Despite party support for the primary issue, one of fourRepublican state senators who helped derail voter ID during thisyear’s legislative session said the bill contained three “poisonpills” that would be unpalatable for the election process.

Sen. Billy Hewes, R-Gulfport, told members of the BrookhavenKiwanis Club Wednesday that he has long been a proponent of voterID, with a government-issued photo identification card. However,the president pro tem of the Senate said he could not support themeasure that surfaced this year.

Hewes, a probable candidate for lieutenant governor in the nextelection, cited “poison pills” that were included in the latestmeasure.

One of those was an early voting provision to allow voting up to20 days before an election. Hewes cited potential monitoringproblems associated with the stipulation.

Second was a provision to allow late voter registration up tothree days before an election. Hewes alluded to difficulties inelection officials’ ability to validate new registrants as far astheir eligibility to vote.

“I think that is fraught with the opportunity for voter fraud,”he said.

A third provision would have allowed voting by felons.

“I’m not going to be for that in any way, shape or form,” Hewessaid.

Hewes went on to encourage citizens to support an initiativeprocess that is in the works to get the measure on the ballot. Hesaid the process is involved and difficult, but he was stillsupportive of voter ID.

“It’s not intimidating and it’s not a hard thing to do,” Hewessaid about having to show identification when voting.

During this year’s regular legislative session, Hewes, alongwith state Sens. Joey Fillingane, Merle Flowers and Chris McDaniel,led a successful effort in the Senate Elections Committee to killthe voter ID bill. The move baffled and drew the ire of some otherRepublicans who had worked hard to craft a bill that, after yearsof no success, finally had a chance at passage.

After Wednesday’s meeting, Hewes questioned whether voter IDopponents really wanted the measure passed. He remained hopefulthat a sole voter ID measure would eventually become law.

“It’s easy for people to understand and vote for something thatis straightforward,” Hewes said.

Voter ID was one of several topics the 17-year-veteran lawmakertouched on during his address. During his time in the Legislature,whether lawmakers were Republicans or Democrats, Hewes said thetone has been conservative.

“That is starting to change, and change in a significant way,”Hewes said.

Hewes indicated that change is being driven by the budget debateand lawmaker differences over how to address it. He pointed outthat April’s tax collections were $89 million down.

“We’ve got some hard decisions looking forward,” Hewes said.

Hewes said funds from the federal stimulus package will help,but some projections still have the state $90 to $180 millionshort.

“We’re still in a world of hurt, but I can’t imagine where we’dbe without that money,” Hewes said about the federalappropriations.

Recalling a regular session debate, the lawmaker acknowledgedthat some of the stimulus funds were rejected by the state. Thereason, he said, is that those monies come with stringsattached.

“Some we can abide. Some we cannot,” he said.

Rejected stimulus funding included those for unemploymentbenefits.

Hewes said requirements would have extended jobless benefits topart-time workers, who currently are not covered by state laws.However, the extension would have ended after two years and leftbusinesses having to pay $16 million to continue the coverage.

Hewes discussed recent tax-raising efforts undertaken by theLegislature. Among them was the cigarette tax increase, with partof the expected revenue designated for car tag cost relief, and theongoing debate over the “hospital tax” as part of an effort to fundMedicaid.

Hewes, though, said budget issues are not going away and willhave to be dealt with by lawmakers.

“There are some realities we have to deal with,” the senatorsaid.