Pennsylvania House Representative Daryl Metcalfe told a local radio host yesterday morning that the state cannot carry the burden for people who are “too lazy” to get their photo ID.
The Republican lawmaker went on Pittsburgh radio station KDKA to defend the state’s highly-debated voter ID law, which he sponsored. The law is currently under review in court.
“Ultimately, the burden isn’t on the state to make sure that every individual does what they need to do to get their ID card,” Metcalfe told Pittsburgh radio station KDKA. “It ultimately is a great travesty of justice to violate the rights of millions to have their legally cast vote protected for the special interests of a few individuals that are too lazy to get out there and get done what they have to to get their ID cards.”
After the host asked him if he could assure that no legitimate voter would be disenfranchised, Metcalfe based his argument by quoting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s secretly-recorded fundraiser video.
“As Mitt Romney said, we have 47 percent of the people that are living off the public dole, living off their neighbors’ hard work, and we have a lot of people out there that are too lazy to get up and get out there and get the ID they need.”
“If individuals are too lazy, the state can’t fix that,” he added.
On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered a lower court to decide whether or not the photo ID law would disenfranchise voters. Republicans say they passed the law to prevent voter fraud, but Democrats are arguing that the law makes it harder for people to vote and may affect President Barack Obama’s election run.
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