Anyone who has seen a legislative body in action understands why there is good reason to question the integrity of matters that make their way into our lawbooks. The work of the Alabama Legislature is no different; in fact, it may be worse.

Like most matters that come before our esteemed lawmaking body, a measure that would eliminate sales tax on groceries drew its supporters and critics along party lines. Democrats were for it; the GOP was against it.

So when the vote for a constitutional amendment passed in the House of Representatives 63-38 — just enough yea votes to pass the constitutional amendment — GOP lawmakers cried foul. A Democratic lawmaker had cast votes from the desks of several House members who were not in the chamber. In fact, two voting machines registering “yea” votes belong to members who were in Korea on an industrial recruitment junket and would likely have voted against the measure had they been in the chamber for the vote.

Republican House members took great umbrage with the vote gathering, which they characterized as “cheating.”

They’re right. It is dishonest and undermines the concepts on which our nation was built. But it’s not technically “cheating”; the practice is allowed in the rules of the House. And the sanctimonious posturing by GOP members rings hollow, as members of both parties routinely cast votes on the balloting machines of absent lawmakers.

Alabamians have every right to expect that the issues debated and acted upon in Alabama’s state house are considered fairly by elected officials who adhere to rules and procedures that set the process high above reproach. Instead, they get a sausage factory long overdue for a visit by health inspectors.