Texas Legislation

"It's all about integrity."

 

It isn't apparant to me when watching the video that the votes being cast aren't appropriate. While I would prefer that our elected representatives actually be present and cast their votes, as long as the votes are being cast as they want them to, I'm not sure what the problem is.

 

I'll have to log back in when the video finally downloads, I'll probably be up a few more hours anyway...

Edit: I finally got the clip and watched it. It was hilarious!

In Canada, the Speaker calls the name of every member and gets them to vote on record. It is visually and vocally verifiable, and any abscences mean that some riding is not represented. Maybe the Texas legislature could take some pointers from us hosers...

[ October 07, 2007, 05:52: Message edited by: Gnarfflinger ]

 

That's absolutely inappropriate. If the legislators can't be present to cast their own votes, they should have one of their aides (and all legislators have at least a few) submit some kind of official vote card, ensuring that the votes cast are indeed the correct ones. They should also be required to give sufficient reason WHY they aren't present to cast votes. It is their JOB, after all. There needs to be some form of accountability.

Texas politics are such a sham, it'd be hilarious if I lived in any other state.

 

You need to watch the video again, Snook. They quote Section 47 of the House rules which explicitly prohibits casting votes on behalf of another member. Maybe it's just me, but I think breaking the rules governing the operation of the House can be categorized as "inappropriate" (to say the least).

 

If they can't be trusted not to break simple rules then how can they be trusted to vote appropriately for others?

Even if the rule was changed so that members could vote for others there should be verification that each vote was cast appropriately.

 

tal, it also show democrats taking advantage of missing republicans. lets not show our bias shall we.

 

That wasn't his point, obviously.

 

what , register, you can read his mind? you have absolutely no idea what he meant.
if he did not want to show bias he could have stated that the tape shows representatives casting votes for the opposing parties representatives .

 

Wouldn't it be hilarious if someone was so concerned about voting for someone else and they inadvertantly enabled someone to vote for them?

 

True, but that isn't what I meant. I agree that it is against the rules, but they didn't give the impression that people were NOT voting in ways the absent person wanted to vote.

As long as the Republican was voting the way the Democrat wanted (and vice versa or course) how bad could it be?

Now, if people were not voting the way the absentee person wanted, that would be a major problem/scandal. Since the voting record is a matter of public record, I doubt that is happening as there surely would be someone screaming about it.

To me, this is a lot about nothing. Yes, they may be violating a procedural rule, but to me it is no harm/ no foul.

 

@ Maurtag,

Neither do you, which makes your original jab at Tal's "bias" pretty meaningless (not to mention hypocritical).

 

Huh. Here it happens pretty often - unfortunately - but it's more organized. Voting is done with cards, iirc, and the MPs who aren't showing up for the meeting leave their cards with their colleagues.

Still, if you're paying those people's wages, they deserve to sit on their posteriors at least during voting time, imo.

 

I absolutely believe that. I have no idea how it works in Texas, but it didn't look like once you pressed a button everything was final. If a mistake was made, I'm sure you can press a different button and change the vote.

If people could press other voter's buttons and make votes in ways they wouldn't this would be a major scandal. Votes are public record and every election these would be used against everyone. It would be chaos. Prove me wrong and find an example where after the vote went final someone's vote was cast incorrectly.