The attempt by a visibly frustrated Rep. Gerald McCormick to invoke Rule 80 and revive these bills in the State & Local Government Committee after all three failed in the Elections subcommittee, also failed.

Their decision, along with recently made comments about Tennessee General Assembly rules and the committee system certainly has been illuminating.

In a story by Andy Scher in the Chattanooga Free, Republican Rep. Glen Casada said, “Subcommittees are good, they just shouldn’t be the end-all, say-all. I hate for six members to decide public policy for 99.”

In another story in the Tennessean about Speaker Kent Williams performance this session, Republican Rep. Debra Maggart said she was disappointed that Williams did not choose to break a tie on the photo ID bill in committee because, she said, “The Republican Caucus needed his support on this bill.”

McCormick circumventing the committee process. Casada believing that public policy is decided for the benefit of House members. Maggart disappointed that the Republican Caucus didn’t get their way.

Where’s the discussion about what’s best for the people? Where’s the discussion about what’s best for voters? Where’s the discussion about what’s best for democracy?

State Rep. Gerald McCormick from Hamilton County (Chattanooga), which has the largest concentration of voters — about 43% of the likely Republican Primary turnout, has expressed interest in the race, but will probably not make decision until after the legislature adjourns in May or June. McCormick may also get points for having served in the Gulf War. McCormick has publicly endorsed Wamp’s gubernatorial bid, although Wamp has given no indication that he favors any of the contenders for his congressional seat.

Let’s see what Rep. McCormick is doing to maximize the impact of any votes and any money he might get in the race for Congressman Wamp’s fightin’ 3rd:

Circumventing the democratic process and surreptitiously resurrecting legislation that would suppress the vote of the elderly, the poor, and disabled. Check.

Cynically not suppressing the vote a different group by surreptitiously resurrecting legislation that would allow “certain members of the U.S. armed forces to return an absentee ballot by facsimile transmission or similar electronic means.” Check.

Other legislation that Rep. McCormick sponsored but hasn’t yet figured out how to bring back from the dead…

HB0105 that would allow corporations to make campaign contributions in Tennessee, and HB1719 that would allow “trade and professional associations to fund PACs.” Check and check.

I guess he gets points for planning ahead.

So why the renewed push to pass legislation that is a solution in search of problem? Especially since both bills were assigned to, and failed to get out of, the now-closed Elections Subcommittee?

Apparently, it’s because these three Tennessee legislators believe in voter suppression, also known as the Paul Weyrich model of democracy:

WEYRICH: “Now many of our Christians have what I call the goo-goo syndrome – good government. They want everybody to vote. I don’t want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of people, they never have been from the beginning of our country and they are not now. As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down.”

“Voter fraud,” which is what McCormick, Maggart, and Todd say these bills will prevent, is when a voter attempts to vote more than once or by impersonating someone else.

There are no documented instances of “voter fraud” in Tennessee – and barely any in the rest of the country, as reported by the American Prospect:

“Since 2002, the Justice Department’s Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative has, as [disgraced U.S. Attorney General Alberto] Gonzales put it, ‘made enforcement of election fraud and corruption offenses a top priority.’ And yet between October 2002 and September 2005, just 38 cases were brought nationally, and of those, 14 ended in dismissals or acquittals, 11 in guilty pleas, and 13 in convictions.”

The Ophelia Ford case, which Republican legislators are so quick to cite as “voter fraud,” was in fact “election fraud,” a systematic effort by those with power to steal an election through vote manipulation and/or voter suppression. And even though Mark Goins doesn’t know the specifics of the Ford case, we do – three election workers were caught manipulating the vote. Voters had nothing to do with it.

“Voter suppression,” however, does exist and it will be the (intended) consequence if either the photo ID to vote or the citizenship to register bills become law.

I hope the Democrats on the State and Local Government Committee continue to push for examples from Rep. Maggart and Rep. Todd of instances of “voter fraud,” because waving papers around in a committee meeting and saying you have proof is not actually, you know, proof.