Here’s one we can all rally around–red and blue alike, as the Rocky Mountain News reports:
When a Republican senator walked to the podium and opposed a transportation bill he had supported in committee, a conspiracy was born:
Could the lawmaker have been getting e-mail instructions on how to vote from state GOP chairman Dick Wadhams?
Senate rules prevent lawmakers from using “wireless devices” when final votes are taken on a bill on the floor.
Senate President Peter Groff said he has no reason to believe Wadhams was acting as grand puppeteer – and Wadhams called the idea “crazy.”
But Groff said when he got the complaint it dawned on him: Lots of senators have been e-mailing or texting or checking their phones during votes. And fellow Democrats have been some of the worst violators.
Groff reminded lawmakers of the rule in a memo distributed Wednesday that kicked off a firestorm of protests, especially from lawmakers who record their own votes in their computers, send their votes to Twitter or research an issue if something comes up.
“We need to get rid of this rule,” Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, said afterward. “It’s ridiculous.”
Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Westminster, who’s known for constantly looking at her Blackberry, also chimed in.
“I guess you’re going to have to pry my Blackberry out of my cold, dead hands. I’m with Obama on this,” she joked, referring to the president’s decision to keep his device.
No one’s having more fun with the issue than Wadhams.
“Darn, I didn’t think you’d find out,” he said. “But I don’t have time to talk to you. I have to call a lawmaker and tell him how to vote.”
Our view: without a doubt the best idea since the Bill Owens “No Colorado Pols” executive order. How’d that end up working out, anyway? We have to confess we never noticed much of a blip. Tough to imagine this will be any different–after all, doesn’t being prohibited from doing something just make you want it more?
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This seems goofy to me. Are they afraid that using wireless devices during final floor votes is going to influence how they vote?
When they take a lobbyist meeting, they’re being influenced how to vote. When they get an email or phone call from a constituent, they’re being influenced how to vote. When they get pressure from the leadership or the gov’s office, they’re being influenced how to vote.
Who cares if the influence in question comes in the form of an email/text/etc on the floor, vs. any other method? Or is the wireless ban more just a matter of decorum?
Do you really want a lobbyist in the Senate chambers with our Senators? You must not know how the system works.
maybe not physically, but definitely in spirit…
The rules are the rules.
They should follow the rules.
Or decide they don’t want to and resign.
So click the link on the “No Colorado Pols” executive order and check out the comments. Aside from the dog porn stuff, the only person I recognize who was posting in 2005 is Phoenix Rising.
Did a bunch of people change their names, or has Pols’ readership really shifted that drastically in 3 years?
I had trouble retrieving my password when Pols changed platforms, and another time when a laptop crashed and I lost all my passwords. But there are a lot of folks long gone, too. Isn’t Phoenix’s member number in the single digits?
I used different name back then. My member number was 3 digit.
I changed mine after a hard-disk replacement and Windoze reinstall from scratch. Couldn’t remember my old info.
K.I.S.S.
For forums and such, so what if some one actually figures out my password? What will they do, make me look like a Republican or something?
Even more critical passwords needing more difficulty to hack still use the core, just adding some characters.
A decade on the net and nothing has ever happened. Well, password or hacking wise.
Then they can’t text/twitter/whatever while legislating.
At least long term.