Republicans infuriate Democratic speaker with roll call idea

House Republican Leader Tre Hargett had asked the House Rules Committee earlier in the day to change a rule and force all members’ votes to be by roll call.

The committee deferred Hargett’s request until next Monday and Naifeh agreed to a one-week trial.

Group voice votes are common in subcommittees, particularly when controversial issues are discussed. But Rep. Kim McMillan, House Democratic Leader and chair of the rules committee, said members may not realize their voice votes are recorded. Unless members request to be recorded voting “no,” they are all classified as “yes” votes on a form kept by the House clerk’s office.

Before session began at 5 p.m. CST, the House Republicans’ press secretary distributed a news release saying the rule had been changed and that it was temporary to “better understand what electronic equipment or new procedures might be necessary” to implement it permanently.

When Naifeh saw it, he called leaders of both parties to his podium for a private discussion and later told his colleagues publicly that he was upset.

He said he thought Republicans and Democrats had been working together on the issue. “I don’t appreciate it,” Naifeh said.

He then began requiring roll call votes for the most mundane matters, bogging down the process and frustrating lawmakers.