Representative Don Humason



PHANTOM VOTING You may have heard stories about “phantom voting” or other shenanigans in the state House of Representatives over the past few years. Our House rules say that only the representative may cast his or her vote on the electronic voting panel on his desk in the House Chamber. Nobody else may do it for him. Earlier this year a story ran in the Boston papers about a representative who was counted as casting votes during a formal House session even though he was out of the country “on personal business.” There have been other accounts of legislators who were recorded as having voted even though they were not in the State House, and in some cases, not even in the state. I believe that stories like these damage the credibility of the entire institution of the historic Massachusetts House. Examples like these sully the reputations of all legislators, painting us all with the broad brush that should be reserved for those who violate their oaths, House rules, and the public trust. I, for one, am proud of my perfect legislative attendance record this session. I have a 100% voting record. That means I was in the House Chamber, attending to all the debates and formal sessions, and didn’t miss a single vote. I believe that changes must be made in how legislators cast their votes to restore integrity to the process and people’s faith in their elected officials. Below, for your review, is a copy of House Bill 5034, REPORT OF THE SPECIAL HOUSE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A SECURE ROLL CALL SYSTEM FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On May 2, 2008 at the direction of House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, the House of Representatives adopted an Order to appoint a special committee to make recommendations for the installation of a secure roll call system. The committee met on several occasions to discuss various options. The committee recommends that a member’s ability to cast a vote on the electronic voting system shall be authorized by electronic identification system activation at each member’s desk in the House Chamber by use of an identification card unique to that member. The committee recommends that the sharing of identification cards for the purpose of voting be strictly prohibited and be considered a violation of the code of ethics for all persons involved in such activity. To assure the accuracy of the recording of a member’s vote, after verifying the accuracy of his/her vote, the committee recommends that a member should have the ability to, prior to leaving the vicinity of his/her desk, lock his or her voting station by use of the voting identification card. Additionally, the committee recommends that a member who will be absent from the House for a formal session period of a day or longer be required to notify the Clerk in writing of the intended absence. If a member intends to be absent during a formal session for an extended period or for the remainder of the session, the committee recommends that the member be required to notify the Clerk in person, and that the Clerk provide a written notice to any such member as a record of notification. As a further safeguard, the committee recommends that the Clerk be directed to disable the voting station of any member notifying him of an absence, as required under the provisions of the previous paragraph. Members shall notify the Clerk, in person, in order to activate his/her voting station for subsequent roll calls. Finally, the committee recommends that the current practice of allowing court officers to cast votes for disabled member under Rule 49 be changed so that the Clerk will cast such votes. This change is necessitated because casting a vote at the desk of a member may only be authorized by activation of member’s voting identification card. Respectfully submitted, Representative Angelo M. Scaccia of Boston, chairman, House Committee on Rules, Representative Geoffrey D. Hall of Westford, chairman, House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, Representative Patricia A. Walrath of Stow, House chairwoman, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Representative Mary S. Rogeness of Longmeadow, Assistant Minority Leader, Representative John A. Lepper of Attleboro, Third Assistant Minority Leader, Representative F. Jay Barrows of Mansfield, Steven T. James, Clerk, House of Representatives, Louis A. Rizoli, Chief Legal Counsel, House of Representatives, Richard B. Arscott, Chief Information Officer for the General Court. * * * Representative Humason and his Legislative Aide Jonelle Gingrich may be reached at his State House office, Room 542. Boston, MA 02133. (617) 722-2803. Representative Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at his Westfield district office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085. (413) 568-1366. Representative Don Humason’s website is www.DonHumason.org
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PHANTOM VOTING

You may have heard stories about “phantom voting” or other shenanigans in the state House of Representatives over the past few years.

Our House rules say that only the representative may cast his or her vote on the electronic voting panel on his desk in the House Chamber. Nobody else may do it for him.

Earlier this year a story ran in the Boston papers about a representative who was counted as casting votes during a formal House session even though he was out of the country “on personal business.” There have been other accounts of legislators who were recorded as having voted even though they were not in the State House, and in some cases, not even in the state.

I believe that stories like these damage the credibility of the entire institution of the historic Massachusetts House. Examples like these sully the reputations of all legislators, painting us all with the broad brush that should be reserved for those who violate their oaths, House rules, and the public trust.

I, for one, am proud of my perfect legislative attendance record this session. I have a 100% voting record. That means I was in the House Chamber, attending to all the debates and formal sessions, and didn’t miss a single vote. I believe that changes must be made in how legislators cast their votes to restore integrity to the process and people’s faith in their elected officials.

Below, for your review, is a copy of House Bill 5034, REPORT OF THE SPECIAL HOUSE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A SECURE ROLL CALL SYSTEM

FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

On May 2, 2008 at the direction of House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, the House of Representatives adopted an Order to appoint a special committee to make recommendations for the installation of a secure roll call system.

The committee met on several occasions to discuss various options.

The committee recommends that a member’s ability to cast a vote on the electronic voting system shall be authorized by electronic identification system activation at each member’s desk in the House Chamber by use of an identification card unique to that member. The committee recommends that the sharing of identification cards for the purpose of voting be strictly prohibited and be considered a violation of the code of ethics for all persons involved in such activity.

To assure the accuracy of the recording of a member’s vote, after verifying the accuracy of his/her vote, the committee recommends that a member should have the ability to, prior to leaving the vicinity of his/her desk, lock his or her voting station by use of the voting identification card.

Additionally, the committee recommends that a member who will be absent from the House for a formal session period of a day or longer be required to notify the Clerk in writing of the intended absence. If a member intends to be absent during a formal session for an extended period or for the remainder of the session, the committee recommends that the member be required to notify the Clerk in person, and that the Clerk provide a written notice to any such member as a record of notification.

As a further safeguard, the committee recommends that the Clerk be directed to disable the voting station of any member notifying him of an absence, as required under the provisions of the previous paragraph. Members shall notify the Clerk, in person, in order to activate his/her voting station for subsequent roll calls.

Finally, the committee recommends that the current practice of allowing court officers to cast votes for disabled member under Rule 49 be changed so that the Clerk will cast such votes. This change is necessitated because casting a vote at the desk of a member may only be authorized by activation of member’s voting identification card.

Respectfully submitted,

Representative Angelo M. Scaccia of Boston, chairman, House Committee on Rules,

Representative Geoffrey D. Hall of Westford, chairman, House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, Representative Patricia A. Walrath of Stow, House chairwoman, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Representative Mary S. Rogeness of Longmeadow, Assistant Minority Leader, Representative John A. Lepper of Attleboro, Third Assistant Minority Leader, Representative F. Jay Barrows of Mansfield, Steven T. James, Clerk, House of Representatives, Louis A. Rizoli, Chief Legal Counsel, House of Representatives, Richard B. Arscott, Chief Information Officer for the General Court.

* * *

Representative Humason and his Legislative Aide Jonelle Gingrich may be reached at his State House office, Room 542. Boston, MA 02133. (617) 722-2803.
Representative Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at his Westfield district office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085. (413) 568-1366.
Representative Don Humason’s website is www.DonHumason.org