[media-credit name=’NATALIE WEINBERGER/Herald Photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]The Wisconsin Assembly passed legislation requiring Wisconsin residents to present photo identification to vote in elections in a largely partisan 57-36 vote.

The bill would also force potential voters to show a photo ID to register to vote, as well, and was passed after a highly contentious debate.

"Once again, we had support to move this forward in this case as a constitutional amendment," state Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, an author of the bill, said.

Similar bills passed in both the state Senate and Assembly numerous times in the past; however, Gov. Jim Doyle used his veto pen to squelch the measures each time they crossed his desk.

The new legislation is in the form of a joint resolution that bypasses the governor's approval and must be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions and then put to a public referendum before it can become law.

When Doyle vetoed the prior bills, he did so stating the legislation disenfranchised many groups in the state, including minorities and the elderly.

Rep. David Travis, D-Madison, echoed Doyle's reservations about the bill.

"This body wants to stop Hispanics, blacks and other minorities from voting," Travis said. "This is about voter suppression and everybody knows that."

The measure would also greatly affect young voters, Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, said during the floor debate on the bill.

"If you are a college student, you should be very afraid of this agenda," Parisi said. "It's going to be virtually impossible for college students to have an up-to-date ID."

However, the amendment has considerations built in to help residents in the state who would have difficulty obtaining a photo ID.

The proposal may be put to a public vote in a referendum as soon as spring 2007, Stone said, adding he anticipates the people of Wisconsin will vote in favor of the bill.

In other legislative actions, the Assembly passed a bill mandating female minors in the state to get a parent's consent before obtaining an abortion in a 61-34 vote.

The proposed law was hotly debated, with supporters of the bill saying parents have the right to know and give input on any medical procedures their children receive.

Rep. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, an author of the "Parental Consent" Bill, said as a mother and a nurse, she has an "acute interest" in the issue. Vukmir implied in her testimony the abortion rate among teens may lessen if the measure is passed because parents could then have a say in whether their minor daughters receive abortions.

"The choice of life can be made; adoption is there," Vukmir said.

However, opponents said forcing young women to obtain consent for an abortion from parents may lead to significant life-threatening problems. Several Democratic representatives cited cases where parents reacted violently to the news their daughters were pregnant, and also instances where girls concealed their pregnancies and killed their newborn infants to avoid telling their parents.

Both bills will be sent to the state Senate for future voting.