Posted on 06/17/2004 6:21:22 AM PDT by jmstein7
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) met with Secretary of the Senate Emily Reynolds Wednesday to discuss ethics complaints stemming from his prolonged absence from the legislative body while he campaigns for president. Kerry and Reynolds were spotted by Congressional staffers slipping into one of the many antechambers of the Capitol where the pair likely reviewed options for dealing with the complaints filed against both of them.
A complaint filed by Hofstra law student Jonathan Stein accuses Reynolds of willfully violating a federal statute that requires her to make deductions from Kerry's Senate paycheck for his absences. Kerry is also named in the complaint for knowingly accepting salary to which he is not entitled.
The issue was first raised in a March 2004 letter to Reynolds from American Conservative Union Chairman David Keene who requested that she enforce the statute concerning Kerry's salary. Reynolds responded to Keene's letter, refusing to enforce the statute because her predecessors had not done so in other cases.
Stein points out in his complaint that the failures of others who previously held Reynolds' position could not establish precedent since the statute clearly says that the Secretary of the Senate "shall" make the appropriate deductions. Stein contends that the language used in the rule is unequivocal and mandatory, allowing no instance for exception or discretion.
Stein also believes that Sen. Kerry, who holds a license to practice law, should be "held to a higher standard of legal conduct than the ordinary citizen, as it is [his] job and role to know, interpret, and promulgate the law."
Stein suggests that the Ethics Committee direct Kerry to return funds he was overpaid and decline to accept future illegal payments from the federal treasury.
Stein told Talon News that Robert Walker, Chief Counsel for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, confirmed receipt of his letter of complaint. He also said that Walker did not indicate if or when the committee might take up the matter.
The Hofstra law student told Talon News that he decided to file the complaint in the interest of "preserving the rule of law."
Having recently completed coursework on constitutional law, he says that he is exercising his First Amendment right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Stein says that the law in this matter is "absolutely clear" and lawmakers cannot consider themselves above it.
Kerry has voted only 14 times out of the Senate's 112 votes this year, a record Stein says is "egregious."
Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, who recently called on Kerry to resign his seat, citing his dismal attendance record, shares that opinion.
She said, "If any of us attended our job only 13 percent of the time, we'd be fired."
Healey went on to say, "It's not fair, it's not right, and the public is not being well served."
"I'm calling on John Kerry to resign so that we can fill that office with someone who is 100 percent devoted to the job of representing the people of Massachusetts," Healey added.
And some reporter should ask him if he plans to be absent from work as much if he becomes President.
"Lord help us!" for sure! Isn't there something in some official documents requiring a first lady to be American? (Probably not; just wishful thinking.)
Then consider that maybe it's not about the money.
For instance, Senator Kerry's home state of Massachusetts has a Republican governor. Senator Kerry is a Democrat. If Senator Kerry resigns his senate seat, then a Republican takes his place.
...And if the good Senator's pay gets docked for failing to show up to vote in the Senate, there will be a hue and cry for him to resign.
So to prevent that hue and cry, he has to fight the docking of his paycheck.
You are an awesome young man. Kudos to you! ;-D
I wonder how this compares with other senators and representatives that have run for another office while holding their current office.
Yes, how much time will he take off from being president while he is seeking votes to be named the new Secretary General of the UN?-----a position which he obviously feels is more important than president of the USA.
Casper Kerry?
EXCELLENT. You rock!
And you are too kind to mock those who freeped you and said it was a waste of time.
Proud of you for taking actions instead of just whining (like I do).
familyofman was one of the nay-sayers I was talking about.
Don't let people like him discourage you. You do more in one day that they have their entire time on this Web site.
All they do is quite, complain, criticize, voice an opinion, etc.
Ignore them. I hope you win and then tell familyofman to stuff it.
If Kerry was voting regularly in the Senate these days, he'd have to take a stand on a multitude of issues. His "most liberal Senator" reputation would be highlighted. All his leftist votes and flip-flops would be in the news every day. He can't afford this at all. So, he IS wise in staying away from DC.
However....he can run, but he can't hide from mighty freeper jmstein7.
Charge!
Leni
LBJ did. Texas passed a law to allow him to run as a candidate for both the Senate and the Presidency in 1960...
jmstein7 is on WABC right now!
I just heard you on Mark Levin! Great work!
Great..give a report!
Did I sound bad? I was really nervous :)
You obviously are the world's leading authority on this subject and Mark Levin gave you a lot of air time!
jmstein7 hit a home run!
we have to live by laws, and getting paid for no work isn't right
He posted a "tell me how I did" thread..I'll ping you to it.
And pleasantly correct.
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