Texas Retiree President Testifies

(Texas Alliance for Retired Americans)

                                     TARA President Annie Banks withstood hardships to testify against the Texas "Voter-ID" bill on March 12.

Here is a report from Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller:

Our voter id bill came up in the Senate Tuesday, March 10, President TARA, Annie Banks was at our office at 9AM, we took her straight to the capitol to get on the list for public testimony and she signed in, turned in her written testimony, and took her seat to wait. Expert witness testimony started shortly after that hour and continued until about 7am the next morning. Annie Banks stayed the course, stayed in the Senate Gallery, waiting her turn to testify on behalf of TARA members and the potential disenchised citizens of Texas. Her testimony was about 8:00am

Wednesday March 11. Sister Banks never left the Senate Gallery except to grab a bite to eat in the capitol cafeteria, returning immediately to listen to the rest of the “expert testimony, invited testimony”.

It was a long day and night but the Texas AFL CIO, USW, UTU, IAM, San Antonio CLC, and TARA stayed with the 12 senate democrats, never let a crack in our armor show even though all were tired, hungry and disgusted with most of the proceedings.

Unfortunately, the Committee of the Whole voted 20 to 12 to let the bill out of committee.

Thanks to Annie Banks with TARA for her dedication.

- Becky Moeller, President

Texas AFL-CIO

Here is Banks' own testimony against "Voter ID":

Senate Bill #362 requires an official ID, such as a Texas drivers' license, to vote.  Many of my elderly friends and relatives do not have a drivers' license anymore. This bill creates additional hurdle that elderly voters without ID's must overcome. As stated to the Senate, these hurdles should be health care, prescription drugs, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and nursing home care.  I just don't understand why the Senate or anyone else does not understand our fight.

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The battle against voting restrictions for Texas seniors now goes to the State House. Texans will be calling their representatives to let them know how much we oppose it.

--Gene Lantz, Secretary

Texas Alliance for Retired Americans