GOP spokesman: There will be no internal July 4th fireworks over Gov. Snyder's election reform vetoes

GRAND RAPIDS, MI ? Michigan Republicans say they?re disappointed Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed a trio of election reform bills, but say they?ll be no internal July 4th fireworks over his decision.

?The Republican Party respects members who disagree on policy,? state GOP spokesman Matt Frendewey said.

?As a party, we've always worked hard to protect the integrity of the election process and eliminate fraud, despite any disagreements within the party; we remain committed to this goal.?

Snyder on Tuesday signed into law 11 election reforms, most of them suggested by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson as part of her Safe and Fair Elections program.

But Snyder rejected bills aimed at preventing voting fraud by requiring a voter to reaffirm U.S. citizenship before receiving a ballot and requiring photo identification when picking up an absentee ballot from a city office.

He also rejected a bill that would have required training for people, companies and organizations participating in voter registration drives.

Democrats praised Snyder for showing independence.

?It?s nice to see the tough part of the one tough nerd finally come out,? said Robert McCann, spokesman for state Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer. ?Gov. Snyder is standing up to his party, and saw these bills for what they really are, attempts to keep some people from casting their ballots.?

State Rep. Brad Jacobson, R-Oxford, was the lead sponsor on HB 5061, which required photo identification for absentee ballots, said he was disappointed, but did not criticize Snyder.

He said the bill also would have raised awareness of ballot coaching in senior centers, which was an issue in Detroit.

"I am committed to protecting the ballot in Michigan's elections and am disappointed that Gov. Snyder vetoed my legislation today," Jacobsen said in a release. "I introduced this bill to reduce election fraud and make sure every vote is fairly counted. That remains a priority of mine. I look forward to working with the governor to address his concerns in the near future."

"Like the governor, I don't want to create any confusion in the upcoming election. I remain committed to protecting the right to vote for all Michiganders while protecting the integrity of ballots cast by eligible voters."

Frendewey said the reaction to the intra-party disagreement is mild compared to what he said has happened across the aisle.

The Michigan Democratic Party is notorious for refusing to allow members to disagree,? he said. ?Just recently Rep. Liss was told she betrayed her party and called a traitor.?

State Rep. Lesia Liss, D- Warren, was one of six Democrats who voted with Republicans in a recent abortion bill package. Debate over the bills led to Rep. Lisa Brown?s now infamous vagina comments that led to her not being allowed to speak on the House floor the next day. The prohibition attracted national attention.

Liss was criticized for telling a Capitol news service that Brown, D-West Bloomfield, and state Rep. Barb Byrum, D-Onondaga, were ?making women look bad.?

Email Dave Murray at dmurray@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter @ReporterDMurray or on Facebook.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/michigan-news/~3/qPGT4ux0EjA/gop_spokesman_there_will_be_no.html

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