Comments on: Stop selective attacks on electeds in the military; focus on solving the absence problem

By: Amanda Stevens

Amanda Stevens — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:02:03 +0000

Let us know what you find out!

By: Jill Miller Zimon

Jill Miller Zimon — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:51:45 +0000

Amanda – thanks for reading and commenting. Deputizing is an interesting idea. I need to go to NCSL and find out if any states have something like that – or some provision for when reps miss extended periods of time – esp. if they can predict it.

By: Amanda Stevens

Amanda Stevens — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:52:10 +0000

I think trying to decide who is allowed to be absent for votes when is a slippery slope- what if you are in the hospital, at a funeral, etc. I think that there should be some way to ‘deputize’ a member of the staff of that individual to provide the vote- whether it is a ‘vice-representative’ or whatever…the decisions made are too important to be absent, that said, politicians are people too and they miss work just like the rest of us.

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:28:44 +0000

Joe – I don’t find our dislike of votes being missed funny – I think we expect the same things from our elected representatives. I promise you, I’d feel the same way about a Democratic. I’m completely serious – we need to find a solution for this type of issue (as well as this issue itself) because otherwise it gets misused as a ball to lob when in fact, it represents a real problem: we elect people and they have absences. What do we do about those absences? Kristen Gillibrand – pregnant, will miss time; who was the guy last year who is back in Congress now who was very ill; the military folks; the campaigning folks.

These are real issues – missing votes. Now – are some excuses ok, some night? Should all be judged on a case by case basis, or not? At what point are constituents not being served to the point where the problem should be fixed in some way other than the next election?

Mandel being my rep only made me more aware of the issue – he didn’t make the issue an issue.

Happy New Year to you too, of course, Joe. Thanks.

By: Joe Amschlinger

Joe Amschlinger — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:08:22 +0000

I think there is already a pragmatic solution, all of these representatives must go up for re-election. I don’t approve of Congressman Kucinich running around the country missing votes for an absurd presidential run, and therefore vote against him. My fellow voters in the 10th District do not feel the same and he is re-elected. Any opponent in a primary or an election can bring this issue up as a valid point of debate.

I find it funny that I am displeased with Congressman Kucinich missing votes (even though he would not vote the way I would want) and you are displeased with Representative Mandel missing votes (even though you would most likely disagree with the way he votes).

Messrs. Kucinich and Mandel would both most likely defend themselves by pointing to the work of their respective staff and the constituent services that were not lacking in their absence. I will vote for former State Rep. Jim Trakas in the 10th District and I think a major campaign message Mr. Trakas will get out is that 10th District residents will not lose the constituent services they receive, and will in fact receive even better service with Mr. Trakas in office.

A Happy & Healthy New Year to JMZ and all of my fellow posters.

Best, Joe