Tell the Secretary of the Senate to DOCK KERRY PAY for missing work (it's the law)

The Congressional Record ^ | 3-8-04

[jmstein7]

Tell the Secretary of the Senate to DOCK KERRY PAY for missing work (it's the law)

According to the Congressional Record, John Kerry missed work 64% of the time last session.  But, he received his full salary (from YOUR tax dollars).

John Kerry has missed all but one vote this session.  But, he received his full salary (from YOUR tax dollars).

This violates Federal Law.

2 U.S.C. § 39 mandates that "The Secretary of the Senate ... shall deduct from the [salary] of each Member ... the amount of his salary for each day that he has been absent from the Senate ... unless such Member ... assigns as the reason for such absence the sickness of himself or of some member of his family."

This must not stand.

Please call the Secretary of the Senate, Ms. Emily Reynolds, and tell her to follow the law and deduct from Kerry's salary.

Call the Capitol Switchboard  at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office of Emily Reynolds, Secretary of the Senate.  They will put you through. 

If you have to, leave a message.

*please no foul language

---

If enough people call, this will not go unnoticed.

[nuconvert]

They'd need to dock everyone's pay. Including republicans.

[jmstein7]

Well, let's just focus on Kerry for now. Your point is well taken though.

[alaskanfan]

John Kerry has missed all but one vote this session.

Perhaps you could tell the audience which issue it was that this ardent 2nd amendment supporter voted on and how he voted.

[MACVSOG68]

Except for Freepers, this will simply look to everyone else like Republican dirty tricks and engender sympathy for Kerry. Bad idea!

[cripplecreek]

A better suggestion would be for our elected representatives to go back to meeting a couple of times a year and voting on only a few important issues.

[You Dirty Rats]

I don't recall anyone suggesting in 1996 that Bob Dole should have his pay docked.

This is trivial and petty. If this law has never been enforced, then enforcing it now would look very bad. The Senate should not become the Palm Beach County Prosecutor's Office.

If this is the best we can do against Kerry then we are in bigger trouble than I thought.

[jmstein7]

Bob Dole only missed 16% of the vote to campaign, but when he had to campaign full time, he resigned his position.

[jmstein7]

You're missing the point.

[jmstein7]

Nope. This is a good issue.

[jmstein7]

Why do Republicans have such trouble focusing?

[Republican Red]

Kerry along with Dick Gephardt is being sued by the ACU (American Conservative Union)on this very issue

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1079797/posts

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. 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.

[jmstein7]

I know. The others don't seem to get it.

[brownsfan]

Why do Republicans have such trouble focusing?

It's the American mindset: "It's always been that way so why do something now?"
It's very defeatist, and it explains how all sorts of things, such as pork barrelling and lobbying continue. If you do something bad, but you do it for long enough, there seems to be some sort of grandfathering that says it's ok.
We, as a people, have very short attention spans. But, this still is an elective form of government. We complain about the candidates we are offered, and yet, we passively tend to reelect incumbants.
In summary: We are in control, we get what we deserve.

[bray]

Even he doesn't believe he can win the Presidency!

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Ragirl]

They'd need to dock everyone's pay. Including republicans.

SO???? If a person shows up for work 64% of the time, they shouldn't be paid 100% of their salary ---- Republican or Democrat! Most people who don't show up for work, don't get paid or have to use vacation or sick time to make up the difference. Why should we pay a senator for not doing his or her job? John F. Kerry is an AWOL Senator

[Fun Bob]

Candidate for the people, my a**. He's greedily sucking at the teet of government largesse. Getting paid to interview for a new job. He should act like he has a pair and resign his senate seat so that the people of MA have proper representation in Washington.

miserable failure miserable failure miserable failure miserable failure war criminal

[rrrod]

THERE ARE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE???? who da thunk it