Comments on: Congressmen Paid Salary for Unexcused Absences http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/congressmen_paid_salary_for_unexcused_absences/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:20:03 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: LJD http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/congressmen_paid_salary_for_unexcused_absences/comment-page-1/#comment-33075 LJD Thu, 27 Jan 2005 19:11:33 +0000 /?p=8984#comment-33075 "This is more amusing than scandalous." It is? I think it's an outrage. Why doesn't Dan Rather do a story on The Fleecing of America? "Clearly, the law has hardly ever been enforced in recent decades." Why not? Is the same legislature that is guilty of the abuse also responsible for policing themselves? "In an era with year-round sessions and multi-million dollar re-election campaigns for some Senate seats, it would be rather unreasonable to expect Members to be docked for missed work days." Why? Does the involvement of millions in election campaigns somehow justify wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars? If I took an unexcused sick day, I would be fired. Period. Let alone embezzling nearly $100k for services not rendered. As public servants, our lawmakers should be held to a much higher standard. No surprise that most on the list have a (D)next to their name. I don't see them offering up this money to reduce the deficit, or fund programs for prescription drugs, health care,etc. that they beligerantly blame the Bush administration for not funding. "This is more amusing than scandalous."

It is? I think it's an outrage. Why doesn't Dan Rather do a story on The Fleecing of America?

"Clearly, the law has hardly ever been enforced in recent decades."

Why not? Is the same legislature that is guilty of the abuse also responsible for policing themselves?

"In an era with year-round sessions and multi-million dollar re-election campaigns for some Senate seats, it would be rather unreasonable to expect Members to be docked for missed work days."

Why? Does the involvement of millions in election campaigns somehow justify wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars?

If I took an unexcused sick day, I would be fired. Period. Let alone embezzling nearly $100k for services not rendered. As public servants, our lawmakers should be held to a much higher standard.

No surprise that most on the list have a (D)next to their name. I don't see them offering up this money to reduce the deficit, or fund programs for prescription drugs, health care,etc. that they beligerantly blame the Bush administration for not funding.

]]> By: caltechgirl http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/congressmen_paid_salary_for_unexcused_absences/comment-page-1/#comment-33032 caltechgirl Thu, 27 Jan 2005 15:51:48 +0000 /?p=8984#comment-33032 I totally agree. I mean, I work in an industry where time cards are useless, but there is still a reasonable expectation of productivity to get a paychek, you know? How's this: If the staffers of these absentee representatives missed the same number of days from the office, how would they react? I think it's absolutely hypocritical for these folks to draw pay for missed work while still requiring their own employees to show up in order to get paid. Some leeway should be given for campaigning, especially if one is trying to regain one's current position, but missing every single day for 3 months is just too much. I totally agree. I mean, I work in an industry where time cards are useless, but there is still a reasonable expectation of productivity to get a paychek, you know? How's this: If the staffers of these absentee representatives missed the same number of days from the office, how would they react? I think it's absolutely hypocritical for these folks to draw pay for missed work while still requiring their own employees to show up in order to get paid. Some leeway should be given for campaigning, especially if one is trying to regain one's current position, but missing every single day for 3 months is just too much.

]]> By: McGehee http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/congressmen_paid_salary_for_unexcused_absences/comment-page-1/#comment-33022 McGehee Thu, 27 Jan 2005 14:39:34 +0000 /?p=8984#comment-33022 <i>If one is running for office, I would think honorably and politically the proper thing to do would be to proclaim the lost pay and make it an example.</i> Yup. It would be the politically advantageous thing to do even if there weren't a law. The fact John Kerry drew full Senate pay in 2004 despite missing the majority of votes was irritating. The fact he had also done so in 2003 when the rigors of presidential campaigning had not yet set in, was downright offensive. If one is running for office, I would think honorably and politically the proper thing to do would be to proclaim the lost pay and make it an example.

Yup. It would be the politically advantageous thing to do even if there weren't a law. The fact John Kerry drew full Senate pay in 2004 despite missing the majority of votes was irritating. The fact he had also done so in 2003 when the rigors of presidential campaigning had not yet set in, was downright offensive.

]]> By: Tom Royce http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/congressmen_paid_salary_for_unexcused_absences/comment-page-1/#comment-33020 Tom Royce Thu, 27 Jan 2005 14:28:50 +0000 /?p=8984#comment-33020 I would like to be in that position. Sorry for missing 146 days last year. I was out looking for a new job. Don't you dare dock my pay. If one is running for office, I would think honorably and politically the proper thing to do would be to proclaim the lost pay and make it an example. Tom I would like to be in that position. Sorry for missing 146 days last year. I was out looking for a new job. Don't you dare dock my pay.

If one is running for office, I would think honorably and politically the proper thing to do would be to proclaim the lost pay and make it an example.

Tom

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