LETTER TO THE EDIITOR

Contrary to a letter written recently by Ms. Joanna Reagan, of Bullard, there is significant voter fraud in Texas.

There are so many voter fraud cases, the Texas judicial system would be overwhelmed and no other cases would be prosecuted if they all went to court.

Earlier this year, thousands of Harris County residents were reported to have returned their jury summons with the annotation they were not United States citizens; therefore, could not serve on a jury.

Those replies were checked against the voter registration list; 3,700 were found and dropped.

Many were illegal aliens and some had already voted! If prosecuted, Houston courts would still be hearing the cases almost a year later. Similar incidents have occurred in Dallas, Tarrant, and Bexar Counties.

More recently, a state audit team under the Secretary of State's office found some 49,000 ineligible voters on voter registration rolls throughout the state.

Some were convicted felons who cannot participate in the election process and others were names of individuals who were deceased.

Last session, the Texas House passed a photo ID bill. The bill required a photo ID to prove the person appearing to vote was indeed the person on the voter registration card.

In the absence of a photo ID, a voter could bring an electric bill, water bill, or any other document to show they, at a minimum, live at the residence noted on the voter registration card.

The bill also authorized the Texas Department of Public Safety to provide a photo ID card, free of charge, for anyone in need.

Eleven Texas Senate Democrats blocked the bill and it failed in the Senate.

It was a party line vote with all Democrats voting against the bill.

They called it racism and claimed it was an attempt to keep minorities and the poor from voting.

The bill singled out no one; it applied to all Texas voters.

Most Texans have to show an ID card to rent a movie from Blockbuster, confirm their identity to use a credit card, or clear security at an airport.

We will pass this bill again in the Texas House during the 2009 Legislative Session, and, hopefully, the Senate will do the same.

As chairman of the House Committee on Elections, one of my interim charges is to determine the extent of voter fraud in Texas.

Our first committee hearing will take place Friday, January 25th at the state capitol in Austin.

All Texans are invited to attend.

Recent reports indicate Texas is now the home of 1.75 million illegal aliens.

These law breakers are using counterfeit, forged, or stolen identities from Social Security cards to driver licenses.

They will stop at nothing.

The thought that they will not utilize illegal voter registration cards is ludicrous. We already know illegal aliens are voting. It is incumbent on elected leaders throughout the state to put an end to it.

Sincerely, Rep. Leo Berman