Crist, Running for Governor, Skips D.C. Work Weeks

His absence adds to complaints about members abusing the House’s pandemic-era remote options.

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Good afternoon. Congress is back after two weeks of recess, and things are going to be busy. 

(That is, for the members who will actually be here.)

Florida Man Takes Remote Work to New Level

Over the course of four months and 125 recorded votes on the House floor this year, Rep. Charlie Crist hasn’t missed a single one, an impressive feat for a lawmaker running for governor. 

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  1. Avatar photo
    Wilhelm

    Where is Gov. Clinton Tyree when Florida really needs him?

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  2. TNDOCNAV

    (Check out the chart at the end of his story to see the 30 members who have used proxy voting the most.)

    I would like to see this chart but can't find the link.

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    Alain

    I wonder, if Crist is in the top 6 of offenders, why pick on him?

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    Derekdouglas

    The first part of this article should basically become fodder for the Desantis campaign.

    No one likes out of touch politicians, and Crist has shown he is much more interested in running for higher office than doing his day job.

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  5. Steve

    So what?

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    Dave Conant - MO

    It's hard to take Mr. Crist seriously about anything which makes him a perfect opponent for Mr. DeSantis unless one is a FL resident interested in competent, engaged governance in which case one is, on the face of it, SOL. The idea of occasional proxie voting under strictly supervised conditions makes a great deal of sense in the electronic age as does the use of Zoom for meetings which allows all attendees to be on screen. That Congresspeople should take childish advantage of such a privilege suggests that it should be taken away until they mature. If they need time to campaign for another office, perhaps they should resign the one they hold and let their replacement get on with the job.
    Did I mention that the reporting was excellent, as always? If not, now I have. Thanks Haley.

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      Chris Brown

      I really couldn't have said this any better. And, once again, I will find myself with no real candidate to vote for if Charlie pulls it off in the Democratic primary, similar to my same predicament in 2018. In addition to the childishness of taking advantage of this, I would add utter disdain for the voters, the feeling they can do whatever they want without any real consequences. The list of Charlie's endorsements, heavy on current and state local officials, tells you all one needs to know about that.

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  7. Gary Moore

    Unfortunately, I will be too tired. I have to shave Randi Weingartens' feet for the event.

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    Ben Connelly

    “ (That is, for the members who will actually be here.)”

    Ha!

    “ “Due to the way the virtual hearings are structured, only members who are speaking appear on the screen.””

    Why would she say that? Sounds like an admission of guilt.

    I could hear Yuval’s voice when I read that quotation of his!

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    JohnM.

    Good reporting again. Thanks, Haley. Once again, I agree with Yuval Levin and his concerns about this practice (do I ever disagree with Mr. Levin?). Hard not to notice that there's only one Republican listed on that chart.

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    Richard Maxton

    4 out of the top 32 and 1 out of the top 15 members using(abusing?) the remote work rule for Congress are Republicans. One wonders why it is so heavily skewed towards Democrats.

    I didn't do a deep dive, so there may very well be legitimate reasons for some of these absences, but my first instinct is to doubt it. Absent an emergency, I'd prefer our Representatives get back to the face-to-face work that is required to make Congress functional (a man can dream).

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