[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H9597-H9598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ADVOCATING THE WITHHOLDING OF A MEMBER'S SALARY FOR DAYS MISSED

  (Mr. METCALF asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, today a Member of Congress will appear in 
court for sentencing due to his August conviction on charges of 
criminal sexual assault, child pornography, aggravated criminal sexual 
abuse, and obstruction of justice.
  Mr. Speaker, he has not cast a single vote since June. Through the 
end of last week, he has missed 31 consecutive days of congressional 
session, including every day this month.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully submit that no Member should be paid for 
a 

[[Page H 9598]]
month in which he completely failed to report for work and was 
sentenced to jail. Under the law, the Speaker has the authority to 
deduct from Members' salaries for each day they are absent from the 
House, unless the Member was absent for his sickness or family 
sickness.
  Mr. Speaker, today I am submitting a letter to Speaker Gingrich, 
signed by quite a few Members of the House, requesting him to stop this 
Member's collection of over $11,000 of taxpayers' money for September's 
salary. The National Taxpayers Union has led the investigation into the 
Speaker's authority into this matter and strongly supports this urgent 
request.

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