Congres Kisses Three Day Work Weeks Good-bye

Rep. Steny Hoyer, the Maryland Democrat who will become House
majority leader and is writing the schedule for the next Congress,
said members should expect longer hours than the brief week they
have grown accustomed to

For lawmakers, it is awful, compared with what they have come to
expect.
For much of this election year, the legislative week started late
Tuesday and ended by Thursday afternoon — and that was during
the relatively few weeks the House wasn't in recess.
Next year, members of the House will be expected in the Capitol
for votes each week by 6:30 p.m. Monday and will finish their
business about 2 p.m. Friday, Hoyer said.

Hoyer and other Democratic leaders say they are trying to repair
the image of Congress, which was so anemic this year it could not
meet a basic duty: to approve spending bills that fund government.
By the time the gavel comes down on the 109th Congress on
Friday, members will have worked a total of 103 days.
That's seven days fewer than the infamous "Do-Nothing Congress"
of 1948.

Hoyer said members can bid farewell to extended holidays, such
as the six relaxing days around Memorial Day, when most
Americans get one day off.
He didn't mention the monthlong August recess, the two-week
April recess or the weeks off in February, March and July.

He said members need to spend more time in the Capitol to pass
laws and oversee federal agencies.
"We are going to meet sufficient times, so the committees can do
their jobs on behalf of the American people," he said.


SOURCE:
Seattle Times

I'm glad that the new congress has decided to do this.
Considering that the recent Congresses have been utter disgraces
that have'nt done anything, except be overlypayed idiots on
prolonged vacation.



Comments, Opinions?

This is more a political stunt than an attempt to get at the root of the problem.

I’m not defending the US congress for its’ inactions but there’s more to their job than is being presented.

In college (years back) I worked as a part-time “runner” to earn badly needed extra money. I worked for a state rep. and occasionally for a state sen., (as in state government).

These elected officials attend many committee meetings and hearings, try to travel back to their district office fairly often to meet constituent needs, attend fund raisers, give lectures at colleges, attend press conferences, meet with members of other branches of government, hold staff meetings, process a tremendous amount of paperwork, work in community outreach …etc. etc…these people just do go “sit when convened” and votes are not held each and every time. Trying to track these people down during a work day was increditable...

The real work is not done on the floor, it’s done almost every where but the floor, long before being convened and called to order.

The problem is not their "work week" per se…it’s their "work ethic" and the democrats are equally culpable.


mg

Thinking of new ways to tax the American people takes time, therefore the 5-day Congressional work-week. Remember the new Majority has not had power in 12 years, and they want to make up for all that time you got to keep more of your money.

Deadlocking Congress is a good way to spend a 5-day work-week!

[edit on 8-12-2006 by RRconservative]

Originally posted by RRconservative
Thinking of new ways to tax the American people takes time, therefore the 5-day Congressional work-week. Remember the new Majority has not had power in 12 years, and they want to make up for all that time you got to keep more of your money.

Dealocking Congress is a good way to spend a 5-day work-week!

*Sighs*

Why is'nt it that anyone realizes that, the way our country is set-up,
we need taxation, or else the ogvernment has no money, that is all
the good government funded projects, like geting rid of poverty, is
no longer funded, all those advanced weapons and technology
projects, they stop as well.

I personally have no problems with taxes as long as they don't exceed
more than 55% of my paycheck.