Democratic attorney general Gary King’s campaign has provided its own analysis to counter a claim by his opponent that he missed almost 1,300 votes as a legislator.
According to King’s campaign, in his 12 years he missed 1,120 votes – and 465 of those were excused, including 166 votes King missed during the 1994 legislative session because he was hospitalized after a serious car accident.
Perhaps more importantly, King’s communications director, Phil Sisneros, rightly pointed out that Republican candidate Jim Bibb’s analysis is misleading because it implies that excused absences are bad. Often, legislators have to miss floor votes because they have to take part in a committee meeting, or they have to present a bill to the other chamber or take part in other legislative business.
Bibb’s campaign claims its analysis does not include the 1990 and 1994 sessions.
In all, according to King’s campaign, there were 5,294 votes during his time in the legislature in which he could have taken part. King was absent without excuse for 655 and was excused from another 465. In all, he missed 21 percent of votes, and 12 percent of those the King campaign does not categorize as excused absences.
Excluding 1990 and 1994, King’s campaign says, he missed 934 votes, and 282 of those were excused.
While we’re on the subject of this race, it should be noted that King has participated in debates with Bibb, despite being ahead 31 points in the latest poll. Contrast that with Gov. Bill Richardson and U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, who are both up in the polls but have refused debates.
King even posted audio of his last debate with Bibb on his Web site. You can listen to it by clicking here.
Kudos to King for taking part in the Democratic process.