I personally support no reason absentee voting (with ID) though I personally would have voted against this bill because it was flawed badly. Everyone here should agree with me, I'd hope. I'll elaborate momentarily.

This is a tough issue and I know many Republican legislators thought about it closely.  

Here's the DIRTY TRICK PART BY the Dems:

Introduced version:
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2009-2010/billintroduced/House/htm/2009-HIB-4367.htm

Substitute version:
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2009-2010/billengrossed/House/htm/2009-HEBH-4367.htm

For those preferring to just let me tell them the dirty trick, here's the difference - in bold, two added phrases:

The elector shall apply in person, or by mail, by facsimile, or by electronic mail with the clerk of the township, city, or village in which the elector is registered.

I'd like it to be easier to vote.  Indeed, I'd like to see 100% turnout of individuals vote as easily as possible - but I'd also like to see it done 100% securely.  There's a disconnect between the two parties on that point.

I'd support true no-reason absentee voting that had the same protections as live voting, and I suspect a number of other Republicans would have too.  So do I think the 12 you criticize made the wrong vote?  Yes, but not for "political expediency" - I think they probably weighed some tradeoffs (less regulation on the voter as to the forced incrimination of the absentee reason statement versus identification) and they accepted the bad with the good. You've taken 12 (seemingly) good Republicans to woodshed unnecessarily here.

That doesn't mean the ideal can't be passed by the Senate though. And that's how we should combat it - instead of "no" to easier absentee voting, "yes" to more secure and easier absentee voting!