Burnt Orange Report

Provided that it doesn't change the outcome of a previous vote, it's very, very common — considered a matter of "Senatorial courtesy" — for senators to seek and obtain unanimous consent that the Congressional Record be "revised and extended" to include statements of support made after the fact, including joinder in resolutions. This, like the "vote-pairing" tradition ("Sen. X couldn't be here today, but assures me that he would have voted 'aye,' so instead of voting 'nay,' in order to balance his absence I have agreed to vote 'present'"), allows senators to re-write history to look good at home, and makes it hard sometimes to assess actual voting margins and individual voting records.

Trent Lott on the Wall of Shame, what a shocker.

Duly noted, Beldar. I'll keep on the look out.

I guess where my knowledge was lacking, Beldar, was in failing to note the distinction between the sponsorship and cosponsorship system? Obviously, one can't sponsor after the fact as the sponsorship is what gets the bill in the flow of traffic to begin with.

Cosponsorship is more of a courtesy or symbolic gesture of support, though, I suppose, which is why it would fall under the "revise and extend" rule.

I need to actually get around to reading the rules of the Senate some day.

Do you have a cite that shows Hutchison added to the list? I can't find anything on record.

Ummm...the vote was unanimous. It's been passed; the Senate has apologized for the actions of southern Democrats. It's time to move on.

Unanimous, not really, considering there was basicly no one on the floor when those that were unanimously passed it.

Oh, and those Southern Democrats of that day and age would be your modern day Republican party for the most part, commentator.