Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
Wed Nov 21, 2012, 12:37 PM Nov 2012

Reps from Texas legislature caught on camera voting for multiple people during voting sessions.

State Representative Debbie Riddle (R – 150) loves the word ‘integrity.’ She was also a big supporter of recent Bill HB 16, which would have required Texas voters to present proof of identification. “Y’see, that’s very important because the very freedom of our nation is based on the integrity of our ballot box,” she said. “And if things are so lax that fraudulent voting can occur, then that means your vote can be stolen. And when that’s done, your voice is silenced.”

But Rep. Riddle herself has indulged in voter fraud on multiple occasions, voting for her absent colleagues in the House, thus silencing their voice, and by extension, the voices of anyone who’s ever voted for them.

In May, 2007, the CBS 42 Investigates program ran a video showing Texas state legislators voting multiple times on a single bill – casting votes for absent colleagues, in blatant violation of House rules. The official House rules state that “Any member found guilty by the House of knowingly voting for another member on the voting machine shall be subject to discipline deemed appropriate by the House.” When asked about such fraudulent voting by state legislators, the spokesperson for Speaker of the House Tom Craddick – whose job is to make sure rules are followed – simply shrugged her shoulders and dismissed it as unimportant. CBS 42 could not find a single instance where lawmakers had been ever been disciplined for voting more than once. Apparently “appropriate” is another word like “integrity” that must mean something different in Texas than it does elsewhere.

You might think this is just the usual Republican driven chicanery, but sadly, no. While Republicans are busy casting votes for their Republican colleagues, Democrats play catch-up scrambling around desks to vote for their colleagues as well. Sometime, this multiple voting cuts across party lines – Republican Will Hartnett can be seen reaching across an empty desk to vote for Democrat Rene Oliveira. Democrat Jim McReynolds votes for Republican Kirk England, and Republican John Davis votes for Democrat Rick Noriega. Whether or not they voted in the manner their absent colleagues may have wished is unknown, but it’s unlikely. Winning or losing in the Texas legislature seems more about who happens to be there to play musical chairs than any valid political position on a bill.

http://crooksandliars.com/nonny-mouse/if-politicians-really-wanted-stamp-out

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Reps from Texas legislature caught on camera voting for multiple people during voting sessions. (Original Post) The Straight Story Nov 2012 OP
Why even HAVE a "Texas Legislature"? SoCalDem Nov 2012 #1
That would be more commensurate with what they get paid ashling Nov 2012 #5
Another Republican hypocrite Drale Nov 2012 #2
I show this to my Texas Government students ashling Nov 2012 #3
That's just awful -nt Bradical79 Nov 2012 #4
And that's just the ones that happened to get on YouTube ashling Nov 2012 #6
The Non-Democratic party rock Nov 2012 #7

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
1. Why even HAVE a "Texas Legislature"?
Wed Nov 21, 2012, 12:40 PM
Nov 2012

They rarely "get together", and the state is on "auto-pilot" most of the time.?

Why not make them the first "online legislature"? ..that way they would NEVER have to show up

ashling

(25,771 posts)
6. And that's just the ones that happened to get on YouTube
Wed Nov 21, 2012, 02:07 PM
Nov 2012

I thin a lot of state legislatures a notoriously dysfunctional.

rock

(13,218 posts)
7. The Non-Democratic party
Wed Nov 21, 2012, 02:36 PM
Nov 2012

also known as the Non-Democracy party. Of course I just call them "Shitpublicans."

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Reps from Texas legislatu...