Right from the sound of the gavel, Senator Mike Parry (R- Waseca) let it be known that discussion of the voter photo ID constitutional amendment would be limited to just what it takes for the Secretary of State to put it on the ballot. Many times during the hearing, Senator Parry interrupted speakers on both sides of the issue who wanted to talk about other aspects of the bill. DFL Senators who wanted more public hearings were assured there would be opportunities in the Senate finance committee. Something that Senator Barb Goodwin (DFL-Columbia Heights) says is needed since new language creating expensive provisional ballots has been added to the bill. Senator Parry said the bill is “essentially the same” as the old one without the provisional ballots. The bill has no “enabling legislation” which would detail how the voter photo ID would be carried out, which is rare for a constitutional amendment and could invite lawsuits according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota. Senator Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul) said without additional legislation detailing how voter photo ID would work, the bill was a “pig in a poke”. Less