GOP congressman quit because of five-day work week

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/09/gop-congressmen-quit-because-of-five-day-work-week/

GOP congressman quit because of five-day work week.

Nine Republican congressmen have so far announced that they will not be running for re-election. One of those lawmakers, Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL), complained “that the Democrats’ new five-day workweek” is part of the reason they’re all retiring:

"I do think the schedule and the flying is a huge pain for people, particularly those who are from the Midwest or even further West,” he said, adding that it’s “probably the worst part of the job.”

“I think that has played into these retirement announcements,” said the seven-term congressman from Peoria.

In Dec. 2006, Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) also griped about having to work five days each week, stating, “Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families — that’s what this says.”

[Horse with no Name]

1. Yet Bush showers accolades on the single mom

who has to hold down 3 jobs to survive.

[liberaldemocrat7]

19. Who doesn't care about families Mr. Kingston?

Your party's refusal to increase the minimum wage for 10 years has created hardships for many families Mr. kingston.

Your President's invading Iraq has helped ruin other families Mr. Kingston.

Your President's FDA didn't police the drug companies whose drugs killed thousands of people and ruined more families Mr. Kingston.

So I suggest you shut up about your 5 day week and look at the families your sad sick party has ruined Mr. Kingston.

[Patchuli]

20. Bravo! nt

[yankeeinlouisiana]

25. You need to send your response to him

or as a letter to the editor!!

Excellent reply!!

:bounce:

[racaulk]

2. .

[NC_Nurse]

3. Ha!

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[Radical Activist]

4. LaHood checked out years ago.

He has been irrelevant and ineffective for years.

[Warpy]

5. While I can sympathize with those who live west of the Mississippi,

when did flying home every weekend become part of the job? Presumably they're paid enough to bring the wife and kids to DC. If the wife and kids won't move, they're certainly getting enough breaks and holidays to be able to go home frequently enough. It's not like they're in the early days of the Republic, when a term in Washington meant you simply said goodbye to everybody until it was over.

My guess is that it's not the loss of flights home every weekend these old boys are grousing about, it's the four day weekend every weekend at vacation spots, generously paid for by lobbyists looking for favors and thinly disguised as seminars.

Ah, that $165,000 a year plus socialized medicine and a huge retirement package, plus a three day work week and all the plush vacations you can handle! Those were the glory days! No wonder they're grousing and quitting!

[NMMNG]

6. My heart breaks

Try my seven day work-week you lazy bum. And I don't make anything near what you do.

[book_worm]

7. Just like Bush--it's hard work having to work five days per week.

[Deja Q]

8. But I thought hard work was paid with success?

Good, let those welfare leeches go. Their wives might divorce them because they're no longer bringing home the money too. Marriages also suffer when there's no income coming in...

Let them go back tom Peonia.

(Sorry, but how does it feel?)

[napi21]

9. Have they never heard of RENTING AN APT. IN DC?

I agree, flying back and forth every week WOULD be a PIA! I did it for 4 months when I was relocated and was looking for a house in the new area, and I only had 1 connection and a total of 2 hours flying time. HOWEVER, they WANTED the job in DC! They fought for it! Rent a damn apt. in Va. or DC, and have your wifie live WITH YOU in DC. You can go HOME during the MANY breaks!!!!

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

18. They have to go back every weekend.

They have to do fundraisers & press the flesh with constituents.

IIRC, this all started back in the early 90s. Or maybe even in the 80s. A bunch of congress critters either lost reelection or had very tight races because opponents starting pointing out that Sen X or Rep Y hadn't been back to his/her district in X number of months & had no idea no idea! what voters were interested in.

That's when it went to a shorter work week to give them time to fly home. And, IMO, it also led to the incredible acrimony on both sides. They used to fight on the floor then go out for dinner & drinks & resolve their issues. Now they battle it out & stay pissed off. Anyone on the other side is the enemy.

Edited for typos

[napi21]

24. Nice theory, but I don't buy it! I call or write to my critters all the time

but I haven't been to their office here or in DC. There's NO WAY I'm going to believe lots & lots of constituents flock to visit with them every weekend! If they don't know what their constituents are thinking & saying, it's because they're paying a whole lot more attention to the RICH contributors than to those who cast votes.

It sounds like a good story, but it's BS. They all liked the 3 day work week they enjoyed under the Pub leadership. YES I said 3 day work week! They finally managed to convene the House at 2-3 on Tuesday, and then scampered out of DC on Thursday to "beat the weekend crowd"!

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

27. It's not a theory that I made up.

And I know that it's now a three day work week. They cut it back to three days from five because flying back & forth was too tough on reps who live further west.

I didn't say that I agree with it, I'm just stating why it is so. I don't have any link, I've just read lots of autobiographies & history. :shrug:

[napi21]

32. Oh I didn't mean that YOU made it up! I meant THEY meant it up

because they liked the idea of only working 3 days a week! What the hell. I guess I'd do that too if I could get away with it! I still don't buy the House now convening at 2:30 on Mondays because some of the critters just can't get there for a morning session. I call BS! Leave on a flight sometime on Sunday that will get you there Sunday night! If I had a meeting I had to attend on Monday AM, that's what I'd have to do now isn't it?

