[onyx]

I'd really like to know why he wasn't on hand to vote.

[Cboldt]

I'd really like to know why he [Hagel] wasn't on hand to vote.

Me too. It'll be known. The Senate record will include at least a comment about "necessarily absent," and oft-times, the Senator will express the reason for an absence.

Not that I think Hagel will be forthcoming, I think he won't be. But it's an interesting enough tidbit that the facts behind his absence will be known.

[hoosiermama]

Maybe he was doing one of those courtesy trade thingies?...Someone of the "D" party had a legitimate reason not to be there, so he declined to vote as a courtesy....Someone explained and named it early this afternoon on the thread.

[Cboldt]

I'd really like to know why he wasn't on hand to vote.

The LA Times article doesn't say where they were traveling to, or even that they were traveling together.

Three senators -- two Republicans and one Democrat -- were absent Monday: Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) were traveling, and John Ensign (R-Nev.) was recovering from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

Attempt to Filibuster Alito Goes Nowhere
LA Times - By Maura Reynolds, Times Staff Writer - January 31, 2006

I'll keep an eye out for news of a Monday appearance of either Hagel or Harkin. Hagel was in Washington on Sunday, appearing in studio for ABC's "This Week" program.

The two of them are recently working together on this project ...

Easter Seals, American Association of School Administrators Pledge Strong Support for
Harkin-Hagel IDEA Amendment
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2006

WASHINGTON - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) along with Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Easter Seals, the National Education Association, the American Association of School Administrators today called on Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Harkin and Hagel introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act, which authorizes the necessary funding to meet the Federal government's commitment to students with special needs.

http://www.harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=250840

[Cboldt]

I'd really like to know why he [Hagel] wasn't on hand to vote.

The Congressional Record of yesterday doen't provide much help ...

Mr. MCCONNELL. The following Senators were necessarily absent: the Senator from Nevada (Mr. ENSIGN) and the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. HAGEL).

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Iowa (Mr. HARKIN) is necessarily absent.

I further announce that if present and voting, the Senator from Iowa (Mr. HARKIN) would vote ``nay.''

6 . EXECUTIVE SESSION -- (Senate - January 30, 2006)