Democratic objections doom bill on voting booths
Edit in:(This bill is simply a republican bill that would allow voting booths on military bases)
A bill to allow voting booths on U.S. military bases has died in Congress after Republican backers were told that Democratic senators would object to a quick floor vote in the waning days of the 106th Congress.
But aides were told that while Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, South Dakota Democrat, would support the bill, there were some unnamed Democrats who would protest what is called "unanimous consent" to the bill's passage.
A senior Republican leadership aide quoted Mr. Daschle's staff as saying several weeks ago, "We're not going to object to this bill. But I have checked with my people, and there are people on my side that will object."
Ranit Schmelzer, spokeswoman for Mr. Daschle, said the Senate minority leader would not have objected if Mr. Lott brought the bill to the floor last week.
The Senate maneuvering comes at a time when some military personnel are resentful of recent Democratic Party efforts to disqualify overseas ballots in Florida to win the state for Vice President Al Gore.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Thomas, California Republican, cleared the House, 297-114. It is designed to ease the voting burden on service members by allowing, but not requiring, the military's three service secretaries to authorize polling places on domestic installations. The legislation is primarily aimed at remote bases where personnel and their families must drive considerable distances to a polling location.
washtimes.com |
