AUSTIN (May 11, 2009)--A House committee approved legislation Monday that would require new ID requirements for Texas voters, but efforts to forge a compromise that can pass out of the Legislature seemed to be falling apart.

The 5-4 vote in the House Elections Committee Monday came after Republican Rep. Todd Smith, chairman of the panel, floated a series of proposals designed to attract a bipartisan coalition.

He said the chances of bridging the partisan divide were now "less than 50 percent."

Republicans say the measure is needed to prevent voter fraud. Democrats have criticized the move as a partisan power grab designed to suppress their base vote.