ACU Sues Gephardt (and Kerry)

ACU ^ | 1/15/04

[Republican Red]

Gephardt Must Pay Salary Back to Missouri Taxpayers

Law requires absentee members of Congress to return paycheck

According to the U.S. Code, Presidential candidate and former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt is required to pay back 90 percent of his $157,000 salary to Missouri taxpayers. Absentee Member Gephardt has missed more than 90 percent of votes in the U.S. House, and the law requires the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to dock a member's pay for each absent day. ACU filed a suit earlier today demanding that the law be enforced. American Conservative Union chairman David A. Keene called Gephardt's absences, "a callow shrugging off of the responsibility every Congressman has to his constituents, all to appease his desire for presidential power."

ACU also demanded that Senators John K erry and Joe Lieberman repay 59 percent and 54 percent of their salaries, respectively, however Keene noted that, "no one has ever abused this law as badly as Dick Gephardt." 2 USC Sec. 39, reads: "The Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House … shall deduct from the monthly payments (or other periodic payment authorized by law) of each Member or Delegate the amount of his salary for each day that he has been absent from the Senate or House, respectively, unless such Member or Delegate assigns as the reason for such absence the sickness of himself or of some member of his family."

"Can you name another job in which someone can consistently miss nine out of every 10 days and still receive a full paycheck," asked Keene. "Unless Dick Gephardt can produce a note from his doctor, he owes the taxpayers an explanation or back pay."

"According to this law, the House is under obligation to dock Rep. Gephardt's pay for missing so m any days of work, and the ACU intends to hold him accountable to the taxpayers who pay his salary. The law requires that those taxpayers be compensated for such gross negligence, and ACU intends to make Gephardt do the right thing," concluded Keene.

[Republican Red]

reposted this article from last month. Word needs to get out that Kerry refuses to give up his Senate seat all the while not doing his senatorial job.

ACU also demanded that Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman repay 59 percent and 54 percent of their salaries, respectively

Seems Kerry is AWOL from the Senate. I don't know how many "working people" could get away with missing 59% of work time.

Big Bump

[Constitution Day]

I wonder why they're not suing John Edwards.

[dead]

"Can you name another job in which someone can consistently miss nine out of every 10 days and still receive a full paycheck," asked Keene.

Check some of the NYC union contracts.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

bump

[StriperSniper]

Kerry AWOL from Senate

[dc-zoo]

They should be automatically recalled if they miss more than half of their votes. What other employee can be absent more than half the time and get away with it. This is rediculous.

[dc-zoo]

Kerry palns to remain AWOL from the senate while he runs for president. On the other hand President Bush still must do his job while running for re-election.

[isthisnickcool]

But, but, but, Gephardt almost cried when he bowed out of the race. He almost cried! Surely that must mean something!

And what about Kerry? He was in Vietnam. Did you hear about that? And, for us, for all America, he has allowed Botulinum toxin to be injected into his head! The same head he would use as president. Or might have used as a U.S. Senator if he was working as one. Poison in his head! For us! For all of us! And this is the way he is treated?

It's a sad day when a "savage" group like this ACU group goes after people that run for president that have almost cried or have had poison shot into their skull!

[Ditto]

Word needs to get out that Kerry refuses to give up his Senate seat all the while not doing his senatorial job.

Considering his voting record, an AWOL Senator Kerry, even at full pay, is a net plus for the taxpayer.

[bobo1]

This is a great law. However, I think the suit is counter-productive. It might be cheaper in the long run to pay Gephardt, Kerry, et.al., to not be in the Senate to vote.

Maybe we can pay Teddy and "Sheets" twice as much if they would not show up at all. It would be cheaper for the taxpayer.

Blessings, bobo

[Liberty Valance]

Good point! lol

[Servant of the 9]

I wonder why they're not suing John Edwards.

He may have arranged in advance to have his pay stopped.
It is the smart and legal thing to do, and occasionaly even scoundrels do it.

So9

[StriperSniper]

And if he does poke his head out on a Sunday afternoon...

Kerry Blasts Bush's Daytona 'Photo Op'

[Constitution Day]

Interesting; you may be right.

As a millionaire, he can certainly afford to do without, but I guess that's true for many if not most US Senators.

[Doomonyou]

Gephardt has missed more than 90 percent of votes in the U.S. House

And this is a bad thing?

[eeriegeno]

Seems Kerry is AWOL from the Senate. I don't know how many "working people" could get away with missing 59% of work time.

Hmmm, Kerry 'deserted' his post at the Senate? Paybacks are hell John, aren't they???????

[alwaysconservative]

On another thread this morning, I was asking what had happened with this lawsuit. Ask and ye shall receive (grin!).

Ping to areafiftyone regarding our earlier discussion.

[freekitty]

Fat chance they are going to pay. Wonder how Hitlery got around this with her book tour and all? And you can bet she got around it all paid for by the taxpayers.

[alwaysconservative]

John F. Kerry getting paid for not showing up for duty? (I'm shocked, I tell ya, shocked!) People have "raised questions" about his service and just getting paid isn't enough evidence that he served. Let's start an investigation, shall we? I want proof, proof, I tell you, in the form of medical records, to show us all that he wasn't AWOL or a deserter when he was elected to serve.

[areafiftyone]

Thanks for the Ping. Looks good so far. But these stupid democreeps are slippery and always manage to get out of these things.