Senate Republicans Boycott Vote on Election Reform "The message is unfortunate. This ought not be a partisan issue. There ought to be discussions on both sides.'' McConnell is angry that Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who chairs the committee, is pushing through his own election overhaul bill. McConnell wanted the committee also to consider a bill he and several other senators prepared. Dodd's bill would provide $3.5 billion to help states adopt uniform standards for voting machines by 2004. It would also take steps to improve voter education and ensure that people who are properly registered aren't deprived of the right to vote. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., has prepared a House version. Thursday's session "mocks the bipartisan promise of election reform,'' McConnell said in a letter to Dodd. Dodd said he was saddened by McConnell's comments. He said he asked McConnell in November, when Republicans still controlled the Senate, to work with him on an election reform bill. ``I never did receive a reply,'' Dodd said in a letter to McConnell Wednesday. Thursday, Dodd said Republicans could have come to the hearing and tried to offer amendments. "The idea that you do not show up to a vote is not exactly what I call a good civics lesson,'' Dodd said. Congress is considering election improvements to avoid problems such as those that plagued last fall's presidential elections. President Bush was declared the winner over Al Gore 36 days after the voting, enabled by a 5-4 Supreme Court decision that effectively halted a partial recount in Florida. "You get the impression they (Democrats) sort of want to stick their thumb in President Bush's eye,'' McConnell said Wednesday. Just Tuesday, a commission chaired by former Presidents Ford and Carter offered a number of broad changes to improve the nation's voting system. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/politics/AP-Electoral-Changes.htm