Photo ID, Texting & More Joblessness

THUMBS UP TO:

Killing unnecessary photo ID to vote bill

A proposal that would have required Tennesseans to show photo identification before voting failed in the House Elections Subcommittee this week. Sponsored by Rep. Debra Maggart, a Hendersonville Republican, the measure failed on a 3-3 tie Wednesday. A companion bill passed the Senate and is sponsored by Sen. Bill Ketron, a Republican from Murfreesboro.

In March, this newspaper took an editorial position against both bills because they are unnecessary, impractical and could keep citizens from voting.

Photo ID safeguards are not necessary to maintaining voting integrity, particularly because current Tennessee law requires ID and a signature comparison. As in Virginia, if Tennessee voters are registered to vote and have ID that matches the address given for their voter registration, that should be sufficient.

We support measures that prevent voter fraud – such as requiring people to register in advance of elections. But once they are registered, voting should be as easy as possible. Seeking another layer of bureaucracy is contrary to that goal.

Police using text messages to get information

The Johnson City (Tenn.) Police Department has begun accepting anonymous information and tips from citizens by text message. Chief John Lowry told News Channel 11 that this system has worked well elsewhere and he wanted to use it locally. The texting system cost $6,500, and was paid for by Joe Trujillo, who owns a local car dealership.

To send a text message tip to the Johnson City Police Department, text 423JCPD to 847411.

We like that the Johnson City Police Department is using technology to help the public and get needed information. It’s a step up from most mindless text messages:

RU there yet?

IDK, CU L8R.

THUMBS DOWN TO:

Continued increases in unemployment claims

Tennessee labor officials say the state’s unemployment rate for March rose to 9.6 percent, an increase of six-tenths of a percentage point since February. Virginia’s unemployment rate is 7.5 percent.
The national unemployment rate for March was 8.5 percent, up from the February rate of 8.1 percent.

Tennessee’s State Labor Commissioner James Neeley said in a statement that the unemployment rate continues on an “upward trend and economists predict Tennessee will face difficult months ahead.”
However, for the first time in several months, the state saw increases in retail trade and leisure and hospitality employment, which Neeley said were encouraging signs.

The number of Americans receiving jobless benefits still tops 6 million, although last week’s new claims dropped to about 640,000. A month ago, about 650,000 new people had filed for unemployment benefits.

Tough times continue, with no real end in sight.

Political campaign, misguided mission

Political operatives Yoni Cohen and Elliot Vice from Arlington, Va., came to Bristol this week as part of a campaign against Bob McDonnell, the GOP candidate for Virginia governor.

Cohen and Vice are travelling across Virginia to record interviews with people who are signing up for unemployment benefits. On Wednesday in Bristol only one person agreed to speak on camera. The pair said they are not staging anything and only talk to people who want to be interviewed.

The campaign is called “Bob’s Not For Jobs, Bob’s Not For You Tour” and criticizes the former attorney general and the Republican-controlled House of Delegates’ recent vote to reject $125 million in federal money designed to bolster state unemployment benefits.

Earlier this month, this newspaper also criticized the House for its refusal to accept the federal money because some Virginians are running their households on multiple part-time jobs and need all the help they can get during this recession.

But remember the facts: The General Assembly did accept money to increase benefits for full-time workers who have lost their jobs and to increase funding for health benefits for part-time workers who are unemployed. The sticking point was over increasing unemployment benefits to part-time workers. Opponents feared it would be a disincentive to take a job because the unemployment benefits would nearly equal part-time pay.

By Friday, Cohen and Vice’s work at various unemployment offices was turned into a Web ad critical of McDonnell, who is not a member of the House of Delegates and did not vote on the issue.