Some states wise up

From the NY Times:

The most widespread hurdle has been the demand for photo identification at the polls, a departure from the longstanding practice of using voters’ signatures or household identification like a utility bill. Seven states this year have passed laws requiring strict photo ID to vote, and similar measures were introduced in 27 other states. More than 21 million citizens — 11 percent of the population — do not have government ID cards. Many of them are poor, or elderly, or black and Hispanic and could have a hard time navigating the bureaucracy to get a card.

The poor would have benefit cards that contain their photos. I don't understand the assertion that the others would "have a hard time navigating the bureaucracy to get a card." Standing on line at the DMV is not that difficult. A pain in the ass, yes, but not difficult. Plus you need to have ID to do so many other things these days, like enter courthouses or board planes, that I find it hard to believe that there are 21 million citizens walking around out there without photo ID. Are these 21 million citizens actually adults registered to vote?

From the NY Times:

As more Americans turn to government programs for refuge from a merciless economy, a growing number are encountering a new price of admission to the social safety net: a urine sample.

Policy makers in three dozen states this year proposed drug testing for people receiving benefits like welfare, unemployment assistance, job training, food stamps and public housing. Such laws, which proponents say ensure that tax dollars are not being misused and critics say reinforce stereotypes about the poor, have passed in states including Arizona, Indiana and Missouri.

In Florida, people receiving cash assistance through welfare have had to pay for their own drug tests since July, and enrollment has shrunk to its lowest levels since the start of the recession.

How do we get this in New York? Oh wait, Cuomo is governor. Never mind.