Senate debt ceiling vote protocol sparks controversy

[Tx4obama]

Senate debt ceiling vote protocol sparks controversy

(CNN) - As votes were tallied Wednesday in a dramatic Senate vote to move ahead with the debt ceiling bill, some senators' votes were not read aloud by the clerks, breaking from the usual protocol of disclosing each senator's vote in real time.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Senate clerks were asked not to read the names, so Republicans could feel more free to vote or change their votes as some GOP leaders sought to bring enough senators on board to end Sen. Ted Cruz’s filibuster that threatened to lead to a politically damaging fight over raising the debt limit.

"After the vote began, it was quickly clear that Republican leaders were struggling to deliver enough votes to clear the 60-vote hurdle upon which they had insisted instead of a simple majority, and a potentially catastrophic default suddenly seemed possible," Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson said in a statement.

"At Senate Republicans' request, the clerk did not call the names during the vote to make it easier for Republican leaders to convince their members to switch their votes."

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Reporters filed transparency complaints with Reid's office, but his spokesman said "such a request is consistent with Senate rules."

Full article here: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/13/senate-debt-ceiling-vote-protocol-sparks-controversy/

[DFW]

1. Pretty poor example we're setting as the shining beacon of democracy

Letting our legislators vote in secret because they fear retaliation or worse if their votes are made public.

I realize it worked out to our advantage this time, but it still sucks wind. "I'll vote with you, but I'm too ashamed to admit it in public."

Or worse: "I'll do what's right, but only if no one knows I did."

Our valiant "Christians." As if their Jesus had said, "look, people, I'll feed the poor and heal the sick, but just make sure the Romans don't hear about it, OK? I don't want it known in public, or I could get in trouble. My dad isn't as all-powerful as I've been claiming, understand?""

[Tx4obama]

2. Actually the record of the cloture vote is public, it just is not recorded on 'video'

List of who voted how on cloture, here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00033


An excerpt from article up in the OP regarding the cloture vote...

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The previous vote was simply a vote to move ahead to the final vote. It could easily be used by political opponents in ads to say the Republican senator voted "aye" on a bill to raise the debt ceiling.
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In the old days before C-span was allowed to film this wouldn't have been an issue.