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Get Your Members of Congress on the Punch Clock
Target: U.S. Senate; House of RepresentativesSponsored by: Sunlight Network
This year, Congress is on track to spend the least amount of time in session of any Congress since 1948. So far, the House of Representatives has scheduled a mere 88 days in session.
What are Members of Congress doing, if not their jobs? Here's a not-so-outlandish guess: When not doing the people's business, Congressmen and Senators are spending many of their hours meeting with lobbyists and raising money.
Unfortunately, we don't know, because lawmakers aren't required to clock in or post timesheets. And yet they work for us, to the tune of $162,500 a year, plus generous pensions and health plans. Most of the rest of us punch a clock, and we think they should, too.
Enter the Punch Clock Campaign of the Sunlight Network.
We are asking Congress and FEC-qualified candidates to commit to putting their daily schedule on the internet, within 24 hours after the end of each day. That way we'll be able to check in with them, and they'll strengthen their relationship with us.
Ready to get your elected representatives on the clock? Take the first step and sign the petition!
What are Members of Congress doing, if not their jobs? Here's a not-so-outlandish guess: When not doing the people's business, Congressmen and Senators are spending many of their hours meeting with lobbyists and raising money.
Unfortunately, we don't know, because lawmakers aren't required to clock in or post timesheets. And yet they work for us, to the tune of $162,500 a year, plus generous pensions and health plans. Most of the rest of us punch a clock, and we think they should, too.
Enter the Punch Clock Campaign of the Sunlight Network.
We are asking Congress and FEC-qualified candidates to commit to putting their daily schedule on the internet, within 24 hours after the end of each day. That way we'll be able to check in with them, and they'll strengthen their relationship with us.
Ready to get your elected representatives on the clock? Take the first step and sign the petition!
Sign Petition! see who signed this
We signed the “Get Your Members of Congress on the Punch Clock” petition!
# 150:
6:31 am PDT, Oct 3,
Denise Savage, Oregon
I realize that many members work in the Home District, but many also travel and visit exotic places. We have a right to view schedules. Recent scandals and there have been many dictate the public become more involved. Congress, as a collective body, does not and will not police itself. I've listened to countless campaign ads during the last few election cycles wherein the candidate has requested my vote in order to make needed change. Many of the candidates had already served in Congress for the better part of two decades! Schedules should be easy to provide for each member. Sure we can visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ for the latest on Bills, voting, etc., but that isn't enough. What is being done when Congress is not in session? We must have that information.
I realize that many members work in the Home District, but many also travel and visit exotic places. We have a right to view schedules. Recent scandals and there have been many dictate the public become more involved. Congress, as a collective body, does not and will not police itself. I've listened to countless campaign ads during the last few election cycles wherein the candidate has requested my vote in order to make needed change. Many of the candidates had already served in Congress for the better part of two decades! Schedules should be easy to provide for each member. Sure we can visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ for the latest on Bills, voting, etc., but that isn't enough. What is being done when Congress is not in session? We must have that information.
# 149:
6:22 am PDT, Oct 3,
Mustang Beam, Montana
Yeah we'd like to see how much they work for the money we pay them. If we have to punch in our time to the minute, so should they.
Yeah we'd like to see how much they work for the money we pay them. If we have to punch in our time to the minute, so should they.
# 148:
1:40 am PDT, Oct 3,
Timothy Bruck, Ohio
# 147:
1:26 am PDT, Oct 3,
Jennifer Cribbs, Ohio
# 146:
1:02 am PDT, Oct 3,
Teresa Cowley, Texas
I want to see your schedules online for a number of reasons;you make too much money (and benefits) for far too little work;the work you do is usually of benefit to the bush administration, not to the taxpayers who are paying you;it is my belief that you owe it to the taxpayers to justify your exhorbitant salary by actually proving that you work for them.
I want to see your schedules online for a number of reasons;you make too much money (and benefits) for far too little work;the work you do is usually of benefit to the bush administration, not to the taxpayers who are paying you;it is my belief that you owe it to the taxpayers to justify your exhorbitant salary by actually proving that you work for them.
# 145:
12:11 am PDT, Oct 3,
Karen Gonzales, Nevada
They are getting paid to be there voting as our representatives, so yes, I feel like they shouldhave to be there! I go one step further, and say if they miss 5 sessions they should automatically have to be put under a review and let the taxpayers vote to retain them, and if they miss ten sessions they should automatically be expelled! The only excuse should be hospitalization, death in the family, or a severe documented illness! Make them work under the same conditions the average American has too. John Kerry had the worst attendance record, but he wanted to be our President. Where would we be?
