During the last session of Congress, Rush Holt (D-NJ) introduced what was then H.R. 550, a bill to require a voter-verified paper trail and other good things. Despite getting a total of 220 co-sponsors, the bill merely got a phony hearing on the last day of the session.

Well, he's back, and tougher than ever.

H.R. 811 basically contains all the requirements of the old bill, and adds some tougher language regarding the type, durability, and official nature of the voter-verified paper records.

This bill already has 179 (update: 182, and Rangel is coming on board) co-sponsors. New Yorkers missing:
02 D -- Steve Israel
03 R -- Peter King
06 D -- Greg Meeks
11 D -- Yvette Clarke (rookie!)
12 D -- Nydia Velázquez (my own rep -- I'll be calling in the morning)
13 R -- Vito Fossella
15 D -- Charles Rangel (go figure!)
23 R -- John McHugh
24 D -- Michael Arcuri (another rookie)
25 R -- James Walsh
26 R -- Tom Reynolds

Feel free to call anyone you wish to get them on board. Senator Feinstein (D-CA) will sponsor the bill in the Senate when the time is right.

One extra note:

I spent a week in D.C. with Stephanie Low last June, lobbying for the old bill. Among those we lobbied were Sue Kelly (R-NY), Richard Pombo (R-CA), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Melissa Hart (R-PA), and Mark Kennedy (R-MN), all of whom are no longer in the House. (We also lobbied Sherwood Boehlert, who had already announced his retirement, so I don't claim credit for defeating him.)