This is OUTRAGEOUS!! I need these folks fired, Now

[HKUSP45C]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask

This is not only unlawful it's immoral. Fire your Rep. now, if they are participating.

[Kalrog]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask

This is not only unlawful it's immoral. Fire your Rep. now, if they are participating.

I have heard Suzanna Hupp on the radio talking about this and she actually fully supports this process. Her argument is that it isn't a secret ballot and they make agreements with other people to vote for them while they are at the restroom or getting a snack. I usually agree with Ms. Hupp - but not this time.

[frankie_the_yankee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask

This is not only unlawful it's immoral. Fire your Rep. now, if they are participating.

This practice doesn't bother me a bit. I agree with Suzanna Hupp.

What matters to me is HOW THEY VOTE as in, "Do they support my positions or not?". The nuts and bolts of it are not that important.

If we "fired" all of the pro-gun reps. because of this, where would that leave us?

I like to eat sausages. I leave it to others to make them.

[Turfspanker]

The media makes it look like a free-for-all on votes. Since all votes are recorded I doubt that absentee peers are taken advantage of. It appears they have worked out a system for vote coverage. "Got a big dinner coming up, you cover my vote and I'll make it up to you next session".

The question I have is why are they absent in the first place.

Do the bulk of our elected officials have incontinence issues???

TS

[KBCraig]

Personally, I would prefer a system where only those present when a bill is introduced, read, debated, and amended would be eligible to vote. No absentee voting allowed. Every vote is recorded.

This would slow down the process considerably. That's a good thing: the fewer laws they can pass, the better.

I especially feel this way about the U.S. House, which isn't limited to 70 days every two years.

[HKUSP45C]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6X-xtVask

This is not only unlawful it's immoral. Fire your Rep. now, if they are participating.

This practice doesn't bother me a bit. I agree with Suzanna Hupp.

What matters to me is HOW THEY VOTE as in, "Do they support my positions or not?". The nuts and bolts of it are not that important.

If we "fired" all of the pro-gun reps. because of this, where would that leave us?

I like to eat sausages. I leave it to others to make them.

Frankie, it doesn't surprise me that it doesn't bother you. You and I disagree on every point I've seen you argue.

If your Reps aren't voting, they aren't supporting you, regardless of the vote. We pay a tidy sum of cash to have these people vote, not to have others vote on their behalf.

Yes, we should fire all the pro-gun imbeciles who think this is a good idea and replace them with people who are against this practice and are pro-gun.

That's how you get "Good Government."

Reps and Senators who are paid to vote, had better damn well vote. If I handed my job responsibilities to a collegue, he'd have my job one day. I couldn't blame my boss for thinking that 2 imbeciles were more expensive than one.

[frankie_the_yankee]

I look at the bottom line.

If the correct button is pushed, I don't care if the rep did it him/her self or if they had a trained pig do it.

Just so they push the right button.

[nra-life-member]

I look at the bottom line.

If the correct button is pushed, I don't care if the rep did it him/her self or if they had a trained pig do it.

Just so they push the right button.

Yes, but if these folks run for President - are you voting for the person that voted or someone that never voted.

[Liberty]

THis is represents a part of the bigger picture with whats wrong with the State Legislature.. They are given 70 days to enact 2 years worth of bills. Every thing is time compressed, Because of this compression things get swept under the rug and some things don't get thought out as well as they should. All the while the Reps are getting paid $600 a month. Some of the legislators find it necessary to suppliment their income while they are in session. One might even say we get what we pay for.

[MoJo]

Gives a whole new meaning to "Vote early and vote often." Makes me want to fire my Representative who was one of the stars of the show.

[OnTexasTime]

It does not look good, but I accept that is the way they have to do it.

There are committee hearings scheduled at the same time as they are in session during the day, so sometimes your representative is off in another meeting.

I was standing on the first floor talking with my state representative last spring when he got a call on his cell from someone (I assume another representative) telling him that a voted was being called. He told that person to vote for him.

[yobdab]

[Venus Pax]

It's called lack of accountability.

And if you aren't willing to show up to the job, perhaps you shouldn't have the position.

[Nazrat]

Folks, we don't have a full time legislature. They only meet for a few days every 2 years. All of the states business must be conducted during that time. That means that there are always votes on the floor occurring at the same time that committees are meeting and that votes occur late into the evening towards the end of the session.

This is not the federal legislative branch. This is a part time job for every single person in the legislature. If you really want to have informed and rational debate with recorded votes, change from meeting every 2 years to a full time legislature and pay them accordingly. Until then, this will continue to be the normal practice.

Everyone that wants to run for the state legislature should. Understand that you will be unable to work at your normal job for 6 months every two years. You will need to make enough income to support your family in 18 months to pay for 24 months. You will also need to raise enough money to run for office again if you desire. You will need to meet with the various lobbying groups who will propose a ton of your legislation. You have to make an informed decision on the proposed legislation without sufficient time to read the entire bill. You will need to miss most major life events in your family while the legislature is in session.

The one piece of legislation that you must pass is the state's budget. This bill is in addition to any other necessary change in the law. Here is the link to this summer's SB1: http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/Bill_80/3_Se ... 1_0107.pdf
Warning: It is in excess of 24mb.

Please take your time reading it. Understand that this bill is amended constantly up until it is passed. You have to make an informed vote on this bill within the time required. Meanwhile, you are on a committee that is holding hearings regarding the Castle Doctrine. What do you do? Do you take the time to read the text of the entire bill or do you go to the hearing on a very significant piece of legislation?

If this sounds like fun to you, you should run for the state legislature.

On a serious note, it is the very nature of the compressed calendar during the session that makes the work that Charles does so very important. With a severe time shortage, legislators typically find a few people that they trust and place significant faith in their trusted advisor's opinion of bills.

[frankie_the_yankee]

Folks, we don't have a full time legislature. They only meet for a few days every 2 years.

And thank the Good Lord for that! The less they meet, the less harm they can do.