The 'Do-Nothing Congress' Big Salary, Little Work, Free Trips

SolarEnergy1

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May 18, 2007
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Oh those democrats.............They're just like the New york Yankees

The 'Do-Nothing Congress' — Big Salary, Little Work, Free Trips
By Dick Morris and Eileen McGann


Americans are not happy about the job that Congress is doing, and with very good reason. According to the results of a Gallup Poll completed last week, only 14 percent of the American people have a lot of confidence in Congress.

That's the lowest Congressional rating since Gallup started measuring confidence in American institutions in May of 1973. Even then, at the height of the Watergate scandal, Congress scored a 42 percent confidence rating. And now, Congress is rated as the worst of all 16 American institutions measured.

The results are hardly surprising when you look at how little the House and Senate actually work, their minimal accomplishments and their generosity to themselves and their families. They have not been able to pass important legislation on minimum wage, immigration reform, or anything else of importance. Instead, they spend their time raising money for themselves, bickering and passing bills to change the names of courthouses and post offices, commending winning sports teams, and suggesting that the flag be flown on Father's Day. These are their weighty concerns.

Congress Will Be Out of Session for More than 16 Weeks

In our new book, Outrage, we document the awful truth about the "Do-Nothing Congress." The fact is that they are paid at least $165,500 a year, and they hardly show up at all. In 2006, for example, Congress was only in session for 103 days, slightly more than two days a week on average. Nice work, if you can find it.


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When Harry Truman criticized the "Do-Nothing Congress" in 1948, the House was in session for only 108 days!

In the current Congress, despite Speaker Pelosi's loud promise of a five-day workweek, the House schedule is laughable. The first clue that members wouldn't be working harder was when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced that the House would take a day off during the first week in session. Why? Was there a national emergency? Maybe a catastrophic storm? Not at all. It was because of the championship college football game between Oklahoma State and Florida State. Obviously oblivious to the criticisms of Congressional laziness, Hoyer explained that the work of the Congress would be suspended so that everyone could watch a football game.

How many American workers are given a day off to watch a football game?

A close look at the schedule of the House is shocking. Congress will be out of Washington for more than 16 weeks. And when they are technically in session, they don't do much. Take the month of February, for example: the House was only in session for nine days — and on three of those days, the sessions lasted less than 20 minutes, while a fourth lasted for 39 minutes. Their designated “President's Day District Work Period” is a ridiculously transparent euphemism for a vacation week — sometimes involving free travel. Right after the so-called travel "reforms" were passed, 66 members of the House traveled during February at the expense of private organizations (legal under the new rules), many of them to exotic vacation spots.

Free Trips to San Juan in February — Bring Along the Kids!

Fourteen members and their spouses spent five days of the “President's Day District Work Period” at a luxurious hotel in sunny San Juan, Puerto Rico at an Aspen Institute conference on “No Child Left Behind.” Several of the members apparently took the conference mandate quite literally and brought their own children for a free trip: Congressman Zach Wamp, of Tennessee, was joined by his son, Cody, and Congressman Jan Schakowsky, of Illinois, was accompanied by her daughter, Mary Hart. The average cost of the trip was about $7,000 per member. Only five of the 15 were members of the House Education Committee:

• Zach Wamp (R-TN)
• Melvin Watt (D-NC)
• John Tierney (D-MA)*
• Janet Schakowsky (D-IL)
• Edward Pastor (D-AZ)
• George Miller (D-CA)*
• Nita Lowey (D-NY)
• Raymond Green (D-TX)
• Diane Degette(D-CO)
• Susan Davis (D-CA)*
• Russ Holt (D-NJ)*
• Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)*
• Sam Farr (D- CA)
• Bob Etheridge(D-NC)
• Richard Lugar (R-IN)

* member, House Education and Labor Committee

Last summer, the director of the Aspen Institute Congressional Program, former U.S. Senator Dick Clark, insisted, in an interview with us, that Aspen had discontinued paying for the trips of the children or siblings of members. Apparently, that policy has been changed, since two children went to San Juan and another sibling to China.

