Republicans hit Justice Department on voter ID

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans are striking out against the Justice Department, saying its decision to contest several state voter ID laws shows the agency isn’t concerned with the integrity of the vote.

GOP Reps. Trent Franks, of Arizona, and Steve King, of Iowa offered withering criticism during a congressional hearing on Thursday. Franks says the Justice Department’s decision to contest several voter ID laws under the Voting Rights Act is particularly galling because the Obama Administration hasn’t done enough to protect the right to vote of members of the military serving abroad.

Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez is defending the Justice Department. He says the department is justified in enforcing the Voting Rights Act and says the department’s doing more than ever before to ensure that every American service member can vote.