would disenfranchise eligible voters.

The committee took no action on the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.

Intro:	The lady who runs elections in a southwest Missouri county came all the way to the Capitol to testify in favor of a photo ID bill Tuesday.
RunTime:	0:38
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Taney County clerk Donna Neeley said throughout her experience as the county's clerk, she's seen voter fraud first-hand.

Actuality:	NEELEY.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: "I do know that fraud exists. I have stopped people from voting in my county trying to use old voter ID cards when I knew that they had moved to Greene County."

Opponents of the measure like St. Louis County Representative Clem Smith says the proposal is bad for Missouri.

Actuality:	CLEM.WAV
Run Time:	00:06
Description: "I think this made to be a hinderance, a hiccup in the system to discourage people actually."

The committee took testimony from interest groups and regular citizens, but took no action on the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Steven Anthony.