CAPITOL LETTERS

*sigh* God forbid a legislator be afforded an opportunity to change his mind AND save a little face. Especially when his deskmate pressed his button for him while he wasn't at his desk.

*sigh*
Why would you have to "save face" if you change your mind? What's so embarrassing about it? If you get moved to change your mind, then say you change your mind.

And for the record? Lawmakers KNOW how their deskmates vote. And if they don't want their colleagues voting for them, they've got a little key they can use to turn and lock the machine on their desks.

Besides. Ghost voting is basically fibbing. You're not on the House floor, but your voting record says you were.

Ms. Brooks,

I'm sure you lock-out your computer EVERY time you walk away from it, but we mere mortals occasionally forget. And a record vote on a bill is a lot more important than someone else reading your e-mail.

The stories of members (R and D, urban and rural, northern and southern) walking down the aisle, voting members of opposing interests are legion. When they get caught--and they generally only get caught when the vote matters--the attitude is, "fine, ya caught me--but I figured I'd give you an opportunity to acknowledge that I'm right on this issue." More often, a member gets voted by someone who was attempting to do the member a favor--not realizing the particular complexities of the member's position. As it is, it's no big deal.

But, under your preferred practice, a legislator would have to publicly admit:

1) I'm a moron because I walked away from my desk without taking my key;

2) Rep. X maliciously or negligently voted me while I wasn't looking (THAT won't cause any controversy or hard feelings, I'm SURE);

3) I'm a moron because I wasn't paying attention to the giant board above the Speaker's head; or

4) I messed up and now I need to "get right" on this bill.

I submit that none of these options--particularly the ones where a member has to admit that she made a mistake--are particularly palatable.

Or, the machine could "malfunction." No one gets blamed. No one _loses face_. A simple, subtle, elegant solution. Don't think of it as a "lie" or, as you so crassly put it, "bullsh*t"; think of it as a polite euphemism that encourages cordiality and civility among the members.

The important thing is that the member voted--and the vote for which she wants to be held accountable was recorded.

BG, honey, I never considered you a mere mortal. And yes, I'm familiar with your work.

OK, lemme see if I can get this straight.

You're in favor of covering up the "mistakes" of your elected officials. You think it's a good idea to hide the fact that on that controversial vote, they were being, let's say, "inattentive." You don't mind at all that there's a built-in mechanism for changing your vote after the tally and not telling anyone why.

Remember. Recorded votes are important. Your words.

Reminder: I wasn't the only one who crassly called it b.s.
A couple of chairmen were there, too, ya know.

Another reminder: I'm actually really good at being crass. Just for future reference.

As for ghost voting, you know darn well that the second a member votes an opponent the wrong way just to be malicious or misleading, THAT'S what creates rancor and mistrust on the floor. It's not cute, or funny. It's a serious etiquette breach when the issue is really important and the vote is really close.

C'mon. You know that.

Ms. Brooks,

I'm sorry, but I just don't see the problem, here. At the end of the day, you know how the member voted. And that _is_ what's important.

In addition, I am very happy to know that, in addition to never leaving your computer unattended, you never make mistakes. Alas, we low fallible mortals do occasionally make them.

When the mortals who get to go inside the rail make their mistakes, there's no cover up--the vote is in the journal and on the web. The member has to defend that vote. I simply cannot understand why anyone would want to make it harder for a member to cast the vote she _wants_ to defend. Further, I don't understand why a member should have to embarrass herself or someone else in order to do that.

Finally, let's assume a member is required to write a 2-page essay in 10-point courier font on why he messed-up in order to change his vote. Do you really think the essay would contain any more truth than simply saying "machine malfunction"?

"In addition, I am very happy to know that, in addition to never leaving your computer unattended, you never make mistakes."

Wow, did I say all that?? Lemme look... Wait... nope.. nope... Sure didn't.

But it's nice to know there are people out there who think I'm infallible. Love that.

Ms. Brooks,

A substantive response to my reply would have been preferable. But, I think that was your way of saying that you are unconvinced.

Snarking aside, I respectfully ask you to carefully consider the rules, practices, and traditions of the legislature. They exist for subtle and complex reasons--and should not be discarded because they can give what can appear to be an undesirable outcome.