Open letter to Berman on integrity

Dear Rep. Berman:

Rampant voter fraud in Texas and anywhere else in the United States amounts to a "Chicken Little Claim" and just does not exist.

The Bush Administration's own Department of Justice, Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative has resulted in only 14 convictions of non-citizens voting in the entire United States between 2002 and 2005.

Let's set the facts straight.

In April of 2007, the Austin American-Statesman reported that Republican Attorney General Abbott admitted that after spending millions of Texas and federal taxpayer dollars investigating, "there have been few (voter fraud) prosecutions in Texas."

In the paper's editorial it said, "Voter fraud is not an issue because Texas is not being flooded with unregistered voters and illegal immigrants flocking to the polls.

"That just isn't happening." April 26, 2007

What is happening?

John Colyandro, indicted along with Tom DeLay on felony charges of money laundering, is now executive director of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute (TCCR), which has launched a group with the misnomer, "Election Integrity Task Force" of which you are a leading member.

As my mother said, "we are known by the company we keep."

If I were you, Representative Berman, I would not want to sully my reputation by urging another costly voter fraud initiative that is strictly "pure" politics, or "dirty" politics aimed at suppressing the turnout of legitimate voters whose support Republicans are unable or unwilling to earn through public service.

The voters of East Texas deserve better.

Joanna Reagan

Bullard