Former Governor Rendell weighs in on Turzai’s role with voter ID

Former Governor Ed Rendell is offering some mocking praise for Pennsylvania state House Majority Leader Mike Turzai over his voter ID comments last June.

On the eve of the state’s voter ID law’s second hearing in Commonwealth Court, Rendell says it’s obvious the law was not passed to prevent voter fraud. For such clarity, says the former governor, Pennsylvanians owe a “debt of gratitude” to Turzai.

Rendell calls the House Majority Leader’s comments a magnificent performance of honesty, and openness and transparency in government.”Representative Turzai told us right what it was all about, to make it easier for Governor Romney to carry the state,” said Rendell.  “Does anybody doubt that that’s true?  I mean, Mike Turzai is one of the most honest and courageous and wonderful persons that I’ve ever met in my experience in government, and he told the truth.”In June, Turzai told a Republican audience voter ID would “allow” Mitt Romney to win Pennsylvania in November.At the time, a spokesman said Turzai was simply arguing the law would create a level playing field.