Bassi disputes, defends 'present' votes

Campaign tactics and advertisements can start to sound the same year-in and year-out, but residents of the 54th House district may find one mailer especially familiar.

Tom Morrison, a small-business owner from Palatine seeking the Republican party nomination over state Rep. Suzie Bassi, is reusing material from the 2004 primary that questions the six-term incumbent's voting record.

The flyer states Bassi, 64, voted "present" 1,198 times between 2000 and 2004, more than any other legislator in Illinois history to Morrison's knowledge. Bassi vehemently denies the claim, saying her official voting record shows she cast 161 "present" votes.

The discrepancy stems from the number of votes the House may cast as a single bill progresses. Bassi's count reflects her official record, which tallies only final votes. The 34-year-old Morrison's figures - released by Bassi opponent Pat Sutarik in 2004 - include votes on early versions of a law.

Bassi calls Morrison's claim a lie and nothing more than recycled campaign strategy already proven untrue six years ago. But Morrison maintains the ad is "factually accurate," and still relevant. Her "present" votes show she's indecisive and a target for backroom deals, Morrison added.

"I was a little bit skeptical about bringing it up because we thought it might be an old issue, but I think it's germane because the behavior continues," Morrison said. "You need to either vote yes or no so citizens at least know you're representing them."

Bassi said there are a number of reasons to vote "present" including finding only parts of a bill objectionable. She also noted that House Republicans collectively voted "present" a number of times on budget-related items.

"A 'present' vote can serve as a mild no and we wanted to send Blago (former governor Rod Blagojevich) a message without turning our backs on social service agencies and other things we've worked for," Bassi said. "I wasn't avoiding taking a stand and I think (Morrison) deciding to knowingly use misinformation is dishonest."

Sutarik said she was surprised by Bassi's explanation that these weren't final votes. She and former state Rep. Robert Bergman requested Bassi's final votes from the Illinois legislature when she ran in 2004, she said, questioning if the record could have been altered somehow. "I'm a responsible citizen and if I was given faulty information, I want to know that."

Since the mailer, Morrison has posted a video on his Web site stating Bassi was excused from 242 votes during her 2007-08 term, or nearly 12 percent of all the votes. Those bills related to legislation on election reform, education, taxes and home foreclosures, he said.

Bassi acknowledged the absences and responded that it was a difficult time for her family due to the deaths of her mother, father-in-law and sister-in-law. She also had knee-replacement surgery.

"We had a very tough year-and-a-half," Bassi said. "I've had three terms with zero absences, but stuff happens and I had obligations to my family."