After second day of debate, no Pa. House action on voter ID

Pennsylvania House lawmakers debating a voter ID bill stopped short of taking a final vote Tuesday.

The bill’s home stretch comes as similar measures requiring photo identification at the polls have hit the skids in other states.

The U.S. Department of Justice objected to Texas’s voter ID law, saying it would disenfranchise Hispanic voters.

Pennsylvania wouldn’t need to go through the same review process as Texas.

Gov. Tom Corbett says he’s unfazed by the Justice department’s action, and the possibility a voter ID law in Pennsylvania could face a lawsuit.

“You don’t back away from something just because some other state, and a court in another state took some action or that there may be action taken here,” Corbett said. “If the legislation isn’t passed, then there won’t be any court action. If there’s court action, there’s court action.”

In Wisconsin, two state judges have barred the implementation of a voter ID law, arguing it would discriminate against minorities.

Several groups opposed to the voter ID initiative in Pennsylvania have said they’ll mount a court challenge if the bill becomes law.

House members will resume debate Wednesday. The Senate has already passed the measure.