And, by the way, Speaker Pelosi has proposed that adult children be permitted to accompany members on taxpayer paid trips.

A number of the February travelers are perennial beneficiaries of the Aspen largesse. For example, while House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller may have had an interest in the "No Child Left Behind" conference, he is a serial traveler on the Aspen dime. Since 2000, he and his wife have attended a total of 30 Aspen conferences at a cost of more than $125,000, and total trips valued at over $200,000 — and only three of them were concerned with education. Mr. and Mrs. Miller traveled to Aspen conferences in:

Naples, Fla., San Juan, Vancouver, Prague, Grand Cayman, Florence, Helsinki, Punta Mita, Mexico (three times) Scottsdale, China, Barcelona (two times), Montega Bay, Jamaica, Rome, Moscow, Cancun, Venice, Dublin, Istanbul (two times), Honolulu, Krakow, and Llubjana.

In addition, Congressman Miller has traveled on government expense to:

Mexico, Cambodia (two times), Vietnam (two times), South Africa, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Laos, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel (two times), Jordan, Iraq, Italy (two times), Sudan (two times), Ghana, Liberia, and Cape Verde. (The records do not indicate whether his wife also joined him on these trips.)

The government trips consumed almost 75 days at a cost of over $65,000, excluding the airfares for military transport. And, Congressman Miller is not a member of any committee dealing with foreign relations. The Aspen trips took over 150 days! That's an average of almost 30 days each year!

Who has time to work with this kind of travel schedule?

But he's not alone.

Fellow traveler Sen. Richard Lugar is another Aspen favorite. He and his wife were on 25 other Aspen trips and visited:

Naples, Helsinki (two times), Grand Cayman, Punta Mita, Mexico (three times), Scottsdale, London, Montega Bay, Rome, Moscow, Honolulu, Cancun, Barcelona, Lausanne, Venice, Dublin, Istanbul, and Krakow.

Almost makes you want to be a Senator, doesn't it?

Other Aspen regular travelers and their wives with the number of free trips include:

• Howard Berman (D-CA) — 18
• Donald Payne (D-NJ) — 16
• Henry Waxman (D-CA) — 13
• Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) — 12
• Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) — 11
• Gene Greene (D-TX) — 11
• Barbara Boxer (D-CA) — 10
• Nita Lowey (D-NY) — 10

April in China

During the so-called “Spring District Work Period” in April, many of the same characters went on yet another Aspen trip to China for a Chinese-American relations conference at a cost of about $25,000 per couple. Only two of the travelers were on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Don Payne (D-NJ) brought his brother along. Joining the group were:

• Donald Payne (D-NJ)
• Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
• Frederick Upton (R-MI)
• Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
• Susan Davis (D-CA)
• Brian Baird (D-WA)
• Mike Honda (D-CA)
• Michael Castle (R-DE)
• Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
• William Clay (D-MO)
• Tom Petri (R-WI)
• Tom Udall (D-NM)

Slovenia in May

During the “Memorial Day District Work Period,” the following members went on an Aspen sponsored trip to Slovenia, no doubt tending to their district and constituents all the while they were sight-seeing. Most were accompanied by their spouse. What is truly amazing is that every single one of the participants had already attended other conferences on the same subject. Howard Berman, Henry Waxman and George Miller — and their wives — went to five separate Aspen conferences in various European capitals and a Mexican resort; Lloyd Doggett and his wife attended four. The complete list of attendees:

• Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)*
• Rush Holt (D-NJ)***
• George Miller (D-CA **
• John Tierney (D-MA)***
• Melvin Watt (D-NC)***
• Harry Waxman (D-CA)**
• Carl Levin (D-MI)****
• Phil English (R-PA)***
• Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)*
• Howard Berman (D-CA)**

* Attended four Aspen conferences on Political Islam: Mexico, Barcelona, Istanbul, and Slovenia


** Attended five Aspen conferences on Political Islam: Helsinki, Mexico, Barcelona, Istanbul, Slovenia


*** Attended two Aspen conferences on Political Islam: Istanbul, Slovenia(Holt)Mexico, Slovenia (Watt),


**** Attended three Aspen conferences on Political Islam: Barcelona, Istanbul, Slovenia

What's wrong with this picture?

