House of Representatives will work a whole 97 days this year.

from JoeUser Forums
Now we can truly see our tax dollars at work. The house of representatives, the minor house of congress will spend just a measly 97 days at work this year, while collecting there full salary!! The law states that members of congress shall not collect pay for days they are not there, but since does our lawmakers obey any law that might affect themselves?

So not only do these professional slackers not really work for a living, they want to also be payed for not working!

I for one am outraged!! Where else can someone "work" and get 268 days off?
politics
6,786 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
I would be except the less the work, the cheaper (taxes and expenses) it is for us!  I wish they would take the Virginia model and only work 60 days a year, and after they finished, go home and not do any more damage!
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: Dr. GuyPosted: Thursday, March 30, 2006I would be except the less the work, the cheaper (taxes and expenses) it is for us! I wish they would take the Virginia model and only work 60 days a year, and after they finished, go home and not do any more damage!


would be nice if they got any real work done while in session doc, but I have become to believe the only good politician is one that is retired!
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

would be nice if they got any real work done while in session doc,

But what kind of work?  More laws?  More spending?  More taxes?  It seems their work is the bane of our existance.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
3 by Dr. Guy
Thursday, March 30, 2006


But what kind of work? More laws? More spending? More taxes? It seems their work is the bane of our existance.


how about less taxes, solve our energy problems, fix the infrastructure, repair the broken education system,allow more stem cell research, need I say more?
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
I assume by "work" you mean that the House is in session. I counted that the House would be in session for 123 days this year.

However, that doesn't mean that Congressmen have the other 117 days off (52 weeks times 5 days a week is 260). When Congress isn't in session, Congressmen are still meeting with constituents, drafting legislation, negotiating language, helping constituents with their issues and visiting their districts.

You might not like politicians, but you can't say that they don't work hard. When the House is in, they could be working from 8am until 3am. Yes, votes are held into the wee hours of the night, and it's not a rare occurance. Being in Congress is time consuming.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: shadesofgreyPosted: Thursday, March 30, 2006I assume by "work" you mean that the House is in session. I counted that the House would be in session for 123 days this year.


that figure is wrong shades it's exactly 97 days work ha work! please.

As for meeting with all the poeple you mentioned that falls under early promoting themselves to get re-elcted.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
that figure is wrong shades it's exactly 97 days work


Ok, where'd you get that figure? Cause I went to the "in session" schedule and COUNTED THE DAYS MYSELF--so unless you've got a link, I'm sticking to my number. (Here's the link--cross reference to a calendar and you will get 123 days--http://www.house.gov/house/2006_House_Calendar.shtml)

MM--you sound jaded. Like I said, you might not like Politicans, but they work their butts off. A whole lot of blood sweat and tears goes into legislation before it's ever debated on the floor (which is what you are calling work).
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
http://www.drudge.com/news/79500/congress-work-97-days-06

here is where I got my number from shades, and yes I have totally lost all respect for ALL professional politicians.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top

how about less taxes, solve our energy problems, fix the infrastructure, repair the broken education system,allow more stem cell research, need I say more?

No.  For that seems to be the bane of their existance.

Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

but they work their butts off.

The only thing they work their butts off for (Reps and Dems) is re-election.  Everyone else not on welfare does a lot more work.

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: Dr. GuyPosted: Thursday, March 30, 2006how about less taxes, solve our energy problems, fix the infrastructure, repair the broken education system,allow more stem cell research, need I say more?No. For that seems to be the bane of their existance.


If we as a NATION do not do something soon about all those things we are doomed as a country and soon will be just a second rate power.

Reply By: Dr. GuyPosted: Thursday, March 30, 2006but they work their butts off.The only thing they work their butts off for (Reps and Dems) is re-election. Everyone else not on welfare does a lot more


My point exactly doc, bunch of slackers suckling at the public teat. And after they "retire" they continued to get paid more money that most americans get paid in a year.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Clearly ABC News and the Drudge Report prove that they can't count. I encourage you to count for yourself and see how wrong they are.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
we are bickering over 26 days... even going with your figure they get off 242 days shades.

My whole point is they really do not earn their money. IMO.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
They work when Congress isn't in session. They can't be in Congress and dealing with people from their home state at the same time. I personally prefer my representitives to at least visit the state they represent every now and then.

As for more time in the beltway, that's the last thing they need. Idle hands, as the old saying go. More time away from home with political lobbyists and cronies would just mean less real representation of the people they should be rubbing elbows with.

Representitives make around $150k a year last I looked. If they do an honest job they most certainly earn it, given the fact that most of them would be making a lot more in the private sector. More time in Washington will most certainly mean they will do even less than they do now.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
we are bickering over 26 days... even going with your figure they get off 242 days shades.


Who works more than five days a week? Come on, MM.

Figure if you work a five day work week, you could work 260 days. Let's say they get 10 public holidays and ten vacation days (that's normal, or even low, around here)--that means they could work 240 days. They are in session in DC for 123 of them. That means they have 117 days that they are not in session but still working (in the district, most likely).

The 242 days is a total exaggeration--if anything you'd be talking less than 50% of that (117), but even then I'm going to argue that they are still working.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
#14 by BakerStreet
Thursday, March 30, 2006


15 by shadesofgrey
Thursday, March 30, 2006


ok here is how this one works, you two can believe that they work hard and could make more money in the private sector.






I will believe the truth hah hah heh heh
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I will believe the truth hah hah heh heh


Wow, how very open minded of you. Jeez, I couldn't possibly know a thing about how Congress works--what a silly little girl I am.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
17 by shadesofgrey
Thursday, March 30, 2006


will believe the truth hah hah heh heh


Wow, how very open minded of you. Jeez, I couldn't possibly know a thing about how Congress works--what a silly little girl I am.


stop it now shades, you KNOW I respect you and your opinion.

some things I need to chew over awhile shades, no one can FORCE me to change my mind, it must come from within. You know I have changed my mind about things before and am open minded. Now take yer shoes off , get in the kitchen where you belong! and cook me something!!


MM ducks and runs away laughing like a loon.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
whole 97 days this year.


I would have said it was budget-saving but apparently they get paid like they worked full-time.

The House plans to be in Washington 97 days this year.

But same time, they may be also working elsewhere. They better be...
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
and cook me something!!


Oh, you really don't want me to do that, it could be the end of you! (I'm certainly not known for my culinary skills)
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
You think most of these guys weren't at least comfortable before they got to the US House? last I read about 42% of the US Congress are attorneys. You don't think an attorney can do better than $150k a year?

This is a Lefty type position. Bush is an idiot, but he's so smart he can't get caught. Congress is full of lawyers and fatcats, but they are all lazy types who couldn't do better than upper middle class.

You ain't trying.
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply By: BakerStreetPosted: Thursday, March 30, 2006You think most of these guys weren't at least comfortable before they got to the US House? last I read about 42% of the US Congress are attorneys. You don't think an attorney can do better than $150k a year?This is a Lefty type position. Bush is an idiot, but he's so smart he can't get caught. Congress is full of lawyers and fatcats, but they are all lazy types who couldn't do better than upper middle class.You ain't trying.


I am giving my stance serious thought baker, it's the best I can do for now.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
After serious consideration, I think I must agree that they work hard, BUT there are not working hard enough and should be in session more than 97 days
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
BUT there are not working hard enough and should be in session more than 97 days


I agree! They should be in session for 123 days. Oh wait, they already are....nevermind.