05.21.07
Ghost Voting Video
From earlier in the session, in case you forgot, the Postcards had this post about Rep. Mike Krusee voting on the House floor while he was in London, England visiting Prince Charles - a physical impossibility.
It’s not clear when Krusee left Texas. He was shown recording votes on the House floor into Wednesday evening. Just before 7 p.m., after a verification of votes on a proposal, House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, announced Krusee was excused on account of business.
Krusee was recorded as present in the House’s roll call today and then was shown recording votes about 25 times as members gave final approvals to measures. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, who sits at the desk in front of Krusee, could be seen punching the vote button on Krusee’s desk, not an uncommon practice in the chamber.
Today I had a reader email me about this report from KEYE-TV in Austin, Lawmakers Vote Multiple Times For Others, about members voting for other members on the House floor. It’s not ghost voting, it’s swivel voting.
There’s so much going on during the vote on the HPV vaccine mandate, you really have to pay attention.
First, State Rep. Mike Hamilton is at his desk. He leans over to vote a second time for his deskmate Dan Branch. Hamilton reaches back to vote for Charlie Howard, then casts a fourth vote for Wayne Smith.
He’s not the only one scrambling to vote. State Rep. G.E. West and State Rep. Larry Phillips both lean over to vote for themselves and their deskmates.
Phillips votes a third time for State Rep. Wayne Christian. Donna Howard votes for State Rep. Hubert Vo.
State Rep. Jim Dunnam didn’t have to leave his chair to cast four votes-one for himself then for Garnet Coleman, Trey Martinez Fischer and Marc Veasey.
Sometimes the voting is across party lines.
Will Hartnett, a Republican, reaches back to vote for Democrat Rene Oliveira.
Democrat Jim McReynolds votes for Republican Kirk England, and Republican John Davis votes for Democrat Rick Noriega.
Most voters have no way of knowing if their lawmakers are actually casting their own votes. Even though the legislature is broadcast on cable TV, the cameras change when it’s time to vote.
The words don’t do it justice click the link above and watch the video.