Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul Miss Payroll Tax Cut Vote

WASHINGTON — Eleven lawmakers missed the 229-193 House vote that rejected Senate legislation to extend a payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits for two months.

Reps. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Ron Paul of Texas were campaigning Tuesday for the Republican presidential nomination.

Democrat Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona is recovering from the brain injury she suffered when shot by a gunman.

Republican Howard Coble of North Carolina is hospitalized with a respiratory illness. Texas Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson has a high fever. Florida Republican Mario Diaz-Balart has a family health issue.

Chief of staff Paul Gage said his boss, Democrat Kurt Schrader of Oregon, decided to stay home.

Rep. John Olver, a Massachusetts Democrat, had a family obligation and was not in Washington.

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., missed the key votes due to travel difficulties, but arrived in time to vote for a non-binding Republican resolution supporting a full-year payroll tax cut.

There was no response from the offices of California Democrats Bob Filner and Lynn Woolsey.

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Comments

[l78lancer]

07:49 PM on 12/22/2011

Paul and Bachmann think they have nore important things to do than to be in place to do the business for which they are paid by the American people.

[l78lancer]

07:47 PM on 12/22/2011

"There was no response from the offices of California Democrats Bob Filner and Lynn Woolsey."
---------------------------------------------------->

Call the Lovebug Motel. Leave a message with the front desk.

[DocTonyNYC]

09:24 PM on 12/21/2011

This is news? My understanding is that Bachmann has voted very few times in the last year. One can only hope that her constituents have had enough of a woman who obviously has no interest in her own district.

[Matt12]

02:58 PM on 12/21/2011

Not good.

[Freedomaphile]

01:50 PM on 12/21/2011

Are not the Republicans the ones that demanded John Kerry resign from the Senate during his presidential ru?

[baxtron]

01:32 PM on 12/21/2011

Haven't seen Michelle since she won in Nov of 2010. more important things to do.

[castleblanca]

01:14 PM on 12/21/2011

I think it was done on purpose. They didn't want to vote against the continuation of the payroll tax cut and have it come back to haunt them during the campaign for both President and re-election to Congress.

[lithium12]

12:44 PM on 12/21/2011

god told her to stand around in Iowa and look clueless, she did a great job of it.

[sak]

12:33 PM on 12/21/2011

Bachman has been missing in action ever since she came to the House. She has never proposed a piece of legislation. She is MIA.

[GraniteSkyline]

11:59 AM on 12/21/2011

C'mon! As if Michele is important to the functioning of Congress--pffft!

[Mac1000]

11:25 AM on 12/21/2011

Campaigning is no excuse not to do the job you were elected to do. Get back to Washington and represent your EMPLOYERS i.e., the people you represent in congress.

[Candide33]

11:19 AM on 12/21/2011

Ron Paul has missed 69.1% of the votes since campaigning and Bachmann has missed 91.2%

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes.xpd?year=2011&person=400311

and they have the nerve to call others freeloaders

Bernie Sanders has only missed 1 vote in the same time frame and only 4% across the whole 20 years that he has been in congress. :) loves me some Bernie!

[Prankster]

12:20 PM on 12/21/2011

Ain't Bernie great??!!! He's my rep, too! I say fire every one of them except for Bernie!!!!

[Candide33]

01:48 PM on 12/21/2011

You are lucky.... I live in Louisiana.... the best I could hope for is to have a representative who isn't a criminal of some sort. So far, no luck, my senator is Diaper Dave Vitter ...*gag*

I might not be able to vote for Bernie but I know quality when I see it.... I never thought that I would ever be a fan of a politician! LOL!

[baxtron]

01:32 PM on 12/21/2011

I thought he was a Senator.

[Candide33]

02:08 PM on 12/21/2011

Yes, he represents me in the senate.... just as it says in my post.

"So far, no luck, my senator is Diaper Dave Vitter ...*gag* "

See?

[librldem]

11:17 AM on 12/21/2011

There is one perfectly valid reason MB does not go to DC to do her job.... she's on the Intelligence Committee and can't find their meeting room.

[kareemachan]

12:45 PM on 12/21/2011

[rimshot]

[silverball]

01:48 PM on 12/21/2011

omg...that is awesome.....lol...plus it makes a LOT of sense.....

[Candide33]

11:12 AM on 12/21/2011

"Numbers confirm what we already pretty much know: Congress this year isn’t getting much done. The number of bills enacted this year is lower than it has ever been in at least 30 years. If you think Congress should be passing fewer laws, then you got your wish this year."

http://www.govtrack.us/

The do nothing tea publicans have been holding up everything except the naming of post offices that they are planning to close anyway and naming people to decorate the museums and fighting over light bulbs and whatever other drivel they can scrounge up to keep from actually working.

[edlindaspy]

08:29 PM on 12/21/2011

I think some new legislation should be passed don't you? Let's call for part time ,,no benefits and everyone elected must be there to vote and do their job!!

You got it all right!!! Kudos! F&F

[Candide33]

10:56 AM on 12/21/2011

She has not been to work since July and she missed votes 91.2% ....

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=412216&tab=votes

If Minnesota ever votes for her again it will be a miracle ... or proof that they are really not that bright.

[baxtron]

01:34 PM on 12/21/2011

She "lives" in my district. The district includes a lot of NASCAR enthusists. It is a bizarre map. The MN DFL puts up horrible candidates. Zero negative attack ads last election cycle.

[Candide33]

02:10 PM on 12/21/2011

Ah... I see....