Mark Nikolas has a smart idea:
Yesterday, the auto company bailout bill passed the House by a margin of 237 to 170. One member voted "present" and 26 members didn't bother to vote. After checking the roll call vote, I noticed that more than half of 26 non-voting members were those who either lost their re-election bid, opted not to run, or left their job for a new one, in the case of Rahm Emanuel.It's one thing when members miss votes due to time spent campaigning for re-election, or for another office. We don't like it, but most of us understand that it's hard to be on the campaign trail and in Washington at the same time, and those missed votes are, at least, somewhat germane to their job. I hate to give them a pass on this behavior, but at least there is an understandable excuse.What is an outrage is when members simply stop showing-up for work after losing an election or announcing their retirement, yet happily continue to accept their $169,300 annual salary, nonetheless. That is simply an insult to the taxpayers.
No work, no pay. We tend to get rid of Congressmen by defeating them for reelection. But it would be nice if we could fire them, or at least not compensate them for work they arent doing.