Why would the Aspen Institute invite the same people back to conference after conference about the same topic in expensive and exotic places? Why are so many members invited to participate in forums that have nothing to do with their committee assignments? Why are most of the participants Democrats?

Aspen points out that it does not lobby and only wants to give Congressmen the opportunity to think about important issues away from the pressures of the Capital. Given what we know about their schedules, that's hardly a good argument for the free trips.

It's true that Aspen does not lobby, but it does develop public policy initiatives on a wide range of issues and even has a special conference for legislative staff. So, it definitely has a point of view — and usually a liberal one. There's nothing at all improper about Aspen's conferences, but the lavish foreign trips contribute to the evolving Congressional imperiousness.

What's wrong with the free travel? Well, for one, it creates a sense of entitlement. Members of Congress have gotten used to being wined, dined and flown to beautiful and expensive places. It adds to the insulation from their constituents, it takes up time that should be spent on the job they were elected to do and it basically provides tax free income for free travel.

And it's not just Aspen. Another favorite travel underwriter is the International Management and Development Fund, which hosted Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and his wife on a $20,000 trip to Germany in February. Congressman Hinchey has received over $200,000 worth of free travel since 2000. Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Mark Souder (R-IN), Tom Feeney (R-FL) and Ralph Regula (R-OH) also went to Germany.

It's not what they were elected to do. Since 2000, Aspen has spent over $4 million on 719 trips for members of Congress and their spouses and family members.

It's time for Congress to stop the free travel and focus on the important issues that need resolution. That means showing up for work and making tough decisions.

Maybe then, Americans might have some confidence in Congress.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286235,00.html
 
I believe if the American voter was happy with the output and production our elected leaders they wouldn't sweat this story. It is nothing new of congress milking trips and other benefits regarding rank has it privileges. I know these congressmen and women have abused this to now it is out of control and damn if we call them down either!
 
Hmm The republicans went no where ?
come on now, I can't believe that.


Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Mark Souder (R-IN), Tom Feeney (R-FL) and Ralph Regula (R-OH) also went to Germany.

Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Zach Wamp (R-TN)
Tom Petri (R-WI)
Phil English (R-PA)
Frederick Upton (R-MI)


Plenty of Republicans mentioned in the article. My impression of the article is they are giving you a list of the worst offenders.

Remember, it wasn't the Republicans who were campaigning on the promise of cleaning up Congress and changing the way business gets done so it is predictable that when things like this come out, the Democrats will bear the brunt of the embarassment.
 
Congress does not have to be in "session" to be working. Session is part of the job but in no way, should it be measured up against full time hours put in by normal workers. They have so many legislative reports to read, so many documents to go through, so many people to meet, so many questions to answer and your getting mad at how long they are in the capitol building?

Cmon, learn the legistlative system before arguing about nothing new.
 
Congress does not have to be in "session" to be working. Session is part of the job but in no way, should it be measured up against full time hours put in by normal workers. They have so many legislative reports to read, so many documents to go through, so many people to meet, so many questions to answer and your getting mad at how long they are in the capitol building?

Cmon, learn the legistlative system before arguing about nothing new.

True. But couldn't the same argument be made of the President (all of them, not just Bush)? Just because he's not in the White House doesn't mean he's not working. Just because they say he's on vacation doesn't mean he's not working. It's not like they hire a temp to fill in for him when he's on "vacation." Yet every single time Bush goes to his ranch, all the haters start screeching about his "vacation" and how time he's missing and how often he does it.
 
