Can someone help me find a link to the Senate's $87b vote?

[MissB]

Please? I've tried CNN and MSNBC.

I'm looking specifically for something that tells me that only 6 US Senators bothered to vote. I want a link that tells me that 94 US Senators were absent.

Thanks.

[redqueen]

1. It was a voice vote,

and they agreed to keep the votes secret, if I'm not mistaken. :(

Good luck.

[MissB]

2. So does that mean we don't know that only 6 senators voted?

Is that what the secret portion of the vote is? I was under the impression that only the yes votes are recorded, but when you're talking about 6 senators and only one democrat in the room, we can pretty well guess how the vote went.

[JackRiddler]

6. voice votes are not "secret"

A voice vote goes like this.

Speaker: "All those in favor, say aye."

Members: "Aye."

Speaker: "All those against, say nay."

Members: "The ayes (nays) have it!"

It's a form of vote by acclamation, in cases where the outcome is expected to be in no way close. There is no record of who voted. The Speaker/President of the chamber simply decides which side was louder, and if it's not sufficiently obvious, any member can request a roll-call. Then the members are forced the to go down on record individually.

You do not have voice votes on historic and controversial resolutions! Holding one on this question was a disgraceful evasion of responsbility by the entire Senate, Democrats and Republicans alike.

Here is the link to an earlier thread on this today:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=660292

Read the coverage in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1081-2003Nov4.html

If you can't find it on CNN or other TV, it doesn't surprise me. This is a truly historic low point with a broad consensus, and no one in the establishment is going to have the guts to make hay of it.





And it was a disgrace!

[cjbuchanan]

3. Here you go

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/04/politics/04COST.html?pagewanted=print&position=

wish you the best.

[Newsjock]

4. Link to NY Times story

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/04/politics/04COST.html?pagewanted=print&position=

... The Senate's action came on a voice vote with only six members present, meaning that the decisions of individual members on the administration's vision for Iraq were not recorded. Not voting on the record appealed to both Republicans nervous about explaining the amount to their constituents, and Democrats who did not want their patriotism questioned for opposing the bill. On Friday, the House voted 298 to 121 in favor of the bill. The bill now goes to the president for his signature.

[MissB]

5. Thank you!!!!!!

Many, many thanks.