Kerry's run keeps him away from the Senate

[sfecap]

Kerry's run keeps him away from the Senate

By IAN BISHOP, Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON Sen. John Kerry has missed 61 percent of the 370 roll-call votes in the Senate this session, seemingly putting his full-time job on hold as he crisscrosses the nation campaigning for president. Kerry has missed more votes than any of the other Democratic senators running for the Oval Office, sparking criticism from government watchdogs.

"If most Americans took off work to look for another job, they wouldn't be paid," said John Berthoud, president of the National Taxpayers Union. "Why should members of Congress?"

The Taxpayers Union, which monitors government waste, is urging Congress to enforce federal code that requires lawmakers to forfeit salary for each day they are absent for anything other than medical leave.

Among the other senators running for president, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut has missed 50.4 percent of the roll call votes this session, Bob Graham of Florida missed 33.6 percent, and John Edwards of North Carolina has skipped 30.2 percent.

The tally factors only the votes missed in favor of campaigning and does not include the two votes Kerry missed following prostate surgery earlier this year or the 16 votes Graham missed following open-heart surgery.

Since the Senate resumed work following the August vacation which coincided with the increased campaigning by all candidates Kerry has missed 44 of the last 48 roll call votes.

(more)

http://www.lowellsun.com/Stories/0,1413,105~4746~1668911,00.html

[Fabio]

1. Thanks for posting this.

I still cant wait for JK to become President.

I think it's awesome that Dean hasn't missed any votes.....

[Mel]

2. humm

I'm watching Kerry on the floor right now and granted he has missed a lot of votes.
I don't like any Senator of Congressperson missing votes.

What I don't understand is why the Senators have to be there in person to vote? We do have technology. They could read the full text of a bill if one of their assistants e-mails it to them and they could vote yea or na, right?....by phone a special line maybe? Set up rules so the system isn't abused. ect. they could do it, if they wanted too.

Instead of allowing theirselves to be beat up by this why don't they do something to make it possible for any Senator or Congressperson to vote if they aren't present?

Heck, they change the rules on us all the time why not on theirselves?

[Fabio]

3. It's tradition.

but I hear you. It'd especially be helpful for those people who serve constituents across the country. What a pain it must be for, say, Barbara Boxer to maintain any sort of relationship with california voters when they live 3000 miles away.

They should pay the Maryland and Virginia Senators less. Just kidding.

[Mel]

5. you have a good point

course some would argue they get breaks to go home. I think it could be worked out it wouldn't be easy but times have changed and we do have technology where it could be done.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

17. Missing votes "is a tradition?"

Great.

[Larkspur]

4. Why do the Senators have to be there in person to vote?

It's about what are their priorities and how well do they plan their schedules? Both are important criteria for assessing their ability to be President.

These senators have staffs that can or should keep them abreast of upcoming votes so they either have inefficient staffs or they determine that they don't want to vote, for whatever reason.

Personally, I don't mind them missing votes on small matters, but sometimes those small matters have destrutive riders attached to them and missing these votes can allow these cancerous amendments through.

Of course, if these senators find their jobs in the way of their campaigning, they could always resign and run for President full time.

[Fabio]

6. Would you

seriously prefer that John Kerry resign his Senate seat?
Would you want to loose his voice in the Senate?
Would you prefer Mitt Romney, the Republican governor of Mass, select his replacement?

Please respond.

[Larkspur]

8. It's up to Sen. Kerry not me to determine what is more important to him

If he can't or won't fulfill his obligations as senator, why does he stay?

[Fabio]

9. thats a cop out.

I appreciate your unwillingness to answer my question. Why dont you go look at his voting record the other 18 years he has been in office. Maybe use a better sample.

BTW, Edwards, Graham and Kerry all have an agreement with Daschle to be at any vote that is in play. And before you bring up NCLB Funding, let me remind you that Cheney held the tie breaker. The vote wasn't in play. Also, that Day Kerry was at the League of Conservation voters Debate in LA. He honored that commitment.

Of course, he's been a longtime champion of the environment, not some Johnny come lately.

[helleborient]

10. Why has he missed the most votes?

I think that's a useful question...why Graham, Edwards, and Lieberman have missed fewer votes.

[Fabio]

12. It's pretty obvious why he has missed the most votes...

because he is in the best position to win among his Senate collegues. Therefore, there are more demands on his time.

[helleborient]

14. With all respect...

I think Sen. Edwards supporters would disagree with you.

His funds gathered when he led fundraising the first quarter, his recent improvements in polls in NH and Iowa, and his lead in SC seem to indicate his candidacy is one to be reckoned with.

