Just curious...why does it take politicians so long to get on the floor to vote?

[HardWorkingDem]

I mean, if they know the vote is going to be at this time or that time, why does it take so long to get to the floor to make their vote?

[DJ13]

1. They're old, it takes longer to pee

[rwheeler31]

2. They are on the phone.

[Jamastiene]

3. They are all standing around in groups congratulating each other beforehand. n/t

[Ex Lurker]

4. getting blowjobs from the hookers provided by their pals, the lobbyists n/t

[karynnj]

5. Not today, but normally, they are in hearings or other meetings

The votes do not occur perfectly on schedule and they are open for a period of time. It is common in a hearing to have some Senators leave to vote as others procede with the hearing - then they leave when the others return. This allows the questioning to continue and staff fill in the Senators returning on questions asked (I think)

Watching the hearings, you get a very different view of the Senators. Many have multiple hearings at the same time. If they care to ask questions, they will be at one then the other.

[WT Fuheck]

6. they keep forgetting the flomax.

and it takes awhile to call the bankers, credit card companies, insurance companies and all the 250 lobbyists they've taken bribes from to find out how to vote.

[clear eye]

7. They don't know exactly when the vote is, only approximately.

so one of their staffers has to go get them, often out of a committee meeting. In this case the sessions have been so long that some of them may have been trying to catch a nap in their offices.