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Kerry, Senate Secretary Facing Ethics Complaint
Talon News ^ | 6-17-04 | Jeff Gannon

Posted on 06/17/2004 6:21:22 AM PDT by jmstein7

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) met with Secretary of the Senate Emily Reynolds Wednesday to discuss ethics complaints stemming from his prolonged absence from the legislative body while he campaigns for president. Kerry and Reynolds were spotted by Congressional staffers slipping into one of the many antechambers of the Capitol where the pair likely reviewed options for dealing with the complaints filed against both of them.

A complaint filed by Hofstra law student Jonathan Stein accuses Reynolds of willfully violating a federal statute that requires her to make deductions from Kerry's Senate paycheck for his absences. Kerry is also named in the complaint for knowingly accepting salary to which he is not entitled.

The issue was first raised in a March 2004 letter to Reynolds from American Conservative Union Chairman David Keene who requested that she enforce the statute concerning Kerry's salary. Reynolds responded to Keene's letter, refusing to enforce the statute because her predecessors had not done so in other cases.

Stein points out in his complaint that the failures of others who previously held Reynolds' position could not establish precedent since the statute clearly says that the Secretary of the Senate "shall" make the appropriate deductions. Stein contends that the language used in the rule is unequivocal and mandatory, allowing no instance for exception or discretion.

Stein also believes that Sen. Kerry, who holds a license to practice law, should be "held to a higher standard of legal conduct than the ordinary citizen, as it is [his] job and role to know, interpret, and promulgate the law."

Stein suggests that the Ethics Committee direct Kerry to return funds he was overpaid and decline to accept future illegal payments from the federal treasury.

Stein told Talon News that Robert Walker, Chief Counsel for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, confirmed receipt of his letter of complaint. He also said that Walker did not indicate if or when the committee might take up the matter.

The Hofstra law student told Talon News that he decided to file the complaint in the interest of "preserving the rule of law."

Having recently completed coursework on constitutional law, he says that he is exercising his First Amendment right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Stein says that the law in this matter is "absolutely clear" and lawmakers cannot consider themselves above it.

Kerry has voted only 14 times out of the Senate's 112 votes this year, a record Stein says is "egregious."

Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, who recently called on Kerry to resign his seat, citing his dismal attendance record, shares that opinion.

She said, "If any of us attended our job only 13 percent of the time, we'd be fired."

Healey went on to say, "It's not fair, it's not right, and the public is not being well served."

"I'm calling on John Kerry to resign so that we can fill that office with someone who is 100 percent devoted to the job of representing the people of Massachusetts," Healey added.


TOPICS: Extended News; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: awol; catholiclist; ccrm; ethicscommittee; jonathanstein; kerry
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; tomkow6; Kathy in Alaska; bentfeather; Bethbg79; StarCMC; Old Sarge

Good gosh. How many people would get paid if they were AWOL from their job for over a year?


41 posted on 06/17/2004 6:43:41 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (It is not Bush's fault... it is the media's fault!)
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To: jmstein7

"...it's the only logical explanation, right?"

Wrong. In your mind it's the only LOGICAL explanation, but that doesn't cover all possibilities. Your statement cannot be supported.


42 posted on 06/17/2004 6:47:49 AM PDT by familyofman (out of the night when the full moon is bright comes a horseman)
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To: MHGinTN
Great Summary about Rats:

To democrats, they are the rulers the voters are the subjects, subjects to be manipulated, lied to, commanded, and/or generally ignored except when seeking to herd their vote.

43 posted on 06/17/2004 6:51:06 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( We wait breathlessly for the al Ghorroid speech at the rat convention for al Querry!)
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To: familyofman

Whatever. Easy for you to be an armchair critic, isn't it? Why don't you take all your built-up anger, aggression, cynicism, and sarcasm and do something productive?


44 posted on 06/17/2004 6:52:24 AM PDT by jmstein7 (A Judge not bound to the original intent of the Constitution interprets nothing but his own mind.)
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To: jmstein7

Stir, stir, stir...


45 posted on 06/17/2004 6:52:47 AM PDT by abner (FREE THE MIRANDA MEMOS! http://www.intelmemo.com or http://www.wintersoldier.com)
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To: abner

LOL!


46 posted on 06/17/2004 6:53:11 AM PDT by jmstein7 (A Judge not bound to the original intent of the Constitution interprets nothing but his own mind.)
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To: jmstein7

BUMP!