They are getting paid to be there voting as our representatives, so yes, I feel like they shouldhave to be there! I go one step further, and say if they miss 5 sessions they should automatically have to be put under a review and let the taxpayers vote to retain them, and if they miss ten sessions they should automatically be expelled! The only excuse should be hospitalization, death in the family, or a severe documented illness! Make them work under the same conditions the average American has too. John Kerry had the worst attendance record, but he wanted to be our President. Where would we be?
# 144:
12:07 am PDT, Oct 3,
Phil Garner, California
# 143:
8:44 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Beth Zippert, Maryland
# 142:
7:58 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Lorie Gols, Massachusetts
# 141:
5:34 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Gary B, California
# 140:
2:54 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Kimberly Rogers, North Carolina
# 139:
2:06 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Brenda Brown, South Carolina
# 138:
1:05 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Name not displayed, California
# 137:
1:04 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Maggie Knapp, New York
Why does it seem that America's leaders consider themselves entitled to so much more than American citizens?
Why does it seem that America's leaders consider themselves entitled to so much more than American citizens?
# 136:
12:35 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Martin Gross, California
# 135:
12:13 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Name not displayed, Mississippi
# 134:
12:02 pm PDT, Oct 2,
Susan Degnan, New York
# 133:
10:25 am PDT, Oct 2,
Shandy Elizabeth, California
# 132:
9:24 am PDT, Oct 2,
Matt Johansen, Minnesota
Responsibility without accountability does not work. Reminds me of taxation without representation. Lets get some transparency here.
Responsibility without accountability does not work. Reminds me of taxation without representation. Lets get some transparency here.
# 131:
9:22 am PDT, Oct 2,
Carlos Amorim, Canada
# 130:
8:05 am PDT, Oct 2,
Linda Berroth-Linderman, Arizona
# 129:
11:43 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Andrea Holle, Connecticut
# 128:
11:03 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Name not displayed, Minnesota
# 127:
10:43 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Chuck Thomas, Alaska
# 126:
10:08 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Deborah Roy, Canada
As the tax payers paying the members of congress have to punch their time card, don't see why those that work FOR the tax payers shouldn't.
As the tax payers paying the members of congress have to punch their time card, don't see why those that work FOR the tax payers shouldn't.
# 125:
6:48 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Vicki Cleveland, Michigan
# 124:
6:28 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Ross Janes, Texas
# 123:
5:41 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Barbara Mck, Missouri
# 122:
3:12 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Carolyn De mirjian, California
# 121:
3:00 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Nikki Vaughan, Utah
# 120:
2:50 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Deborah Davis, Georgia
# 119:
12:00 pm PDT, Oct 1,
Lynne Stanford, Texas
# 118:
11:43 am PDT, Oct 1,
Benjamin Bowman, Ohio
This is a good way to fight political corruption.
This is a good way to fight political corruption.
# 117:
11:33 am PDT, Oct 1,
Stephanie Pope, Nevada
# 116:
10:25 am PDT, Oct 1,
Patricia Gray, Ohio
# 115:
10:19 am PDT, Oct 1,
Ellen Baker, Ohio
# 114:
9:58 am PDT, Oct 1,
Name not displayed, New York
# 113:
6:14 am PDT, Oct 1,
Pam Davis, Georgia
# 112:
5:03 am PDT, Oct 1,
Douglas Lamberty, Nebraska
# 111:
4:28 am PDT, Oct 1,
Kimberly Wright, Indiana
# 110:
3:47 am PDT, Oct 1,
Amy Clifton, Colorado
# 109:
1:51 am PDT, Oct 1,
Mary Sackie, North Carolina
How can you representing us ,if you're not one of us?
How can you representing us ,if you're not one of us?
# 108:
11:49 pm PDT, Sep 30,
Sandy Mielo, Pennsylvania
# 107:
10:35 pm PDT, Sep 30,
Name not displayed, New York
# 106:
9:13 pm PDT, Sep 30,
Jason Bowman, California
# 105:
8:12 pm PDT, Sep 30,
Linda Kaehler, Wisconsin
# 104:
7:30 pm PDT, Sep 30,
Sandy Kusch, Illinois
Within reason, I would like to see an accountability of the hours not spent in session. I feel that our representatives would be in better touch with the average American if they were held to the same constraints. It would be even better if our representatives would have to get Social Security after retirement instead of the package deal they get with the government - then we would be guaranteed OUR SOCIAL SECURITY.
Within reason, I would like to see an accountability of the hours not spent in session. I feel that our representatives would be in better touch with the average American if they were held to the same constraints. It would be even better if our representatives would have to get Social Security after retirement instead of the package deal they get with the government - then we would be guaranteed OUR SOCIAL SECURITY.
# 103:
6:59 pm PDT, Sep 30,
Betty Tindle, Wyoming
# 102:
6:34 pm PDT, Sep 30,
Karen Stillwell, Tennessee
# 101:
5:36 pm PDT, Sep 30,
Maryellen Moore, Massachusetts