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Allen West Asks, ‘Hey, How Come Congress Is Getting So Many Days Off?’

Posted on | December 17, 2010 | 14 Comments

After taking a look at the congressional calender for 2011, the newly elected Congressman from Florida’s 22nd District sent a letter to Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Page 1 and Page 2 in PDF format) and issued this press release:

Congressman-Elect Allen West has questions surrounding the Congressional calendar released last week and has written a letter to House Majority Leader-Elect Eric Cantor to reflect those concerns.
“As we know, Congress needs to work to create jobs, reduce the deficit, strengthen our economy, limit the size of government and contend with a plethora of national security issues,” West said. “How are we to do that when, among other things, we start off being in session only ten days the entire month of January?”
Congressman-Elect West is concerned with the fact that Congress is only in session 123 days, only one-third of the entire year. He points out that Congress will not even meet the mark of 90 days in session until September of 2011, just a matter of days before the end of the Fiscal Year.
“I am sure we both agree that the issues before us today require the members of Congress to go beyond what has been the accepted practice in the past to meet the challenges of the future,” West writes to Cantor.
West is also concerned with the “retreats” in the month following the swearing in – some of them taxpayer funded- for members of Congress. Congressman-Elect West has already decided he will not attend at least two of the retreats.
“We have to show the American people we are going to be different than years past,” West said. “We are there for one reason and one reason only, to work for the constituents of the districts we are so privileged to represent. I hope that if it becomes clear that we are not meeting the promise we made to the American people, leadership will modify the schedule in order for us to accomplish the important task we have before us.”

News coverage from CNN, National Journal and The Hill.

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Category: Allen West, Congress

Comments

  • Paul Zummo

    I’m actually going to have to disagree with Representative West here. The more Congress is not in session, the better.

  • http://warlocketx.wordpress.com/ Ric Locke

    Agreed, Paul. The Texas Legislature is allowed to meet for 140 days once every two years. Congress has a more complicated job, so I’d give them 90 days per year, total 180.

    Regards,
    Ric

  • Anonymous

    Fuck. That.

    Congress has no business so pressing that it needs to meet more than 30 days a decade.

  • http://twitter.com/dustbury Charles G Hill

    If they eliminated the preening and the posturing and whatnot, they could finish up in 90 hours. Maybe even 90 minutes.

  • Pingback: Newsbusters: CBS: Letting Americans Keep Their Own Money = ‘Holiday Gift’ From Congress | Katy Pundit

  • JeffS

    If we’re going to pay these bums such extravagant salaries, benefits, and perks, then, by God, they need to earn every nickel.

    The Congresscritters need a firm grip on reality. Mr. West is one man who wants to do it. I hope that there are other people — men and women — to join him.

  • http://ak4mc.us/2c/2011/ McGehee

    Let’s offer them this deal: Enact a balanced budget, then go home. If they do that, we’ll pay them for the days they’re not in session, instead of for the days they are.

  • Joe

    Incentive pay! I love it.

  • http://pointofagun.blogspot.com/ Dave C

    123 days..

    Unless they need to pull some Kabuki Theater Special Sessions to pass a budget/porkubus/spending bill..

  • Anonymous

    Paul, I want them in session continuously for one simple reason: Every new regulation proposed by the bureaucracy should be negated by Congress within 12 hours. Congress can do that under a law whose name is escaping me right now.

  • http://twitter.com/SumErgoMonstro The Monster

    Other than the Senate’s role to advise and consent to appointments and treaties, most sessions of Congress should come together, conclude that the laws already on the books are sufficient to the governance of a great nation, and adjourn sine die.

  • http://westforwestwing2012.com/ WestForWestWing2012

    All the lamestream media reports are framing it as “firebrand” Allen West “beating up” or “butting heads with” leadership, etc. They make him sound like some kind of nutcase. I read the actual letter — thanks so much for linking to it — and it is not only articulate and well-reasoned, but completely respectful and civil — just as I have come to expect from this man.

    Well, what’s new? They took a very competent, brainy, kick-ass, git’r'done governor, and turned her into an incompetent boob. Naturally they’re going to take their second-most-feared conservative and turn him into some kind of a nutcase with anger management issues!

  • http://westforwestwing2012.com/ WestForWestWing2012

    All the lamestream media reports are framing it as “firebrand” Allen West “beating up” or “butting heads with” leadership, etc. They make him sound like some kind of nutcase. I read the actual letter — thanks so much for linking to it — and it is not only articulate and well-reasoned, but completely respectful and civil — just as I have come to expect from this man.

    Well, what’s new? They took a very competent, brainy, kick-ass, git’r'done governor, and turned her into an incompetent boob. Naturally they’re going to take their second-most-feared conservative and turn him into some kind of a nutcase with anger management issues!

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