Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 12, 1993 TAG: 9305120166
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Under the "motor voter" bill, passed 62-36 and sent to President Clinton, states would be required to allow people to register by mail, when they apply for driver's licenses or public assistance or at military recruitment offices.
"This is a victory for democracy," said Becky Cain, president of the League of Women Voters. "Voter registration will now be easy and available to all."
An earlier 63-37 vote ending the filibuster occurred after Democratic Leader George Mitchell told the Senate its will had been frustrated for months "by a dedicated group of obstructionists," all Republicans.
Six Republicans broke ranks to join Democrats in voting to cut off the filibuster. They included Sen. Mark Hatfield, R-Ore., who had been the sole GOP supporter of the bill, and Dave Durenberger of Minnesota, who crafted a compromise designed to prevent voters from being coerced into registering with a particular political party when they applied for welfare or other government benefits.
The others were William Cohen of Maine, Pete Domenici of New Mexico, James Jeffords of Vermont and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Cohen later voted against the bill on final passage.
Mitchell had asked earlier of the Republicans, "What are they afraid of? Why are they afraid of the people participating in the democratic process?"
Republican Leader Bob Dole of Kansas said the bill was improved by Republican amendments in a conference with the House, but is still bad legislation.
Because it contains no money to pay for its provisions, it represents "an unfunded mandate on the already overburdened states," Dole said.
"I can't think of anybody in America who wants this bill," he said. "It doesn't make sense to a lot of people."
Dole and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said that despite the changes, the bill still could lead to "fraud and coercion."
But the floor manager of the legislation, Sen. Wendell Ford, D-Ky., said, "This bill reconnects the American people to their government."
Durenberger explained that his compromise language deleted a section of the bill that would have required voter registration at unemployment offices, and took several steps to see that no coercion was brought to bear against welfare applicants who also seek to register to vote.
"Republicans were trying to eliminate the possibility that people would feel threatened in public-assistance offices," Durenberger said.
by CNB