Posted on 12/09/2006 7:41:12 PM PST by RedRover
Four House lawmakers have not registered a vote in the lame-duck session, missing every roll call since the Nov. 7 elections.
Reps. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.), Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.), and John Murtha (D-Pa.) avoided the House floor — or Washington altogether — when the lower chamber was in session last month as well as this week. (Roll-call votes through Dec. 5 were available at press time.)
Retiring Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.), who has Parkinson’s disease, withdrew from his congressional duties in March. He cast his last vote in February.
Gibbons spokeswoman Melissa Subbotin said, “Currently he’s wearing two hats,” noting that he won his race for governor.
The other governors-elect in the House ranks, though — Reps. Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) and C.L. “Butch” Otter (R-Idaho) — have made it back to Washington for some or all of their floor votes.
Otter’s spokesman Mark Warbis said the closest advisers to the congressman have led his gubernatorial transition while he has made every vote, but certain sacrifices are inevitable. “There have been several speaking engagements and appointments here in Idaho that he has had to put aside to finish up his work in Washington.”
Cubin has made it back to Washington, according to press secretary Alison McGuire, just not to the Capitol. “Right after the election, she was laid up with the flu and now it’s a recurring back problem,” McGuire explained. “She’s in D.C., but laid up at her apartment.”
While seeking support for his majority leader race against Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) in the week after the election, Murtha failed to vote on pending business on the floor. Hoyer has not missed a vote since the elections.
Murtha’s office did not comment for this article.
David Williams, vice president of Citizens Against Government Waste, expressed dismay at lawmakers who have not cast a floor vote in the lame-duck session.
“They’re being paid until the end of their term and they should be working for that money,” he said. “It’s absolutely pathetic. This is their job: to cast votes.”
Subbotin made clear that Rep. Gibbons could best serve his constituents in his capacity as governor-elect, given the pressing concerns in his home state — the nurses union on strike in Las Vegas, for example.
“It’s not like we have completely rolled up the carpet and closed up shop,” Subbotin added. “He’s on the phone regularly and still very much in touch with people in D.C. He is still a congressman until his inauguration; he just can’t make it back to D.C.”
Every senator has registered votes during the lame-duck session.
Please let jazusamo or me know if you want on the Murtha Watch Ping List. We're keeping an eye on Jack until he's gone for good.
Murtha throwing a fit because he didn't get the job from his girlfriend Nancy????????
Somehow, I feel safer.
Seriously, Cubin may say she has the flu and/or back problem, but she needs to go.
Murtha continues to be a disgrace to the brain-dead voters who voted him back in.
It truly is a disgrace that a Congressman or woman would show such distain for the job he or she is elected to do.
HAHAHAHA! Yes, there is a bright side!
These people only worked about 100 days. No wonder the Republicans couldn't get anything done. They were NEVER there. Congressmen have part time jobs, but are paid for full time jobs. It's really pathetic.
Lame duck season ping
And don't forget a cushy pension when they retire.
Cubin is hands-down one of the most awful members of the House. If she doesn't retire, I suspect the Dem Trauner will win in '08 (he's very likely to run again). For those not keeping score, this is the freakin' Wyoming at large district.
Maybe people at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review knows where Murthawi is. They endorsed him for reelection and then for the majority leader job, he must be in pretty tight with someone there.
Maybe we should ask Salena Zito tomorrow.
LOL!!! Oh yeah, you just know Salena is all over this!
I doubt it Smooth. Though a political writer I believe she refrains from writing about politicians in her own back yard. :-)
Yeah, it's all about job security, don't ya know! :-)
Seriously - you think the only work a Congress critter has to do is show up for sessions and vote? Is that REALLY all you think they do?
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