Only 3 Senators in Voice Vote on Schiavo Bill?

[LSparkle]

I thought I heard yesterday that the Senate passed the Schiavo bill on voice vote, and that only 3 Senators were in attendance. On C-Span, I could see Santorum and I thought Frist was there as well. Can anyone else confirm this was how it passed the Senate and, if so, who was the third (presumably Rethug) Senator who was there to vote?

[coloradodem2005]

1. ?

Are you kidding me?

[LSparkle]

2. No, I couldn't believe it either

and was hoping to get corroboration. If this was the case, I am absolutely outraged. Wouldn't surprise me if it were true, though, considering the way Congress runs these days.

[deadparrot]

3. Third was a Democrat...Harkin?

I think it was Harkin. Shame on him.

[LSparkle]

4. WHAT?

OMG, that is a complete shock to me. I've always thought highly of him, being for the working class people, farmers, etc. Un-fucking-believable. The fact they couldn't get any other Dem Senators onto the floor (and their vote was earlier, not around midnight like the House) is gross incompetence. (Sorry, Harry ... )

[deadparrot]

5. Yes, unfortunately.

I checked it out:

The Senate met with just three senators -- Frist, Harkin and Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) -- on the floor, surrounded by two dozen pages, clerks and parliamentarians.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A49701-2005Mar19?language=printer

Sad day for Democrats. Shame on those who voted for this awful, unconstitutional bill.

[LSparkle]

6. Bad precedent

If Frist saw he can get away with stuff like this, what makes you think he won't try it again? He's starting to act like DeLay, sneaking things through with no Dems present. Very very bad sign.

[janx]

7. We've had a few threads now on this subject.

Somebody definitely needs to look into it. Yes, there were three senators: Santorum, Frist, and Harkin.

I do not understand how such a thing could be constitutional, though I recognize that they were caught off guard. Supposedly, Reid weighed in with a phone call at some point.

[Old and In the Way]

8. No quorum....no law

I would assume there'd be an official record on who was in the chambers before the vote? This to me is a much bigger issue than Republican hypocritical grandstanding on Terri's situation.