Bachmann missed four times more committee votes than Ellison, Paulsen
Friday, March 19, 2010 at 6:00 am
- 15 Comments
Rep. Michele Bachmann has missed about four times more votes than her colleagues Rep. Keith Ellison, a Democrat, and Rep. Erik Paulsen, a Republican, on the House Financial Services Committee, her only committee assignment. Three quarters of votes at which Bachmann wasn’t present happened on days she had national cable news appearances.
Bachmann has missed 18 of 105, or 17 percent, of recorded votes in the the committee so far in the 111th Congress. Ellison has missed 5 and Paulsen wasn’t there for 3 votes.
Last month, Bachmann blamed her position as a freshman legislator (she’s actually in her second term) and as a Republican for the fact she hadn’t passed a bill. “I am in the deep minority in Congress and a fairly new freshman, so I don’t have substantive bills that I have passed,” she told the St. Cloud Times.
The 18 votes when Bachmann wasn’t present came on seven different days over the last 15 months. On three of those days, Bachmann appeared on national cable news programs. That follows a similar pattern with Bachmann’s performance on the House floor where she has also missed more votes than any member of the Minnesota congressional delegation and many of the votes for which she was absent she had scheduled media appearances on the same day.
For instance, on April 29, Bachmann missed a couple of votes on the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, which beefed up truth in lending practices for lenders. That day she appeared on the Fox Business channel to talk about President Obama’s first 100 days in office.
And on July 8, Bachmann missed four votes on a bill that would authorize funding for 150,000 new housing vouchers for low-income Americans. The same day, she appeared on the Sean Hannity Show to talk about Rep. Barney Frank and TARP funding.
On October 14, Bachmann was absent from the committee and did not vote on seven motions related to a bill to regulate credit default swaps, a financial instrument largely seen as contributing to the collapse of many large financial institutions. The same day, Bachmann appeared on Glenn Beck’s Fox News show to criticize ACORN and the Community Reinvestment Act.
Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayer’s Union, a group that advocates lower taxes and monitors Congress, told the Minnesota Independent that committee attendance isn’t as vital as what? to a Congress member’s work but members should always make their best attempts to be there.
“Granted, Committee meetings may not always be earth-shattering events, nor do public hearings require universal attendance of all Committee Members, who can’t be everywhere at once,” he said. “[But] taxpayers ought to expect that when Committee votes take place, the lawmakers on the panel should make every effort to be there and take a stand.”
He added that the committee process can often inform how a floor vote will come out. “A favorable Committee vote can have a major effect on floor passage, just like an unfavorable one can do the opposite,” said Sepp. “A vote that’s ‘in between’ because lawmakers on the Committee are absent shortchanges the legislative process.”
One issue that NTU has worked on is encouraging members of Congress to dock their own pay when they don’t show up for work at the Capitol. NTU says that members have a duty to taxpayers to return money they didn’t earn.
Sepp said members should dock their pay when they miss committee meetings. “It makes sense for those absent from Committee votes to take their pay-docking duties as seriously as if they were casting floor votes.”
Bachmann’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the missed committee meetings.
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Comment posted March 19, 2010 @ 10:36 am
The National Taxpayers Union Campaign Fund in its 2006 endorsement of Bachmann described the absentee congresswoman as “a true taxpayer’s friend who will courageously fight for lower taxes and limited government.”
http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=7820&keyword=&phrase=&contain=
In 2008, the National Taxpayers Union gave Bachmann an “A”:
Somehow I doubt that Bachmann’s shabby attendance record will have any effect on the NTU’s future endorsements.
Comment posted March 19, 2010 @ 11:26 am
This is exactly why Ole Crazy Eyes doesn’t think the Repubs ever used “deem and pass”. She’s never there. She’s unaware that the Repubs used “deem and pass” over 200 times. What an ididot.
Comment posted March 19, 2010 @ 4:18 pm
I need to get elected to Congress. There’s not a lot of jobs out there that pay so well and provide such great benefits (including health care!) to employees who don’t show up and don’t do their job.
Comment posted March 19, 2010 @ 8:13 pm
How does her attendance record compare to that of former Senator Obama’s record in the Illinois Senate and US Senate?
Hers is better, I’ll wager.
Comment posted March 19, 2010 @ 9:28 pm
She probably assigns low priority to votes she knows that will not rely on her attendance either way.
Comment posted March 20, 2010 @ 7:54 am
How can she be there when shes too busy granstanding against government. Many comments made should be looked into as treasonous. Telling Minnesota residents to “arm” themselves, telling NOT to fill out the Cencus, shes a true nut case and should be treated as such. She certainly should not hold a position of authority and be allowed a seat creating legislation. Her constituents must be a fruitcake as she to re-elect this nutcase back in. Says MUCH about her constituency!
Comment posted March 20, 2010 @ 7:58 am
Her biggest “feat” was the Freedom of Light Bulb Act and banning the movie Alladan prior to Obama getting elected. She sorta has the Charles Manson eyes if you study her. Scary at best that someone like her gets re-elected!
Comment posted March 20, 2010 @ 8:38 pm
Can we get someone in that seat who will actually do the work we are electing them to do?
