At the DesMoinesRegister.com, Gov. Terry Branstad called legislation requiring Iowans to show a photo ID to vote a “good idea” during his weekly press conference this morning.  Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz has proposed a voter ID law for consideration this year, and Republicans last year passed a similar bill through the House.

“I think it’s a good idea to protect the integrity of the voting process and prevent theft of personal identification,” said Branstad, a Republican. He added, “We have had efforts in past elections where people falsely vote in an area where they’re not eligible. I think it’s important. I do support requiring identification.”

Schultz announced his bill in a press conference last week, but no formal action has been taken on it in the Legislature. Democrats have generally opposed such measures, which they say address a nonexistent problem and are meant to stifle Democratic turnout. The Republican bill has stalled in the Democratic-led Senate.

Republicans, too, were initially cool to Schultz’s plan. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said last week he’d rather see progress made on last year’s bill rather than starting over again on Schultz’s.

Senate Democrats may want to grab the olive branch offered by Secretary of State Schultz who revised the bill to meet some of the concerns voiced by the other party.  The Republicans are not so pleased with the changes or the revised plan.  The Democrats maintain only a two seat majority in the Iowa Senate.  If the Democrats lose their majority in the Iowa Senate in 2012, it is likely the resulting bill will not be so accomodating.