Absentee Ann Kirkpatrick was officially missing in action from her taxpayer-funded job this week, not only failing to cast a vote on a bill sponsored by Rep. Martha McSally on behalf of a deceased Green Valley man, but failing to show up for two full days of votes in Congress.
And Kirkpatrick still hasn’t given Arizona taxpayers an explanation for why she went missing on their dime.
This isn’t the first time Kirkpatrick has gone missing when she should have been doing her job in Congress. In 2013, she missed two days of votes and was absent for debate over critical wildfire suppression funding – funding that never made it into a larger disaster relief bill. After that episode, it took Kirkpatrick days to provide the Arizona Republic with a tepid response that failed to explain where she was when she wasn’t doing her job:
“It’s not a flattering statistic to start out her return to Congress. In just the third and fourth days that Congress was in session this year — Jan.14 and 15 — U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., missed 16 votes.”
“Kirkpatrick, who returned to Washington, D.C., this year after serving from 2009 to 2011, said she had to be in Arizona for a “personal obligation” and was in close contact with Democratic House leadership in advance of her absence about whether her vote was needed. In the end, the bill that took up most of the votes, on Hurricane Sandy relief, passed the House overwhelmingly.
“Some rural constituents in the 1st Congressional District, which sprawls across northeastern Arizona, apparently are disappointed Kirkpatrick wasn’t in Washington to lobby to include wildfire-suppression funding in the relief bill.”
For going missing in action for two full days on a taxpayer-funded salary, and for skipping town when it was time to vote on a tax relief bill that would have eased the burden of Obamacare on seniors and the middle class, Ann Kirkpatrick owes Arizona an explanation. Where was she? What was she doing? And what is she hiding?
BACKGROUND: KIRKPATRICK MISSED TWO FULL DAYS OF VOTES IN CONGRESS THIS WEEK
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On 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed A Vote On Passage Of H. Res. 729, A Memorandum Of Understanding On Military Assistance To Israel Between The United States Government And The Government Of Israel. “Royce, R-Calif., motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution that would reaffirm that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States, would reaffirm support for Israel’s maintenance of its qualitative military edge, and would urge the finalization of a new memorandum of understanding between the United States and Israel.” (H. Res. 729, CQ Vote #504: Motion agreed to 405-4, 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed Vote)
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On 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed A Vote On Passage Of H.R. 5587, The Strengthening Career And Technical Education For The 21st Century Act. “Thompson, R-Pa., motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill that would reauthorize various career and technical education programs at both secondary and postsecondary levels of education through fiscal 2022. The measure would authorize $1.1 billion for such programs in 2017, would gradually increase the authorization annually, and would peak at $1.2 billion annually in fiscal 2022. The measure would allow states to set their own standards for career and technical education programs, instead of requiring the states to negotiate standards with the Education Department.” (H.R. 5587, CQ Vote #503: Motion agreed to 405-5, 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed Vote)
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On 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed A Vote On Passage For H.R. 3590, The Halt Tax Increases On The Middle Class And Seniors Act. “Passage of the bill that would lower the threshold at which individuals may deduct unreimbursed medical expenses from their income as set by the 2010 health care law (PL 111-148, PL 111-152). Specifically, the measure would set the threshold at 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income for all taxpayers, and would prevent the threshold from increasing to 10 percent for seniors.” (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #502: Passed 261-147, 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed Vote)
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On 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed A Vote On The Rule For H.R. 3590, The Halt Tax Increases On The Middle Class and Seniors Act. “Adoption of the rule that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill (HR 3590) that would lower the threshold at which individuals may deduct unreimbursed medical expenses from their income as set by the 2010 health care law (PL 111-148, PL 111-152).” (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #501: Adopted 239-169, 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed Vote)
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On 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed A Vote On The Previous Question For H.R. 3590, The Halt Tax Increases On The Middle Class And Seniors Act. “Burgess, R-Texas, motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and the possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 858) that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill (HR 3590) that would lower the threshold at which individuals may deduct unreimbursed medical expenses from their income as set by the 2010 health care law (PL 111-148, PL 111-152).” (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #500: Motion agreed to 237-171, 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed Vote)
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On 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed A Vote On The Rule For H.R. 5620, The VA Accountability First And Appeals Modernization Act. “Adoption of the rule (H Res 859) that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill that would expand the Veterans’ Affairs Department’s (VA’s) ability to fire employees for misconduct, would provide three new options for appealing VA benefits decisions, and would modify the disciplinary process for Senior Executive Service employees at the VA.” (H.R. 5620, CQ Vote #499: Adopted 241-169, 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed Vote)
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On 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed A Vote On The previous Question For H.R. 5620, The VA Accountability First And Appeals Modernization Act. “Collins, R-Georgia, motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and the possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 859) that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill (HR 5620) that would expand the Veterans’ Affairs Department’s (VA’s) ability to fire employees for misconduct and would provide three new options for the appeal of VA benefits decisions.” (H.R. 5620, CQ Vote #498: Motion agreed to 237-170, 9/13/16, Kirkpatrick Missed Vote)
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On 9/12/16, Kirkpatrick Missed A Vote On The Rule For H. Res. 835, A Resolution Expressing The Sense Of The House Of Representatives That The United States Should Adopt A National Policy For Technology To Promote Consumers’ Access To Financial Tools And Online Commerce To Promote Economic Growth And Consumer Empowerment. “Burgess, R-Texas, motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution that would express that the United States should develop a national policy to encourage the development of tools related to the empowerment of consumers through customized, connected devices, and would express that the United States should prioritize the acceleration of the development of alternative technologies that would support transparency and security.” (H. Res. 835, CQ Vote #497: Motion agreed to 385-4, 9/12/16, Kirkpatrick Missed Vote)
- On 9/12/16, Kirkpatrick Missed A Vote Adoption Of H. Res. 847, A Resolution Expressing The Sense Of The House Of Representatives About A National Strategy For The Internet Of Things To Promote Economic Growth And Consumer Empowerment. “Burgess, R-Texas, motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution that would express that the United States should develop a national strategy to encourage the development connections between the physical world and the internet through sensors and actuators, known as the "Internet of Things," and would express that the United States government should determine whether the Internet of Things can improve government efficiency and effectiveness.” (H. Res. 847, CQ Vote #496: Motion agreed to 367-4, 9/12/16, Kirkpatrick Missed Vote)