What's going on here? (U.S. lawmakers cast multiple votes)

http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/investigates/story/Lawmakers-Vote-Multiple-Times-For-Others/I_H_m3rz5EuuPzEAAQdodA.cspx

Can someone shed some light here… I know little about politics so I’m not sure how to take this in…

ETA: Sorry if this is old news… just noticed

Looks like the article is discussing the state legislature of Texas, though IIRC it goes on elsewhere. It’s pretty much what the article says - people are away from their desk for whatever reason, ask a friend to vote for them when it comes up.