Florida Senate leader: Campaigns, fund-raising not acceptable excuses for absences
by Michael C. Bender | January 28th, 2010Senate Rules Committee Chairman Alex Villalobbos sent a memo to his chamber today warning that repeated absences will not be tolerated in the chamber. The note comes five days after The Palm Beach Post noted the rise in absences in the chamber:
From the memo:
The President intends to strictly enforce the provisions of Senate Rule 2.27. You will be removed automatically from any committee following two consecutive unexcused absences. I remind you that written requests for excused absences must be submitted to and approved by the committee chair before the meeting begins. In addition, it is not acceptable to appear at a committee meeting for roll call and then disappear. Under Senate Rule 2.17 no business of any kind can be conducted by a committee in the absence of a quorum. Leaving a meeting after roll call is unfair to your constituents and to your fellow Senators on the committee.
The President has also asked me to inform those of you who are Chairs that he does not consider campaign or fund raising conflicts to be acceptable as an excuse for an absence. Please do not authorize excused absences for those reasons.
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Someone needs to notify the Wellington Council because another councilperson is absent from workshops, is being paid and is NOT representing the people.
And she expects to lead the way at the state level! If liz can’t manage local commitments, then state commitments will fall to the wayside.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Deutch are you going to show up or just send more campaign pieces? We loose with both sides…Democrats just are better at pretending.
January 28th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Ted Deutch then has been AWOL. Absent without leave from his official duties as a State Senator.He has a commercial that says Ted was There? Yeah at a fundraiser not doing his job for the people.
January 28th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
To Sammy and Pete, you obviously don’t understand the magnitude of this. This goes way beyond Ted Deutch. Dan Gelber, Dave Aronberg, Fredrika Wilson, Yolly Roberson, and any number of Republicans are running for another office and have all been repeatedly absent. There are people all over the state not being represented. Not to mention that our Governor, Attorney General, CFO, and a Congressman are also doing the same thing. This state is much bgger then Palm Beach County, wake up and pay attention.
January 28th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I’m with you John –
I’d like to see a campaign reform bill that says that you cannot run for one office while serving in another. If you desire a higher office than the one you are currently occupying, you need to first resign, and then throw your hat in the ring. Why is it so difficult to wait until your term is done before you run for something else? If you are seeking public office for the right reasons, then you serve those that asked you to serve, for the length of time that you agreed to be their servant. Anything less proves to everyone that you aren’t there to serve, you’re there for your own greater glory, and is a violation of the public trust.
Get involved. Make History. Re-elect Nobody.
http://www.southflorida912.org
January 28th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
that’s how it used to be here, until certain greedy politicians changed it for their own motives…