47 posted on 06/17/2004 6:53:50 AM PDT by jmstein7 (A Judge not bound to the original meaning of the Constitution interprets nothing but his own mind.)
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To: jmstein7
Great Work Jon!

jmstein7 also did an awesome job raising this on 770 WABC a couple of weeks ago on Mark Levin's show.

48 posted on 06/17/2004 6:54:04 AM PDT by True Capitalist
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To: jmstein7
"I'm calling on John Kerry to resign so that we can fill that office with someone who is 100 percent devoted to the job of representing the people of Massachusetts," Healey added.

As though Kerry has ever been 100% devoted to serving anything except his own self-interest.
49 posted on 06/17/2004 6:55:41 AM PDT by aruanan
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To: True Capitalist; holdonnow; davidtalker; Baynative; B Knotts; California Patriot; BlkConserv

Hopefully, Mark will pick this up and help get this important issue out to the public.


50 posted on 06/17/2004 6:56:21 AM PDT by jmstein7 (A Judge not bound to the original meaning of the Constitution interprets nothing but his own mind.)
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To: jmstein7
"Easy for you to be an armchair critic, isn't it"

When your statements are so obviously wrong & unsupportable, yes. The point could have been made without the unneeded and irrelevant comment.

I'll take my anger, cynicism....whatever & do with them as I please, as I'm quite sure you will do with yours. Can't we all just get along?
51 posted on 06/17/2004 6:57:08 AM PDT by familyofman (out of the night when the full moon is bright comes a horseman)
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To: Arrowhead1952

Why is this even an issue...He hardly needs the money and maybe he should take a page out of ARNOLD's playbook.....Donate your pay to something like OUR COUNTRY!


52 posted on 06/17/2004 6:57:17 AM PDT by Republic Rocker
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To: familyofman

Blah, blah , blah...


53 posted on 06/17/2004 6:57:57 AM PDT by jmstein7 (A Judge not bound to the original meaning of the Constitution interprets nothing but his own mind.)
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To: dead
Kerry and Reynolds were spotted by Congressional staffers slipping into one of the many antechambers of the Capitol where the pair likely reviewed options for dealing with the complaints filed against both of them.

...likely reviewed.... Ha ha. Sounds like Clinton-speak. Which reminds me--I heard him quoted today as saying, "Only a fool doesn't try to explain his failings" and that he had sex with Monica "for the worst possible reason, because he could". Think of what these statements reveal about the mind of the one who said them.
54 posted on 06/17/2004 6:59:26 AM PDT by aruanan
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To: jmstein7

Classic!! I love it!


55 posted on 06/17/2004 7:01:39 AM PDT by Gator113
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To: jmstein7

"Blah, blah , blah..."

A very adult response. You don't seem to want to try and defend your conclusion on why the 2 met and how you have such great insight into the matters of others' hearts and minds. I'm anxious to learn, and thirst for knowledge.


56 posted on 06/17/2004 7:02:31 AM PDT by familyofman (out of the night when the full moon is bright comes a horseman)
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To: familyofman

What's the point in arguing with you? You are intractable, so it doesn't matter what I say. Therefore, I won't waste my time, or yours, any further.


57 posted on 06/17/2004 7:03:42 AM PDT by jmstein7 (A Judge not bound to the original meaning of the Constitution interprets nothing but his own mind.)
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To: jmstein7

I'm sorry, I must have clicked on the wrong thread. I was looking for something on Abu Ghraib, but I can't seem to find anything anywhere.

/sarcasm


Great job, buddy. No doubt Kerry is cursing your name for making this an issue - a sign you're doing the right thing. Keep it up.


58 posted on 06/17/2004 7:04:39 AM PDT by ICX (PANTIES ON HEADS!!! THE OUTRAGE!!!)
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To: StarCMC; NYer; *Catholic_list; american colleen; sinkspur; Lady In Blue; Salvation; Polycarp IV; ...

BUMP!


59 posted on 06/17/2004 7:04:46 AM PDT by jmstein7 (A Judge not bound to the original meaning of the Constitution interprets nothing but his own mind.)
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To: jmstein7

"You are intractable, so it doesn't matter what I say."

Agreement reached.


60 posted on 06/17/2004 7:10:12 AM PDT by familyofman (out of the night when the full moon is bright comes a horseman)
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