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In the TV Drama "NYPD Blue", the detectives would announce they were going on "Lost Time" as they walked out of the squad room to take care of personal business. That seems to be what happens with candidates for office who are already receiving a taxpayer check. Both of the Democratic candidates for Governor (so far) hold government jobs. Artur Davis as a U.S. Representative, and Ron Sparks as Agriculture Commissioner. Let's face it, they are both trying to do two full-time jobs, and surely they are not putting in 80 hours a week. There is going to be a lot of "Lost Time". Davis, for example, has missed a bunch of votes in The House. Sparks doesn't have to vote, but its hard to imagine him being able to work a minimum of 40 hours a week for his state paycheck while conducting a campaign for Governor too. How much vacation time can these guys possible have?
At least GOP candidate Bradley Byrne left his position as Chancellor of Post Secondary Education when he announced his bid for Governor, though Bob Riley kept his Congressional pay during his run in 2002.
The detectives on the TV show worked very long hours and were often called out in the middle of the night. That kinda justified some lost time here and there, no? Can the same be said of Sparks and Davis?
Riley paid back his congressional salary for the days he missed votes, as he promised to do during the 2002 campaign.
ReplyDeleteGood for him! But should we only count as workdays those days on which there is a vote? And does the act of pressing the button for the actual vote justify a full day's salary?
ReplyDeleteThe logicial conclusion to your way of thinking is for anyone who's running for office to resign whatever elected office they may currently hold.
ReplyDeleteIf you're a congressman running for re-election, do you have to resign to run for re-election? Because, as you seem to be saying, you're not working if you're campaigning. I don't think that's practical.
I understand your point, but taxpayers shouldn't be paying a salary to someone to run a political campaign. Let the campaign pay the candidate a salary...maybe some kind of split to compensate taxpayers for the half-time or 1/4 time work they're getting.
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