Gallegos Gets to Go Home
May 24th, 2007 at 6:09 am
The epic battle for voter ID — and by extension, freedom, democracy, and the most dastardly sort of political maneuvering — came to a storybook ending Wednesday, with Lt. Gov. Dewhurst’s promise to Sen. Mario Gallegos not to take up HB 218. With just hours left to hear bills this session, Dewhurst told the ailing Democratic senator he could go home.
Gallegos remained on the floor for more than an hour, though, before rising to thank his colleagues for their support. Gallegos had been at home for most of the legislative session, recovering from a liver transplant, before he returned to Austin to block the voter ID bill with other Senate Democrats.
In his speech, Gallegos singled out Sens. Bob Deuell and John Whitmire for thanks. Deuell, he said, called regularly while he was in the hospital, and even put a hospital bed near the Senate chamber for him. Whitmire is a longtime friend of Gallegos, and often defended him on the Senate floor. “I’ll be back,” Gallegos told members, “and if you want to fight this fight again, I’ll fight it.”
Gallegos’ speech ended in a Senatorial scrum around his desk, as members lined up to show their support.
Dewhurst, who kept Gallegos in Austin against doctors’ advice with the voter ID threat, was the last in line.
It felt like a trademark Senate scene — it’s doubtful anything like it could play out in the House. Imagine voter ID backer and immigrant basher Leo Berman lining up to wrap up Democratic mainstay Garnet Coleman in a bear hug by his desk. Even an awkward bro-pat on the back would be a stretch.
Voter ID supporters — especially atop the GOP leadership — are going to be disappointed Dewhurst couldn’t get the bill through. After hideously managing a voter ID sneak-attack last week, though, the Lite Guv wasn’t going to get another chance to bring it up.
Without giving up anything he wasn’t about to lose anyway, Dewhurst managed to salvage some goodwill from a Senate that was at his throat last week. After commending Gallegos’ efforts in a statement, Democratic Caucus chair Leticia Van de Putte called Dewhurst a “hero” too, for showing wisdom and compassion Wednesday night. It was a big win for Democrats, and a much-needed little win for Dewhurst as well.
Gallegos has a tough fight ahead. It has been reported that his body is rejecting the new liver doctors put in. He also has publicly acknowledged a personal battle with the bottle. If he ever drinks again, he will likely die.
After everyone finished hugging Gallegos, Whitmire said to his old friend, “Take care of yourself, stay out of bars.”
May 24th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Gallegos -
This is an outrage..I feel bad that he is very sick, but DO YOU PEOPLE KNOW THAT HE DID IT TO HIMSELF.. DRINKING….
Do you realize that an average person trying to get a liver transplant WOULD BE REFUSED if drank and purposly caused it. He is very lucky to even got that liver..
You republicans/whites are too good hearted, but trust me as your good faith being so easy to please because of minorities WILL END US ALL.
WAKE UP………………
You have to show an ID for sake to even get a perscription or go the movie, this political correctness b/c don’t want to be made a bad guy or called a racist will evenually get the top authority to the people that WILL NOT RETURN THE FAVOR TO YOU MY WHITE COLLEAGUES so blind……….
If you couldn’t support the VOTER ID BILL than you knew illegals would vote and therefore you are guilty..
May 24th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Just goes to show once again how deeply invested the Dems are in maintaining voter fraud. By the way, the issue is not whether you have to show and ID to vote, it is having to show one to register to vote.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:14 am
Turtle— There were two separate voter ID bills that could have come up in the Senate. The one you mentioned is Rep. Phil King’s H.B. 626, for voter registration. Betty Brown’s H.B. 218 is the one that popped up briefly on the Senate floor, and that one would have required a photo ID at the polls.
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