Gallegos can finally go home

Senator Mario Gallegos, a Houston Democrat, can finally return home after jeopardizing his health to fight a controversial voter ID bill. Gallegos recently underwent a liver transplant and a follow-up procedure due to concerns that his body was rejecting the liver. He even had a hospital bed set up in the Senate sergeant's office, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Senate floor. Doctors advised Gallegos to stay in Houston to recuperate, but his vote on the voter ID bill was crucial. Lt.-Gov. David Dewhurst declared the bill "dead as of midnight." Bills had to clear the Senate by Wednesday to stay in the system, as the legislative session ends on Monday.

The voter ID bill would have required a DPS photo ID or two other forms of identification in order to vote. A version of the same bill passed the Texas House last month. Republicans championed the bill as a way to reduce voter fraud and ensure that voters are properly qualified. Democrats argued that the bill would decrease voter turnout, especially among the elderly and lower-classes - people more likely to lean left. The vote on the bill was expected to be very close, with Gallegos playing a key role as the swing vote. He wrote a piece in the Chronicle yesterday detailing why he opposed the bill.

The bill eventually died without a vote. Democrats had threatened to filibuster the bill, threatening other legislation with such a short time left in the session. Gallegos has vowed to fight the bill if it comes up again in future sessions. For now, though, it's probably time that he got some rest. He has said that he might return to Austin before the session ends, and expressed his gratitude for his supporters and his colleagues.