On this matter of Rep. Charles Taylor’s (R) disputed vote on CAFTA last night, it’s important to make the following point. The bill passed 217-215. Taylor was first counted as not voting. His no vote would make it 217-216, which of course still means it passes.
But that doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story.
These sorts of high-stakes votes are highly fluid and dynamic. Either side might have a handful of members on the sidelines who won’t budge if it’s a two or three vote margin but will make the hard vote if the margin is down to just one.
Normally this sort of monday morning quarterbacking is just woulda, coulda, shoulda. But if Taylor’s vote was really misrecorded, it’s worth considering.
