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Missed votes becomes latest “issue”

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Illinois

If the people of Illinois skipped out on their job responsibilities 73% of the time in the month of September, they would get a pink slip – not a promotion.

Why does Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth hold herself to a different standard?

As NBC Chicago reports, Duckworth – one of the least-effective members of Congress, has missed 19 out of 26 votes in this month alone:

Duckworth has missed 19 out of 26 votes in September following a seven week recess. That includes seven votes Tuesday…Last week, the Duckworth campaign claimed the congresswoman missed votes because she was busy on the campaign trail.

One of the seven votes Duckworth skipped yesterday would prevent tax hikes on out-of-pocket medical expenses for middle class Illinoisans and seniors over 65.

Yet, that just wasn’t important enough for Duckworth to show up to work.

They list a couple of bills that’ll probably never become law and conclude…

The United States Congress isn’t just another office in the Rod Blagojevich administration where public officials can skip out on their responsibilities without consequence.

Tammy Duckworth should stop ripping off her constituents by wasting their tax dollars on an empty, ineffective congressional office.

* NBC 5 with the Duckworth response…

“On Tuesday, Tammy was warmly received by over 2,000 working men and women of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union, where she laid out her vision for an economy based on fair trade and opportunity for all in contrast to Senator Kirk, who supports the tax loopholes companies use to ship jobs overseas and tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, paid for by raising taxes on middle-class families by $2,000,” Duckworth spokesman Matt McGrath said in a statement.

“She also noted that Illinois has lost more than 270,000 manufacturing jobs since Kirk was first elected to Congress, a fact not lost on those in attendance, or working families across Illinois,” McGrath added. “With that record, it’s no surprise Kirk was a no-show in Illinois on Labor Day.”

The Duckworth campaign also pointed to votes missed by Kirk, including one in May that looked to protect and enhance the rights of sexual assault survivors. The Kirk campaign noted that Duckworth also missed a vote that day on a measure that looked to help police find kidnap victims.

This meaningless campaign can’t be over soon enough.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:29 am

Comments

There are no issues in this race, it’s just about politics as sport. Instead of debates they should just appear on one of those cable sports shouting shows.

Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:34 am
Not like congress does anything anyway.

Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:37 am
Never before have I been this frustrated with my choices in an election. Trump, Clinton, Kirk, and Duckworth–none of them are, imho, worth giving my vote.

Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:38 am
More nonsense from Tammy, during Kirk’s time in the U.S House/Senate (2000-present) he has rightly been focused on federal legislative issues. Those lost Illinois jobs she alluded to …” Illinois has lost more than 270,000 manufacturing jobs since Kirk was first elected to Congress” …. Can much more logically be blamed on the party in power at the State level, namely your Democratic party.

Comment by Lech W Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:39 am
Personally, I’ve always believed that a good way to earn a promotion to higher office or re-election is to do the job you have and do it well. Wish these two believed that as well.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:41 am
===This meaningless campaign can’t be over soon enough.===

“Helluva way to make a living, kid” — a six term Senator to a 22 year old me after having to borrow my cell phone to dial for dollars because I was the only one with service.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:42 am
Politics has turned into such a blood sport, we should just go back to the 18th century and let candidates settle their differences with either fencing foils or dueling pistols. /S?

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:44 am
Is that for real? Is the IL GOP that clueless?

If missing votes is “ripping off constituents” and the sign of an “ineffective office” then I guess the current GOP leadership believes Kirk should have resigned after his stroke. He was out for a full year.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:45 am
“This meaningless campaign can’t be over soon enough” If Citizen’s United in its flawed way says we can’t limit money, can we at least limit the campaign season??

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:46 am
Maybe this direct election of Senators is not such a good idea. Though since Madigan helped pick Duckworth and Rauner backed Kirk, we might not get anything better under the old rules.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:48 am
Congresswoman Duckworth, along with regularly being labeled as one of the least effective members of Congress during her brief career in the house, has missed nearly 17% of votes from July to the present to campaign. Senator Kirk, conversely, has missed less than 5% of votes over the same timeframe. I just fail to understand how the congresswoman has earned a promotion to the U.S. Senate.

Comment by Eamus Catuli Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:54 am
I’m considering a write-in of Everett Dirksen or Paul Simon. Even their ghosts would be more effective than either of the actual candidates.

Comment by cover Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:58 am
“On Tuesday, Tammy was warmly received by over 2,000 working men and women of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union…” and missed a committee hearing.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 11:00 am
“This meaningless campaign can’t be over soon enough.”

Early voting begins on September 29.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 11:07 am
So she’s just supposed to show up and do nothing? Because that’s all Congress has done for the last years.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 11:25 am
Speakin’ of votes…could someone nudge CommandoMakeItUp and ask when he will get a vote on RapidRodney’s FEMA reforms? that is the measure that prevents cities from getting screwed on storm relief $$$$

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 11:40 am
Skeptic @ 10:46

“If Citizen’s United in its flawed way says we can’t limit money, can we at least limit the campaign season?”

Sounds like a great idea!

Comment by Finally Out (and now very glad to be) Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 11:53 am
==So she’s just supposed to show up and do nothing?==

Well, yes, Tammy IS “supposed” to show up at the House of Representatives. She IS “supposed” to be there to cast votes in congress. When she misses so many votes— because she’s busy out campaigning for a promotion—instead of actually performing the job she was already hired for—it looks very bad. Not being able to show up for work temporarily while you’re having a baby or are recovering from a stroke is a different kettle of fish entirely. Her own staff seems clueless and their comms have generally been terrible and more destructive to her than helpful.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 11:59 am
“So she’s just supposed to show up and do nothing?”

Well, we are paying her, and the whole purpose of supposedly coming back to Illinois and speaking with voters, like she was doing yesterday is to find out how they want to be represented IN CONGRESS.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 12:03 pm
So far, the attempts to magnify the significance of this ‘issue’ have merely highlighted its trivial nature.

“It’s a HUGE deal!!1!” is an assertion, not an argument.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 12:30 pm
“If missing votes is “ripping off constituents” and the sign of an “ineffective office” then I guess the current GOP leadership believes Kirk should have resigned after his stroke. He was out for a full year.”

Missing votes because of a medical condition and missing votes because you’re campaigning and able are not even comparable.

Comment by Clark Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 12:36 pm
Is it a HUGE issue? No. But it is a calculation that candidates have to make — are the events at home more of a positive for you than the negative hits you subject yourself to by missing votes? Her campaign didn’t refute the statistics. 408 or so of her colleagues showed up to vote yesterday, and unless they are stepping down they are all running in November too.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 12:52 pm
With due respect to Senator Kirk, if we are holding members of congress to the same standard as the private sector, he would have been out of a job three months after he had his stroke since he would have exhausted his FMLA required leave. Did I miss where he has sponsored legislation extending the leave period for private sector employees?

Comment by Downstate Dem Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 2:08 pm
==Downstate Dem - Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 2:08 pm:==

Moving the goalposts much? LOL

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 2:14 pm
Kirk has far more life experiences and gov exposure than Duckworth….no comparison.

Comment by scott aster Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 3:24 pm
“73% of the time in the month of September”
Hello… she is busy meeting with the people she represents and getting input from the them - that is part of her job. She has a campaign to run.

US Congress has been useless for the past 7 years. I don’t blame her for not wanting to sit around and do nothing.

Comment by Mama Retired Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 3:28 pm