True. But couldn't the same argument be made of the President (all of them, not just Bush)? Just because he's not in the White House doesn't mean he's not working. Just because they say he's on vacation doesn't mean he's not working. It's not like they hire a temp to fill in for him when he's on "vacation." Yet every single time Bush goes to his ranch, all the haters start screeching about his "vacation" and how time he's missing and how often he does it.


Your right, which is why I have changed my position on his presidential vacation time to less of a liberal rant. If he goes on vacation, great....its not like he cant make decisions over a phone. Besides, Cheney is perfectly capable of running the country when bush is gone, infact I think he runs it right now.

Vacation time is just an excuse to further divide both partys.
 
Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Mark Souder (R-IN), Tom Feeney (R-FL) and Ralph Regula (R-OH) also went to Germany.

Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Zach Wamp (R-TN)
Tom Petri (R-WI)
Phil English (R-PA)
Frederick Upton (R-MI)


Plenty of Republicans mentioned in the article. My impression of the article is they are giving you a list of the worst offenders.

Remember, it wasn't the Republicans who were campaigning on the promise of cleaning up Congress and changing the way business gets done so it is predictable that when things like this come out, the Democrats will bear the brunt of the embarassment.

Worst offenders for specific trip junkets.....
A spinning top document.
 
Worst offenders for specific trip junkets.....
A spinning top document.

Did I mention that Dick Morris is a co-author of the article? And it's linked from Fox News? The more important fact is, Dick Morris is a co-author of the article.

Makes you wonder what the Clinton's did to him to make him turn. Couldn't have been just the prostitute and the toe thing.
 
Congress does not have to be in "session" to be working. Session is part of the job but in no way, should it be measured up against full time hours put in by normal workers. They have so many legislative reports to read, so many documents to go through, so many people to meet, so many questions to answer and your getting mad at how long they are in the capitol building?

Cmon, learn the legistlative system before arguing about nothing new.

Then why are libs and the liberal media always whine about Pres Bush taking his "vacation" every Aug?
 
"Do nothing congress". Heh, I wish. I only wish they'd take even more vacations so they have less time to spend writing socialist legislation.

Thank God we don't get the government we pay for.
 
Democrats' downward spiral
Gary J. Andres
June 28, 2007
News last week from the Gallup organization confirmed what many in this town already suspected. Congressional approval ratings have hit all-time low numbers that should chill the political bones of those in the House and Senate aiming to maintain their majority status. Buyer's remorse is spreading among voters when it comes to Congress, and record numbers now believe they procured a legislative lemon in last November's election.



Yet while the recent news contains particularly troubling political implications for Democrats, it is even more disturbing for Americans in general. Despite bright hopes for a new beginning with the 110th Congress, Democrats found the practical struggles of running the legislative branch more daunting than expected. Like a recent graduate challenged by the work-a-day world, Democrats confront enormous difficulty translating campaign promises into legislative accomplishments.



The new majority finds itself in a political death spiral of sorts: Its lack of accomplishment drives down approval ratings, but low popularity makes it even harder to plug the leak in declining public support. Sagging legislative success drives support numbers down, but low approval makes future accomplishment even more challenging. So Democrats swirl in the vortex of legislative stalemate.



Poll numbers on the immigration issue underscore this point. While support is strong for individual provisions in the legislation — like improving the guest-worker program or enhancing border security — voters hold more negative attitudes toward the legislation overall. It's a case where the sum of the parts is less than the whole. Americans may see the value of modifying immigration policy; they just don't believe the U.S. government generally, and the Congress specifically, are up to the task of making these changes. And this is why the Gallup numbers cut both ways. Americans find it difficult to process how an institution with the lowest approval ratings in history could successfully tackle the nettlesome issue of immigration. That's why Americans may support addressing the immigration problem but sour on the idea when Congress steps up to fix it. But like double jeopardy, failure to act also burnishes the institution's "do-nothing" reputation.


for the complete article
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps...20070628/EDITORIAL08/106280011/1013/EDITORIAL
 

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