PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Kathleen Kane criticized the Pennsylvania voter ID law as a candidate. Now she’s deciding whether to defend it as attorney general, suggesting in recent remarks that her duty to protect the state constitution could trump an obligation to defend state laws.
The controversial law was blocked from taking full effect for the November 2012 elections after a judge cited concerns about implementing the requirement. But a trial remains ahead to settle the constitutionality of requiring voters to show an approved form of photo identification at the polls.
The Office of Attorney General and attorneys in the Corbett administration have defended the law so far, and the parties have begun preparing for the trial this summer. But asked after legislative budget hearings last week if her office will defend the law at that proceeding, Ms. Kane responded: “We have talked about it frequently in our office, and we will make a decision as soon as we possibly can.” … (more)
