Imagine my surprise. The Sun Journal editorial June 3 cited LD 1167, “ … a bill that would make vehicle accident reports inaccessible to the general public.”

I am unfamiliar with this bill; I neither agree nor disagree with it. But, when I read that it passed “ … with no debate and no recorded vote … ” I became apprehensive, the same way I might upon being approached on a darkened street by a masked man. Few masked men are heroes; most are common thieves. In fairness, they are common only because they lack the education and position necessary for white-collar crime.

Legislators have a phrase that describes the kind of voting whereby the actual votes are not recorded; it’s called “voting under the hammer.” It’s a valuable legislative tool for politicians who want to vote for or against a particular bill but don’t want their constituents to know.

It’s a despicable practice. There is no valid reason for voting under the hammer, other than deception. Legislators can vote under the hammer only if no legislator objects. This is especially disconcerting, since it means some of our favorite legislators were co-conspirators.

Is there anything the public can do in order to have honest government?

If a convicted felon who previously put on a mask to steal money were able to be elected to political office, I would be worried he might deceive us and steal our money, but I would be somewhat comforted that he might at least be honest about it.

Richard Sabine, Lewiston