Reyes Statement on Department of Justice blocking Texas Voter ID Law

Statement

Today Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Justice's decision to block the Texas voter ID law:

"Today's decision by the United States Department of Justice to block implementation of the Texas voter ID law until it can be reviewed by federal courts was appropriate. This law, passed by the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry, is discriminatory and would disenfranchise Texas voters, especially minorities.

"This harmful law is nothing more than a shameful attempt to silence the growing voice of minorities in our state, particularly Hispanic voters. While similar laws have been passed in other states, Texas, as a minority-majority state, is different, and the Justice Department action was needed to protect the rights of Hispanics and minorities who now account for the majority of the population of our state.

"This voter ID law, in my view, is blatantly unconstitutional. The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature should have never passed it, and Gov. Rick Perry should have never signed it into law. And now, Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott is spending our taxpayer money trying to defend a law that hurts minorities and Hispanics in our state.

"As this issue makes its way through the federal courts, I will work closely with the El Paso state delegation, minority groups interested in preserving voting rights for all Texans, and other interested parties. The Hispanic population in Texas has grown exponentially, and our voices cannot be silenced by a select few seeking to pursue their radical agendas for personal and political gain at the expense of minorities and the less fortunate. As long as I am the federal representative of the 16th District of Texas, I will not allow that to happen."

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