The Hill offers this must-read report on VRA renewal, which states that “Democrats and civil-rights leaders compromised on measures regarding voter protection, including those to curb the use of photo-ID laws, to ensure that a bill would be passed before the bill sponsor, committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), gives up his gavel at the end of the legislative session, according to several Democratic sources in the House, including multiple committee staffers. Democrats are concerned about the possibility of Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) as the next committee chairman and the prospect of a significantly weakened Voting Rights Act under his chairmanship.”
Another snippet:

In an e-mailed response to The Hill yesterday, Smith said that he would support two amendments offered by Reps. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) and Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.) that would significantly modify Section 5. The Norwood amendment would modify the formula for pre-clearance scrutiny, opening up Justice Department oversight to all 50 states. Democrats and civil-rights groups have said such a proposal could only be intended to kill the Voting Rights Act. The House Rules Committee last week cleared both amendments for floor votes.

I don’t think the article accurately summarized what the Norwood amendment would do, but it is quite significant that Rep. Smith says he supports it. As I’ve said, the Norwood amendment is not a serious measure, but one designed to scuttle the entire section 5 apparatus. The Westmoreland amendment, on the other hand, is (at least in theory, if not in how it is actually drafted) a proposal that could help insure the constitutionality of a renewed section 5 without unduly weakening it.