House gets lecture from Hoyer on tardy votes

[babylonsister]

House gets lecture from Hoyer on tardy votes
By Mike Soraghan and Susan Crabtree
November 15, 2007

If Congress is really just a junior high school for grownups, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) played the role of principal Wednesday, scolding members for tardiness.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) played the part of the outspoken student body president, saying people could get to class faster if there were more hall monitors.

It started after a roll call vote Tuesday morning that was supposed to take 15 minutes instead took 25. When the allotted 15 minutes ran out, only 140 members had voted. That meant 280 members were voting in that procedural netherworld where time has actually expired.

A principal would go on the P.A. system or call an assembly. Hoyer went to the well, and shushed his colleagues.
“I would like everyone to be quiet,” he said, “because you’re going to be mad at me.”

Voting late, he explained, is getting too common and “is inconsiderate to every member who comes in a timely fashion.” More importantly, perhaps, “I don’t want to lose votes” because Democrats don’t show up, he added.

Hoyer explained he was as guilty as anyone of tarrying, but he asked that members set a deadline for when they start crossing Independence Avenue.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-gets-lecture-from-hoyer-on-tardy-votes-2007-11-15.html

[rateyes]

1. Hey, Steny, quit dragging your feet on impeachment...

and, I'll start caring about "tardy" Representatives.