Comment posted March 22, 2010 @ 1:28 am
This is par for the course with this psych b***h!!!!I believe that with this disclosure about her and with her telling her constituents to NOT pay their taxes should be grounds to take away HER TAXPAYER PROVIDED “ENTITLEMENT” of salary as well as healthcare and benefits as she clearly is not doing what taxpayers are paying her to do…….if regular taxpaying Americans, like myself, don’t go to work, “call in sick” when we are out on the town and don’t do what we were HIRED to do we get fired or don’t get paid!!!!Why should she be exempt from the rules!?!?!?!?
Comment posted March 22, 2010 @ 1:30 pm
While the venemous name calling is entertaining, can anyone cite some examples of Michele’s craziness? Or is it just typical leftist exaggeration; she simply has values opposed to those represented here.
Comment posted March 22, 2010 @ 2:56 pm
Jimmy, you don’t pay attention. Bachmann has engaged numerous times in fanciful conspirqacy theories, having at different times proclaimed that there’s a nationwide conspiracy from homosexuals to steal America’s children, to believing that Obama is not a US citizen, to even arguing that the US is “secretly” planning on replacing the US dollar with a “one-world currency.” She also has drawn illusions to ACORN “stealing” 2008 election, and has suggested that the Census will lead to internment in “re-eudcation” camps for conservatives. None of these have any modicum of truth in them, and there’s even more crazy stuff she’s said over the years that, if not conspiratorial, certainly are inflammatory. Her call to weed out “un-American” members of Congress (read: those that she disagrees with) was acrid and poisonous. She either is a) delusional or b) a pathological liar, neither of which are qualities that make her suitable to be a United States Representative.
There are plenty of GOPers out there who are well-respected because they are level-headed and address their opposition with comity and maturity (like Jim Ramstad before and Erik Paulsen now). Bachmann does none of those.
Comment posted March 22, 2010 @ 6:38 pm
1. nationwide conspiracy from homosexuals
She’s been critical of protecting pedophiles. Surely you don’t disagree with that.
2. US is “secretly” planning on replacing the US dollar
It’s being considered by some in power. Apparently, she strongly opposes the idea.
3. believing that Obama is not a US citizen
There certainly is some evidence that this may be the case.
4. drawn illusions to ACORN “stealing” 2008 election
You have to admit, they would if they could. And they do try.
5. Census will lead to internment
Has this ever happened before?
6. Her call to weed out “un-American” members of Congress
Who would argue with that? If there are any un-American members shouldn’t they be criticized for it?
IS THAT ALL YOU’VE GOT?
Comment posted March 24, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
She lies about how many people attend her events; she hides rather than speak to her constituents (remember the Bachmann in the Bush incident?); she incites violence.
Furthermore, homosexual is not pedophilia – period. There is no public plan to replace the U.S. dollar. Obama has produced a birth certificate and there is no question that he is a citizen. “…they do try” – where’s your proof? The census has been conducted for years and years, and you know why. It is, in fact, crazy to tell your own constiuents (who could essentially wipe away the need for a congressperson in that district if they don’t return it) not to fill out the census form. “Who would argue with that?” Ummm, the majority of Americans – including one Ronald Reagan if he were alive today.
You are obviously just as misinformed as Mrs. Bachmann if you think your responses are anywhere close to rational.
Comment posted March 25, 2010 @ 3:27 pm
1. nationwide conspiracy from homosexuals
She’s been critical of protecting pedophiles. Surely you don’t disagree with that.
She isn’t talking about pedophiles, she is talking about Homosexuals. Are you aware they are not the same thing?
2. US is “secretly” planning on replacing the US dollar
It’s being considered by some in power. Apparently, she strongly opposes the idea.
She isn’t claiming some in power are considering it, she is claiming that the US government is secretly planning on implementing it.
3. believing that Obama is not a US citizen
There certainly is some evidence that this may be the case.
No there is not. Zero. Zip. Nada.
4. drawn illusions to ACORN “stealing” 2008 election
You have to admit, they would if they could. And they do try.
No I do not have to admit that and no they do not try to do that.
5. Census will lead to internment
Has this ever happened before?
Has it? Political round ups?
6. Her call to weed out “un-American” members of Congress
Who would argue with that? If there are any un-American members shouldn’t they be criticized for it?
Who determines what is un american? It seems that most of the tea baggers believe being a Democrat is un american
IS THAT ALL YOU’VE GOT?
It appears you have a big pile of nothing.
Comment posted March 26, 2010 @ 10:49 pm
1. She isn’t talking about pedophiles, she is talking about Homosexuals.
To quote the webmaster: Prove it.
2. She isn’t claiming some in power are considering it, she is claiming that the US government is secretly planning on implementing it.
Are you in grade school? The government is composed of individuals at various levels of power and influence. Geithner, Sec of Treasury, has expressed interest in a world currency.
3. No there is not. Zero. Zip. Nada.
I can’t get a library card without my birth certificate and this Wonderboy refuses to show his? Just show the darn thing so we can let it go.
4. No I do not have to admit that and no they do not try to do that.
Google “acorn indictments list”.
5. Has it?
The Japanese internment of WWII, instigated by another socialist FDR, used the census to identify Japanese American citizens who were placed in camps. Nice.
6. Who determines what is un american?
According to Bachmann’s statement that would probably be members of the press.
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