[Fabio]

16. I like John Edwards

I wish he had gained more traction than he has to this point. However, I still say that by most metrics, Kerry is in a better position to win. It is not a reflection on the man. Kerry has:

-More congressional support and endorsements
-Raised more money and has better cash on hand
-Better positioning in NH and Iowa
-Has never been below Edwards in a national poll
-Better positioning on national security - which is most likely going to be a litmus test for voters (at least in the general)

[Mel]

7. I hear what your saying

but I really think it's unwise to not use resources we have now as to what was.
It's not thinking out of the box.


I don't always see a Senator or Rep. missing a vote as what you describe sometimes people are sick, sometimes meeting with the people of their state is more important,
and most important of all any Democrat running to get Bush* out may be in many eyes the number one priority! :) haaa! not in all votes though but darn sure close.

You are right about the amendments but I think with the email system and rules set in place so the Congress isn't allowed to abuse it.
Now that's where I see problems. People abusing it I think it could be useful for them but they would all have to act like adults and with the people we have in the House of Reps. I don't see it. I do see the Senators maybe being able to do a better job at handling it?

Your right those Senators could resign but I don't want to see that to me that's worse than them missing some votes at least if they are Dems. :)

[helleborient]

11. A possible reason...that I wouldn't defend

Forcing the legislators to be in Washington allows lobbyists to have in-person access. If they could vote remotely they could avoid the lobbyist crowd or at least make it much more expensive to lobby.

I think it's a great idea to have remote voting, but will probably take states trying it first to move it up on the radar screen in D.C.

[JohnKleeb]

13. christ guys let it be

I know my candiate makes it whenever he can which is a plus for me, but I think and I am not insulting Dean supporters here but he doesnt have what most of the other candiates has another job while hes running for president. Dean isnt governor so he doesnt have to head up to Montepoiler for urgent things, the others however for the most part too. So guys dont give me hell for that but its very easy for you to say that. I like kucinich's work ethic of being there for votes. I dont hold it against Kerry that he misses em although I would like it. Hope people see my point. The taxpayers union, I think thats a right wing group IIRC.

[DrFunkenstein]

15. Can You Smell The Desperation?

I notice that Dean people don't like to debate policy. Perhaps because they realize that outside of the IWR, they don't have much of a candidate. So they talk about how much money he's making, how many people are at his Meetups, how he's attacking Bush - anything except for his proposals.

I think they know in their hearts that Dean would have been trounced by Kerry in a debate. Not because Kerry is the better debater (though he is), but because on matters of experience and substance, he just doesn't hold a candle.

Some Dean guy was fool enough to compare Dean and Kerry on the environment. My advice - stick to the IWR.

Kerry made an agreement with Daschle to vote whenever he was needed. He has stood by that agreement. Cheap shots like this only smell of fear.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. Consistent as ever.

[revcarol]

19. Kerry missed an important vote yesterday.

He was there today, offered an amendment to the emergency Iraq appropriations amendment.

I love it that my candidate, Kucinich, will miss fund-raising and rallies so that he can do his job. A Renaissance man, he is.Can do a lot of different things and do them well.

[JohnKleeb]

21. you gotta love Kucinich for that

that work ethic is a beauty.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

20. For the math majors in the crowd:

That equals 91.652%.


Votes missed.

[incapsulated]

22. Does anyone know

What the votes he missed where about? If he felt he could give them a pass, but show up for important ones, like today, it's not that big a deal.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

23. By NOT voting...

You're also avoiding creating a record on controversial votes(Paper Trail). Thereby able to dance around issues during the election season. I expect my representative to vote. That's why it's important.

[incapsulated]

24. Paper trail?

How long has Kerry been in the Senate? I imagine the "paper trail" of votes he has is pretty substantial by now! Unless someone can point out some really controversial vote he passed on, that's not a really valid theory.

That's not to say that it doesn't look good when you miss a lot of votes, and his people are probably going over that now.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

26. You're right.

That's not to say that it doesn't look good when you miss a lot of votes...

[KaraokeKarlton]

25. This is part of the reason Senators don't get elected president

They typically miss so many votes while off campaigning that voters get disgusted with them. If they don't do the job they were elected to do, then it doesn't put much faith in the people that they will do the job as president.

[PAMod]

27. It is impossible to run for higher office from another office without...

missing work.

JFK, the last president elected from the U.S. Senate, faced the same charges from LBJ at the convention.

Serving in Congress is a grueling, demanding life if you commit to being successful. Sadly, it is often one of the reasons many members lose touch with the people they represent.