Scalise Compares Voter ID to Olive Garden’s ID Requirement

House Minority Leader Steve Scalise from Louisiana has made an interesting comparison regarding the absence of a federal voter ID law, likening it to the ID requirement at a well-known restaurant chain.

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Scalise mentioned, “I was told that if I wanted to go and buy unlimited pasta at Olive Garden, I needed to show ID.” He also highlighted that attendees at the upcoming 2024 Democratic National Convention will need to present identification to gain entry.

“Democrats claim that ID laws hinder participation,” Scalise remarked, “but they won’t even let you enter their own convention without an ID.” He added that he supports the idea of requiring ID, noting that it’s widely understood across demographics that identification helps safeguard voting rights. “Whether you’re black, white, Hispanic, Republican, or Democrat, people recognize the importance of ID.” He further mentioned common scenarios where a photo ID is necessary, like flying or buying alcohol.

“What about protecting America’s democratic franchise? We need to ensure that you are who you say you are, and to keep illegal aliens from voting,” he stated.

There has been a lot of Republican focus on polling data demonstrating strong support for voter ID laws. They argue this is a significant point against Democratic resistance to proposed legislation like the Protecting American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE), which has seen multiple attempts to pass in the House, but has yet to clear the Senate.

Democrats argue that these proposed election integrity measures amount to voter suppression. They assert that they would complicate voting for individuals such as married women who have changed their names and would make absentee voting more difficult. Additionally, a contentious provision of the proposed SAVE act would grant the Department of Homeland Security access to state voter rolls.

Republicans, however, contest these claims. They believe that the Save America Act would stipulate proof of citizenship during voter registration and establish a federal requirement for photo ID in U.S. elections.

Intriguingly, they referenced a recent promotion from Olive Garden, which offered an unlimited pasta deal as a common-sense rationale for requiring photo IDs. Earlier this month, the restaurant introduced a “NeverEnding Pasta Pass,” allowing a limited number of customers to enjoy endless pasta for 13 weeks for $100, but only if they present a photo ID when ordering.

Chairman of the House Administration Committee, Brian Still from Wisconsin, echoed this sentiment during a recent discussion on a separate voter ID proposal, which faced similar opposition from Democrats. “To protect the integrity of the pasta program, Olive Garden has implemented a photo ID requirement,” he noted. Meanwhile, he pointed out that in many places like Illinois and California, individuals can vote without presenting ID on Election Day.

The voter ID bill, which would also require identification for mail-in voting, passed the House recently, gaining the support of only 13 Democrats.