What would happen to you if police caught you on video fraudulently voting? Would cops quickly arrest you and throw you in jail, only to have the District Attorney immediately charge you with fraud?
What would happen to elected government officials if they were caught doing the same? Absolutely nothing?
In fact, our representatives in the U.S. government have become so brazen, that they commit fraud in plain view, on a daily basis, while at the same time trying to pass laws that would further restrict and criminalize the public for doing the same.
This is a clear sign of excessive government, when the government is so large and overwhelmingly powerful that it’s agents can abuse the civilian population without any sense of guilt, remorse, or fear – when government officials deny charges of illegal conduct made against themselves as a matter of semantics, and when agents of the government expect and get immunity from any of their actions; actions that would be criminally prosecuted upon any other citizens.
The few standing up for freedom, liberty, and the Constitution, such as Congressman Ron Paul, who has been called the Thomas Jefferson of our day, are the only hope for America; the only hope for returning our empire-sized government to it’s proper Constitutional levels of national defense, upholding the law, and protecting the rights of the people and individual liberties.
There’s been a lot of debate at the State Capitol on bills relating to voter integrity. Some lawmakers are pushing for measures such as requiring voters to show a photo identification before being allowed to cast a ballot. Another bill would criminalize anyone who delivers a ballot for someone unable to drive to the polls. With so much emphasis on one vote for one person, you’d think lawmakers would make sure they follow the rules, too.
In this CBS 42 Investigates, Nanci Wilson found many don’t. State Representative Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, authored the bill that would require voters to show a photo ID. “It’s all about integrity,” Riddle said. But the integrity of one person, one vote doesn’t apply at the legislature. CBS 42 found many lawmakers vote more than once. During a vote, Riddle votes, turns around and votes again for another state representative. 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. But if you’re sitting in the third floor gallery, you have a better view. “I certainly noticed. There appears to be far more votes on the tick board than there were people in the room,” capitol visitor Laurel Weiss said. Arnie and Laurel Weiss were baffled when they came to see the legislature in action. “It seems very inappropriate and they should do something about it,” Arnie Weiss said.
Riddle says voting for other members is done out of necessity. “We have a lot of amendments,” Riddle said. “We don’t have lunch breaks, dinner breaks, restroom breaks.” Necessity or not, one thing is clear, they aren’t supposed to be doing it. According to the official House rules–written, voted and approved by lawmakers at the beginning of the session–”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.”
So, should lawmakers do it? “No, there’s no question,” Weiss said. “On face value it appears to be a blatant violation, an affront, of their own rules.” It is against their own rules. But the issue is with enforcement. It is the speaker’s job to make sure rules are followed. When CBS 42 asked Speaker of the House Tom Craddick’s spokesperson about it, she just shrugged her shoulders and said it was up to the House members to decide what do to if there’s a violation. Although the practice is widespread, CBS 42 couldn’t find any instances of lawmakers being disciplined for voting more than once.
Duration : 0:3:57
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If you can’t be …
If you can’t be there to vote, you shouldn’t have a vote counted. Either be there to do your job or not. It’s similar to having a co-worker punch the time clock for you when you’re not there to do it yourself. It’s just wrong.
These mother …
These mother should be thrown in jail for this shit. They are cheating. Period. Take what they dish, is what they should do!
The difference …
The difference between the two types of votes is that we, the people, vote by secret ballot. The Legislator’s votes are public – published both on the screen in the Chamber and in the record of the proceedings of the day. The Legislators can correct an incorrect vote, the citizen at the ballot box cannot.
However, if the members wish to be able to cover for one another, they need to step up and change the rules.
this is …
this is embarrassing. libertarians, democrats, republicans and independents should be appalled!
are you kidding me, …
are you kidding me, its people like you that let politicians get away with things like this.
furthermore, filing …
furthermore, filing a change of vote with the clerk has a statue of limitations… it must be done within a certain allotted amount of time… and SO DOES THE CALL FOR A RECOUNT YOU IDIOT… YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT. THEREFORE IF THE ASSEMBLYMAN OR WOMAN DOES NOT KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN VOTED FOR, THEN HOW ARE THEY GOING TO CONTEST A “WRONG” VOTE!? ANSWER ME THAT!
