Not Voting - 4
Akaka (D-HI)
Hatch (R-UT)
Kirk (R-IL)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Does anyone know why these four did not vote?
Mark Kirk is recovering from a massive stroke. It’s as yet undetermined if he will be able to return ever.
Since your senate is based on our parliamentary rules of order, I can make a guess.
Two of the senators were unable to make it to the vote for whatever reason, so they paired, effectively nullifying each others vote.
According to legend, this rule was introduced after the Tories passed minority legislation while the Liberals were low on MPs thanks to a food poisoning epidemic. Don’t know if that is true, but it is widely accepted!