[Non-Sequitur]

Hmmm, interesting point of order. Most laws require a MAJORITY of votes to pass. With Johnson absent, and a straight party line vote, that would still fail to meet the majority requirement and would this fail to pass.

A majority is anything over half the votes cast.

[taxcontrol]

Not always. Depends on the rules. A majority 'of those present and voting' is the common term used to indicate what you are referring to. That is not always the case.

It would be an interesting Senate rules question.