Scott Garrett

I post this comment about congressman Scott Garrett of the 5th CD in New Jersey because I personally think his voting record is a disgrace.  The congressman is a republican and has held his seat for 12 or so years having taken over the district on the retirement of Marge Roukema, also a republican and someone I had voted for.  The info comes from an e-mail from New Jersey Citizens Action on 8/3/12.  It reports that Garrett voted to extend the Bush II era tax cut for those making "more than a million a year" giving them an average tax break of $ 150,000.  At the same time he voted to reduce federal child tax credit and the earned income tax credit both of which benefit the less wealthy.  The plan will cost $ 1 trillion over a ten year period and $ 68 billion next year.

Disenfranchisement

The question being asked this election season concerns the efforts by some groups-mostly republican-to require a photo ID in order to vote in a presidential election.  Pennsylvania passed one of the first of these laws.  A specific aspect of this issue is how it will impact on the Amish and Mennonite communities in that state.
My first source for research was "thinkprogress.com" which describes itself as a "liberal blog" and was awarded the "best liberal blog" award by a group called Weblog in the 2006 awards by that org.  They stated that 700,000 Pennsylvanians lack photo IDs.  Regarding the Amish and Mennonite groups...who "object to having their picture taken for religious reasons", would they be denied the right to vote?  This site reported that "they can use a non photo ID to vote but only after completing an interrogation about their faith" (this according to the AP).  A form to complete must be notorized and signed by their church bishop.  Many of this group do not vote but those who do tend to vote republican.
My second source for research was "Lancasteronline.com" who reported that "Plain sect" Amish "would be forced to clear more regulatory hurdles than the average voter".  "They'ed be required to show a non-photo ID at polling places...must provide Department of Transportation with a statement of their beliefs signed by their church bishop".  "It's actually harder to get that ID than a driver's license".  The Plain sect group is a "tight-knit and separate from the larger culture".  The church hierarchy includes a deacon, minister and bishop.