I had a boss who commuted for 4 years from Boston to SC every week! He was always there first thing Monday AM! He did however leave at 3:30 on Fridays. He rented an apartment to stay in during the week.

The congress critters are just taking advantage of an option that has been afforded them! Nice job if you can get it!

[krispos42]

38. Hmmm... that might be true....

except that nobody forced them to take this job. They fought tooth and nail for it, spend huge amounts of money to win it. And they knew that being an electred rep means going to Washington and other far-flung places.

I don't mind them taking things like summer breaks or extened holiday breaks, but dammit, during the rest of the year get your ass over to DC and do your job. I manage to be at work 5 days a week, and I make a fifth of what a congressman does.

Besides, this is "post 9/11 world! Things are all different now!" lol

[SalmonChantedEvening]

10. Yeah, all that flying for free can wear a body down.

Poor things, having to work 5 days a week.

SHUT IT YA PAMPERED WEE GORNICKLES

[JuniperLea]

15. hahahaha!!!

Gornickles??

[SalmonChantedEvening]

33. My Dad's cousin from Ireland called us that

whenever we were fooling around or being wiseasses (you SCE? noooo)

Kinda like Fred Sanford's "Ya big dummy"

:hi: :pals:

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

11. I'm not allowed

to yell at the television any more. My gal patiently reminds me: "They can't hear you."

But there is one thing that we are both allowed to yell, whether it's the stupid Head-On commercial or the latest verbal diarrhea from (M)Ann Coulter, and that one thing is appropo here, for Lame-O Ray LaHood:

SHUT UP!

[terisan]

12. Ah, the Congressional easy money opportunities must be drying up. nt

[Solly Mack]

13. Boo-hoo.Try constant deployments to a bullshit "war" and get back to me

on how marriages suffer.

[JuniperLea]

14. Boo freakin' hoo!

“probably the worst part of the job.” Part of the job! Part of the JOB!!!

It's their choice. Either rent a damn apartment, or shut the hell up about flying home.

You took the job, now do the job.

[Missy Vixen]

16. Isn't DC ninety minutes from Chicago via jet?

Waaaaaaaaa!

Call the WAAAmbulance!

Julie

[Occulus]

31. Isn't it just a few hours by jet from DC to L.A.? n/t

[City Lights]

17. Crybaby slackers!

Nice excuse, boys. The corrupt Republicons know they're going to get their asses kicked up, down and sideways in 2008, so they're retiring en masse, and needed to come up with a blame-the-Dems excuse to give them cover. :eyes:

And FWIW, I think much of the marital strife in GOP circles has more to do with hookers, diapers, and public restrooms than with a five-day-work week.

[Silence Dogood]

21. Looks like a face saving ploy

b/c they know they're going to get their hineys whipped.

[TahitiNut]

22. Go to 6 days and make them ALL quit!

:rofl:

[Cha]

23. Sounds like the repukes are throwing

themselves a cheese and whine retirement party..nothing new here. They'll be whining the rest of their lives about something.

[babylonsister]

26. And here I thought you'd say rethugs are throwing in the towel!

Cheese and whine works!

[Cha]

35. They Are throwing in the towel! ..whining

all the while~ :)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

28. Oh my God, five days a week?

Who the hell does that? :eyes:

[Ino]

29. I'm speechless

Do they think people are going to feel sorry for them?! They have no clue how most of America lives.

[tyedyeto]

30. Of these nine Congresscritters... How many terms have they served?

They know the ropes going in but I wonder how many are freshman or sophomore representatives?

[progressoid]

34. PERFECT talking point for election year LTTEs

Joe and Jane 6-pack work two minimum wage jobs and Republicans can be bothered to work ONE full time.

[krispos42]

36. And what about the families of the soldiers?

Gawd, it's a pain in the ass flying back from Iraq every weekend to visit with the kids. Long flight, jet lag, then back to Iraq!

Oh, wait, our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines don't do that? They stay there for 15 months at a stretch? One Minnesota unit stayed for 729 days?

And they make 1/7th what Congresscritters do? :wow:

Gee, I guess that must be really hard on their families, then.


Oh, wait, silly me. Those military families have Flat Daddies!




Maybe those Republican slackers need some Flat Daddy posters made of themelves?

[alarimer]

37. Boo hoo hoo

I don't work five days a week; sometimes I work more and sometimes less (because I can work 10 hours a day for four days, and various other combinations). I worked 13 hours yesterday but only seven the day before. But I worked all weekend.

Anyway, my point is that I am shedding no tears for the Congressmen who refuse to work a full work week like most people have to.

Good riddance to those assholes.

Republicans are complete waste of oxygen: they do not want to work, they want things handed to them on a silver platter. They seem to think that being elected to office is a just a gravy train.

[blondeatlast]

39. Tell it to the Marines--in Iraq and Afghanistan, ya taxpayer funded Beamer drivin'

lazy-ass wretches.

Gad. Get a frriggin' apartment, why don't you? Sheesh. SHEESHEESHEESH! :banghead: