This is absolute BS. How the heck do these people get away with not doing their jobs? There is no family 'obligation' that outweighs the responsibility to do what you were elected to do. Family 'obligations' can be changed, postponed, or rearranged. Don't they go on vacation in the very near future here anyway?
it was a family obligation that he just could not break
The “obligation” was to not vote on this POS legislation so eh would not be unemployed in two years.
Remember: In this republic, voting is the opiate of the electorate, they feel good for awhile then the depression sets in.
Certainly a family holiday party would not be more important. While I'm sympathetic since he expected the Senate to be in recess by now, he should've been in D.C. I'm suspicious on what this party really was about and who attended.
It wasn't so here, but if a parent or child lay dying, I'd call that a "family obligation" and the People may just have to suffice without on a few votes.