The dog that didn’t bark persuaded Sherlock Holmes that the intruder was known to the victim and his guardian animal. 

        The gun didn’t fire on the House floor today.  There were two bills dealing with guns, but neither drew any comments or amendments.  

          I’m not Holmes.  So I don’t know why.

           There has a great deal of discussion on my bill to prevent dirty tricks before they affect an election by allowing a judge to issue an injunction when there is clear and convincing evidence that someone has violated the law or may do so imminently.  

           I had not participated in the debate, leaving that responsibility to the chair of the subcommittee that worked on my legislation. 

          However, when the minority leader erroneously said that my bill would permit someone to make an “easy allegation” that could affect the outcome of an election, I finally rose to speak. 

           “This legislation is modeled on a provision in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.  An ‘easy allegation’ won’t persuade a judge to issue a court order,” I said. 

            The bill passed, 96-44.

March 22