An article in today's Philadelphia Inquirer illustrates the absurdities inherent in the Pa. voter suppression law currently being appealed. A 70-year-old Scranton woman (who's bio sounds like a Republican stalwart) has been frustrated trying to get a Penndot id until she got special assistance from the Inquirer.
Sherry Skramstad was a special ed teacher in NYC for 32 years, has been a licensed horse breeder and trainer (dressage? well, probably not :) ) , and author of a 2007 book about her sister with Downs Syndrome. But Penndot said she needed documentation, including from a 50 year old marriage license in NC and a 46 year old divorce decree in Mexico.
(more below)
She's had a valid NY driver's license for 40 years but Penndot said, in effect, "rules are rules." And when she lost her car in an accident she was told she couldn't buy or lease another one without that elusive Pa. license. For two months no one seemed to help, elecdted officals, the mexican Embassy, etc. until Penndot seemed embarassed by Inquirer questions and helped her (sounds like special help to get rid of annoying press questions). As Skramstad said:
It shouldn't have to be specific documents. You should bring in whatever you have-tax returns, utility bills, your out-of-state license-and let the person at PennDot decide if that is sufficent to be granted a license.
A person like me, 70-ye4ars old with all these documents from state agencies, and I'm not allowed to lease a car, or vote? This is insanity, Skramstad said. And discriminationagainst women-a man is born with one name and he keeps it, but there are thousands of women whose names change just like mine did.
I also found the article online (can't figure how to post a link here) and some of the responses are so snarky. A few examples:
And here we go again! The liberal writers at the Inky can't let it go. I guess we will get story after story until November. And when Obama loses, they will blame the voter ID law as being part of the reason.
— psyrus
Let's make sure she gets a drivers license and passport -- and of course all of her federal benefits (SS, medicare, etc) possible -- without any proof of who she is either. Wouldn't want her to have to be inconvenienced at all by having to use the internet or mails...
— mdm711