The Audacity of 5 Day Work Week
You really have to feel downright sorry for members of Congress.
The new House Democratic majority is going to make Congress work 5 days a week rather than 3 days a week they worked under the Republican leadership of Capitol Hill.
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, the Maryland Democrat who will become House majority leader and is writing the schedule for the next Congress, said members should expect longer hours than the brief week they have grown accustomed to.The horror! The horror!
"I have bad news for you," Hoyer told reporters. "Those trips you had planned in January, forget 'em. We will be working almost every day in January, starting with the 4th."
The reporters groaned. "I know, it's awful, isn't it?" Hoyer empathized.
"Keeping us up here eats away at families," said Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), who typically flies home on Thursdays and returns to Washington on Tuesdays. "Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families -- that's what this says."I fully expect the pro-family Republicans are going to mandate a 3 day work week for all Americans and put end to the Democrats anti-worker, anti-family positions.
The horror! The horror!
posted by Eloy @ Wednesday, December 06, 2006
6 comments
6 Comments:
Wow, could this blog spin this subject any more? If you have never worked at the Capitol, then you can't even imagine how difficult it is. Democrats are trying to redefine what being a Member of Congress is, constituent services, which CANT be done from their Capitol Hill office. Most Congressmen leave on Friday's to do this... they dont get breaks! Not to mention, 5 days = an average of 63 hours per staffer. Earlier this year, a 36 year old male left work feeling sick, and had a heart attack the next day.
Hello DTfromDC
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I could have made a bigger deal out of this issue. For the Republican Party to whine about working a 5 day work week just shows how really they are out of touch with working Americans. The Republican majority just kicked out of office has been one of the most anti-worker Congress in American history. They went as far as trying to gut over-time laws for the benefit of their Big Business donors. Now, when it effect them they want to complain about working conditions.
Where were their concern for working Americans the past years?
Staffers at the Hill arrive usually between 7AM and 8:30AM and dont leave until 6:30 at the earliest and they get paid very little unless they are a COS... I also know there are several staffers that dont get lunch breaks. Im not going to be back up there until Tuesday, but I'm willing to bet a majority of the Democratic staff is disgusted at this "feel good" motion by the coming majority leader.
Btw... Congressmen work 7 days a week, passing laws is not the main job of a Congressman. Constituent Services is, which is done from the district.
One last comment...sorry.
Congress is in session four days a week, and on special occasions five(this coming friday is one of those very few exceptions- turn to C-span on friday if you dont belive me)... While a couple Congressman work three days at the Hill, everyone else works four at the Hill.
Hello DTfromDC
Thanks for the comments. I understand very well about working long hours for low wages. Countless number of Americans do work those kind of hours every single day without any benefits such as healthcare. I was just trying to put out the hypocrisy of the likes Jack Kingston and this fellow Republicans. Again.
Now, when it effect them they want to complain about working conditions.
Where were their concern for working Americans the past years?
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