Congressional leaders plead with their absentee lawmakers: "You've got to come"

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: msn/Axios

11h


Congressional leaders are straining to get their absentee members to return to Capitol Hill as the House's vote margins on major legislation grow ever more precarious.

Why it matters: Just on Thursday, an Iran war powers resolution failed to pass in a tie vote. Any lawmaker could have tipped the outcome — and half a dozen were absent.

"People cannot miss votes," a senior House Democrat told Axios.

The truants on that vote included Reps. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.). Both have missed weeks of votes.

The mystery of Wilson's absence was solved on Thursday — she is recovering from a major eye surgery — but questions surround Kean's mysterious disappearance.

What we're hearing: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) urged Wilson in a recent phone call to return to Washington, D.C., as quickly as possible, according to the senior House Democrat and another source familiar with the matter.

"You've got to come. The numbers are too small," the Democratic leader said, referring to Republicans' narrow House majority.

Wilson, who is 83, explained about her eye surgery and said she plans to return to D.C. next Wednesday.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/congressional-leaders-plead-with-their-absentee-lawmakers-youve-got-to-come/ar-AA23drre

[RandySF]

1. 83?

Come on.

[angrychair]

2. That Kean guy

Has not been to work in two months and missed 68 votes. Wish I had a job I could just not show up at for two months. Think about the disservice to his constituents.

I mean if you're sick or injured, so be it but at least be honest with the people that elected you. Everyone has shit happening in their life but as an elected official keeping stuff secret builds distrust and conspiracy theories.