CONGRATULATIONS U DUMBFUCK YOU ARE THE EXACT DEFINITION OF WHAT OUR COUNTRY’S CORRUPTION HAS EVOLVED INTO.
HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT?
I AM ONLY ASSUMING …
I AM ONLY ASSUMING THAT YOU WORK IN THE LEGISLATURE, EITHER AS AN INTERN OR A PATSY FOR ONE OF YOUR CONGRESSMEN OR WOMEN.
A FREAKING KEY?! ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!? I CAN GO RIGHT NOW TO THE JUNKYARD HERE IN LOS ANGELES AND HAVE A FAKE BMW KEY MADE FOR ANY CAR I WANT AND YOU ARE TELLING ME “theey haaave a keeey????” lol my GOD what is wrong with you!?
No excuses.
In the …
No excuses.
In the video we see legislators racing to place votes at the same desks.
Even if one of them were designated to place a vote in someone’s absence, against the House’s own rules, then why are several of them racing to do it?
I call bull.
House Rules Section …
House Rules Section 47. Voting for Another Member
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.
pmdryd – You are …
pmdryd – You are correct, a wireless voting system would be nice, and in fact it was brought up before the legislation. They decided that they massive expense to the tax payers wouldn’t be worth it. – This video shows the voting method that has been used for over 80 years. Pre arrangements with their neighbors to help them vote while they are away.
What this video did …
What this video did NOT say is that each voting box has a KEY that can be locked if they don’t want their neighbor to help vote for them… and that there are TWO methods of correcting a wrong vote. One with the clerk and also by calling for a recount. This video is just political spin. They are not stealing votes in this video.
That is something …
That is something that is and needs to be fixed. Many of those lawmakers should be tossed in the slammer too….and Kicked out of office
Not at all.
It was …
Not at all.
It was a case of sacrificing thousands upon thousands of innocent civillians for a FedGov power grab which quickly became a land grab.
It was never about slaves, it was about FREEDOM.
Only a moron wouldn’t get that fact right.
These politicians have never worked a day in their lives.
All they do is screw the little guy and LIE.
Now we see them fraudulently voting in the one job they play at doing.
They seemed to be …
They seemed to be hotter and heavier when conservatives were in control, didn’t they? Our mainstream media is embarrassingly IN THE TANK right now for the secular progressives.
In fairness, voting …
In fairness, voting around the desks there is different than voting from the streets. There SHOULD be circuitry to keep more than one vote from each button/desk. That, and the representatives ought to be able to vote from mobile wireless devices if they aren’t going to physically appear in that room. Those may not be valid solutions- but I’m trying to think of solutions instead of just complaining.
are you still upset …
are you still upset that you got your kicked??? listen i grew up in upstate ny not only am i a yankee i have unfetterd hatred for what the yankees have done they single handed wrecked the country we need to return to confedrate but this voteing is bullshit.,,,, they are tyrrants
how the does …
how the does dumb like this get to office ??
Is this the type of …
Is this the type of garbage that happens when they vote on Social medicine in D.C.?
This is an oldie …
This is an oldie but a goodie from the Ron Paul campaign. Thanks again.
I agree this should be punished, but I am pretty sure they have permission to vote for the absent member, who most likely just wants to play hooky without getting caught.
No, they need a …
No, they need a couple of guys with high-powered rifles watching over them in case they press the wrong person’s button.
Every legislator …
Every legislator needs to have a turnkey that MUST be inserted and turned before the vote can be cast. Further, that key must NEVER leave their possession.
That’ll put a stop to this garbage. Per Karl Denninger of the Market Ticker, “And this begs the question – in The US House, where voting is done by “electronic card” (as opposed to open outcry in the Senate), do you really believe this isn’t going on there too?”
It’s unconscionable, as is the failure to enforce the rules. =’[.]‘=
acorn didn’t exist …
acorn didn’t exist 100 years ago, they do now. That is why we need ID to vote now.
WOW, an actual …
WOW, an actual investigative news report. I kinda forgot what they look like.
Substantiates my …
Substantiates my longstanding belief that they’re a bunch of crooks, since they’re mostly all lawyers what can we expect..
We’re in trouble …
We’re in trouble when fraud is he norm.