Why does Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth hold herself to a different standard?
As NBC Chicago reports, Duckworth – one of the least-effective members of Congress, has missed 19 out of 26 votes in this month alone:
Duckworth has missed 19 out of 26 votes in September following a seven week recess. That includes seven votes Tuesday…Last week, the Duckworth campaign claimed the congresswoman missed votes because she was busy on the campaign trail.
One of the seven votes Duckworth skipped yesterday would prevent tax hikes on out-of-pocket medical expenses for middle class Illinoisans and seniors over 65.
Yet, that just wasn’t important enough for Duckworth to show up to work.
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Tammy Duckworth Missed The Vote On Final Passage For H.R. 3590, The Halt Tax Increases On The Middle Class And Seniors Act. “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the increase in the income threshold used in determining the deduction for medical care” (H.R. 3590, Roll Call Vote #502: Passed 261-147: R 236-2; D 25-145, 9/13/16, Duckworth Missed Vote)
- H.R. 3590 Repeals An Obamacare Tax Increase Imposed On Americans Who Deduct Out-Of-Pocket Medical Expenses From Their Taxes. “Currently, the IRS allows Americans with high health care costs to deduct certain out-of-pocket expenses from their taxes. Before 2013, individuals could deduct out-of-pocket medical costs that exceeded 7.5 percent of one’s Adjusted Gross Income. The Affordable Care Act changed this for Americans under the age of 65 by increasing the threshold to 10% of a person’s AGI – effectively raising taxes on middle class Americans. The increase is scheduled to go into effect on seniors 65 and over starting on January 1, 2017. The Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act reverses this increase on both seniors and Americans under 65.” (Rep. Martha McSally, “House Committee Passes U.S. Rep. McSally Bill Halting Tax Hike,” Press Release, 6/15/16)
Last week, when [asked](http://e.nrsc.org/t/j-l-khdjtik-l-h/ by WBBM-TV if she is shortchanging her own constituents by campaigning instead of working, Duckworth attempted to excuse her behavior with an absolutely painful response:
"When there are votes in Congress to actually get something done, I will be more than happy to go and vote.
[youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=150HX5LSWTI"]
How nice of Duckworth; she’s "more than happy" to sometimes do her job…except for when she has the chance to stop a tax increase on middle class families and seniors.
The United States Congress isn’t just another office in the Rod Blagojevich administration where public officials can skip out on their responsibilities without consequence.
Tammy Duckworth should stop ripping off her constituents by wasting their tax dollars on an empty, ineffective congressional office.