A bill that cleared the Texas House of Representatives last week to establish an Islamic holiday had a Republican lawmaker from Odessa writing that he actually meant to vote “no” after voting for the bill during final passage in the House chamber.
The bill, HB 1231 by State Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso) would establish an optional paid holiday for state employees recognizing the Islamic holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha – two major holidays in Muslim tradition with one marking the end of Ramadan and the other celebrating pilgrimage rites.
After having clear the House on a voice vote, the bill came to the house floor for final passage on May 8, where it received 122 ‘ayes’ to 12 ‘nays” on a record vote, clearing the way for the bill to proceed to the upper chamber for consideration.
In the House journal, State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) is shown having voted for the legislation during passage on the House floor.
However, later in the journal, Landgraf placed a statement saying he meant to oppose the legislation and vote “no”
“When Record No. 908 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no” the journal statement reads.
In all, 13 lawmakers placed statements in the journal regarding their recorded vote, with 11 lawmakers, including Landgraf, saying that while they are shown voting for the measure during the passage, they meant to vote no.
According to someone familiar with House rules, journal statements carry no effect as far as votes that are used toward calculating whether a bill is passed.
The legislation now proceeds to the State Senate for consideration.