$13,959 for zero hours of work
Byline: bob | Category: Uncategorized | Posted at: Wednesday, 24 May 2006
Yesterday the Tennessee State House came to work as they usually do on a Tuesday morning when the Legislature is still in session. However, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh wasn’t ready for them to vote on a bill he supports. (Rumor has it that he couldn’t count on enough votes to pass it.) So Naifeh cancelled the session for the day.
Well, at least when they’re not in session, they’re not spending our money. Or are they?
According to Rep. Campfield, the 99 members of the House will still get their $141 per diem for yesterday’s missed session.
Time worked:Â 0 hours
Taxpayer dollars spent:Â $13,959
Having a do-nothing State Legislature:Â Worthless.
May 24th, 2006 at 8:28 am
I am digging the new look. Always a fan of the white space.
May 24th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
ARGH. I was finishing my post and somehow clicked on Glen Dean’s site when I went to hit “Post.” It’s a right wing conspiracy!
Anyhow,many legislators were working yesterday. Just because they aren’t in session doesn’t mean they aren’t working in various committees and/or meeting with the public. I was there, yesterday. Many were working.
People.They work for us. What I don’t understand is why the vast majority of citizens don’t take a few minutes on their lunch hour or schedule an appointment to meet with their employees about the job they are doing and what you think they should be doing. This is how you will know whether you need to fire them or not come election time.
People. Take your power back. When you whine about the way things are and don’t do a thing to change it, I don’t want to hear it. Armchair warriors are like Monday morning quarterbacks: irrelevant.
May 24th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Bob,
Very sad. It has always been noticeable that you don’t even link to Rep. Campfield’s website… Now that you are ACTUALLY getting your news from him is extremely sad. You obviously have no idea about the legislative process to make accusations like the one above.
May 24th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Bob,
Would it have mattered had they been in session?
How many more bills like the beer carding law do we need?
Maybe there’s some relative with a PR firm that needs some taxpayer money thrown their way to promote the new state flower, orange construction barrels.
May 25th, 2006 at 5:39 am
Sharon,
I know that Legislators do more than just meet in full session. However, Tuesday session was cancelled at the last minute, and some people hadn’t planned to come to Nashville except for the floor vote.
Tom,
I make it a point to try not to automatically dismiss what someone says just because of who is saying it. Especially when the “accusation” was reported as “breaking news” on the Tennessean’s website on Tuesday.
June 2nd, 2006 at 12:16 pm
[...] Ever since I’ve started this website, I’ve railed against the same kind of “sneaky procedural maneuvers” which he also decries. Though we approach several issues from opposite sides, both of us want those issues to be debated fairly and openly, and for a vote to be taken. Mr. Allen and I will each win on a few issues while losing on others, but we both recognize that first there must be a free debate and vote. [...]