The Bait
Todd Smith, who was passed over for more important, but less partisan legislative assignments, is signaling that he may accept amendments to exempt some voters from the Photo ID requirement and might be willing to phase the bill in over one or more elections. (Source: Associated Press, March 27, 2009 )
The Switch
However, the final version of the bill will be written by a small group of harshly partisan Republican members sitting on a House and Senate Conference Committee where any so-called “softening” amendments can be stripped out. Neither Todd Smith nor Republican House Speaker Joe Straus has signaled any intention to protect a House version of the bill or oppose a final bill that strips out amendments agreed upon by the House.
Todd Smith has double-crossed colleagues before
Four years ago Todd Smith also promised a large group of both Republican and Democratic legislators that he would take the lead and then fight for them on major legislation. He authored a campaign finance reform bill outlawing corporate contributions to Texas political committees. Over 90 colleagues, almost two-thirds of the House, cosponsored Smith’s bill. However, when heavy-handed Speaker Tom Craddick moved to block the legislation, Smith quickly folded, double-crossing his colleagues and allowing the reform bill to die. Smith’s partisanship and fear of extremists in his own party overcame any sense of honor, duty or loyalty to colleagues. (Source: Austin American-Statesman, April 29, 2005)
Now, four years later, even though Todd Smith is Chair of the Elections Committee and Tom Craddick is long gone, Smith has fully embraced the role of in-house political hack by pushing a partisan Voter ID bill and making empty promises to colleagues that history shows he has no intention of keeping.
