Reply #33: AL: Bridges miffed over phantom vote

[tbyg52]

DuWayne Bridges feels “violated.”

A vote for the state constitutional amendment to repeal grocery sales taxes was made on his statehouse machine last Wednesday though Bridges, the District 38 House Representative, was in Asia on a trip aimed at attracting industry to Alabama.

“I was in China ... that’s as far away as you can get,” said Bridges, a Republican from Valley. “I’m not a master of telepathy. I feel violated. They are imposing their beliefs on my machine. I would not have voted against removing the sales tax on groceries. I don’t think we need to repeal that tax.”

Vacated machines of other absent legislators, Richard Laird, D-Roanoke; Thad McClammy, D-Montgomery; and Jeff McLaughlin, D-Guntersville, were also used to vote for the constitutional amendment, proposed by Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery.

Sixty-three votes were needed to pass. Ironically, 63 votes were received.

More:
http://www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/bridges_miffed_over_phantom_vote/11484/