CHL: Concealed Identities
The House just overwhelmingly passed legislation exempting the names of concealed-carry license holders from open records laws.
The vote was 135-7. But I know that vote will change at least once - to 134-8. Because someone voted "yes" for Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, after he railed against the bill in today's story about the legislation.
Mr. Coleman wasn't even on the floor at the time, and according to a friend of his on the House floor, his office was "appalled" at the ghost vote - which he apparently didnt' request - and plans to change the vote in the House Journal to a resounding "Hell, no."
Well, technically, it'll just be a no.
Inaccurate ghost-voting is one of those scenarios that machine-malfunction advocates say is a good reason for not smacking the reps around too much when their voting machines "malfunction" on a verification vote - the only time they can change their vote AND change the outcome of the vote. Right now, they can change their votes in the journal after the fact but can't influence the outcome. Which is just ... I dunno, odd.
In Garnet's case, his vote wouldn't have changed anything. This chamber has passed that bill so many times that it was golden. Plus, this is probably one of those situations the rule was designed for.
But in theory, members could vote to pass a bill they like, and then go up and change their votes in the journal so that their opponents can't use that vote against them.
Wonder if there's ever been a case where the journal reflected more "no" votes than "yes" votes - after the bill had already passed.
Just curious.