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Two House Republicans Skipped Swearing-In to Meet with Political Donors
The Blaze ^ | 1/7/10 | Meredith Jessup

Posted on 01/06/2011 9:36:21 PM PST by American Dream 246

Two Republican members of Congress have come under scrutiny after skipping the House of Representatives’ swearing in ceremony Wednesday to meet with political donors at the Capitol Visitors Center. The gaffe is gaining critical traction among liberals who point out that the U.S. Constitution requires members to be sworn in before casting votes.

Sessions and Fitzpatrick watch the swear-in on television in the Capitol Visitors Center (Image: Bucks County Courier Times)

On Thursday, Rep. Pete Sessions made a motion to open debate on the GOP‘s plan to repeal the Obama administration’s 2010 health care overhaul — an action that can only be taken by an official member of Congress. Sessions, however, missed Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony while he and fellow Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick attended a fundraiser.

“That wasn’t planned. It just worked out that way,” Fitzpatrick said Wednesday. According to the Bucks County Courier Times, about 500 Fitzpatrick supporters were in attendance Wednesday for “Mike Fitzpatrick’s Swearing In Ceremony.”

Sessions currently serves as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP’s campaign and fundraising organization.

Though Sessions and Fitzpatrick watched the House swearing-in ceremony on television in the Capitol Visitors Center with their hands raised, the Huffington Post points out that there is no provision in the Constitution that allows for a remote swearing-in.

Though the Huffington Post has characterized the even as a “fundraiser” and a website advertising the event said admittance was $30, Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office told The Blaze Thursday that the event was free to the public. “There was no fee to attend the event,” Fitzpatrick spokesman Darren Smith said. “Some people paid $30 for bus transportation to Washington, but the event was open to anyone who showed up, including several hundred people who drove down on their own.” By law, political fundraising is not allowed on capitol grounds.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 112th; congress; fitzpatrick; gop; nrcc; oath; palin; republicans; sessions
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To: Once-Ler
""

I'd suggest that all the 'critters need to take a practical test on the content of the Constitution and get at least a 90% before being allowed to vote.

21 posted on 01/06/2011 10:30:13 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Once-Ler
"the U.S. Constitution requires members to be sworn in before casting votes"

I'd suggest that all the 'critters need to take a practical test on the content of the Constitution and get at least a 90% before being allowed to vote.

22 posted on 01/06/2011 10:30:46 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: American Dream 246
This is ridiculous. I hope these two grinning idiots get a full load of S@#t from the leadership.

Fitzpatrick is on thin ice as it is, just knocking off Murphy and retaking a seat that used to be his. People are lukewarm to him, they just hated Murphy way more.


23 posted on 01/06/2011 10:38:56 PM PST by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: freedumb2003
I hope someone takes these guys to the woodshed...

Do you have a telephone?

24 posted on 01/06/2011 10:50:08 PM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: onedoug

It is so easy for Tv and the media to demonize Republican politicians on the first day they are in office because idiots take the TV, Media brainwashing and smears bait easily.

Boehner had barely touched the gavel and he was being demonized by the press and attacked by GE/NBC’s Brian Williams who is a big phony like anyone on TV.. Keep watching TV idiots and taking the elites/left bait and brainwashing.


25 posted on 01/06/2011 10:53:59 PM PST by Frantzie (Slaves do not have freedom only the illusion of freedom & their cable TV to drool at)
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To: P-Marlowe

They say these guys are illegit eh. Well how about Obamas Birth Cert. Can we get a remote viewing of the real one?


26 posted on 01/06/2011 10:56:38 PM PST by screaminsunshine (Beware the Big Government Media Complex)
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To: Frantzie

The Press is just the Democrats attack dogs. They have no creds anymore.


27 posted on 01/06/2011 10:58:36 PM PST by screaminsunshine (Beware the Big Government Media Complex)
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To: screaminsunshine
They say these guys are illegit eh. Well how about Obamas Birth Cert. Can we get a remote viewing of the real one?

The lamestream media is very selective in its reporting. There was nary a ripple when perpetually tongue-tied Zero botched his oath of office during the inauguration.

28 posted on 01/06/2011 11:10:27 PM PST by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas...)
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To: American Dream 246
What was Beck thinking?

It's the new general manager of Blaze, not the editor. I think Beck is trying to build a successful web brand. Why not go with someone who knows how?

29 posted on 01/06/2011 11:36:21 PM PST by drubyfive
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To: American Dream 246

The Royal attitudes still prevail.


30 posted on 01/06/2011 11:43:48 PM PST by Iron Munro ("Damn it, Jim! I'm a doctor - not a Community Organizer!")
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To: American Dream 246

Democrat DeFazio also skipped the oath on Wednesday and went to a public meeting about a veterans’ hospital in his home state. Since he has been in office since 1987, it’s likely he already had a pretty good idea of how the veterans feel about a veterans hospital. Oregon’s senators sent representatives; he preferred to get face-time amongst the voters (he has a good record with veterans, so some sincerity is probably a factor). DeFazio neglected to tell anyone where he would be and wasted other people’s time looking for him for the oath ceremony. Since there has been an apparently political murder just recently in D.C., he might’ve been a little more thoughtful about notifying the appropriate people of his absence.

Since all three rep’s have previously taken the oath, it could be argued that only new members require that ceremony. For now, rules are rules, and they all should have been in attendance.

If Congress wanted to save money, they would all remain in their home states and communicate via satellite. D.C. would go broke, though, so that’s probably not going to ever happen.


31 posted on 01/07/2011 12:07:16 AM PST by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: Paladin2

They need to do that before they throw their hats in the ring.


32 posted on 01/07/2011 12:08:17 AM PST by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: American Dream 246

Phones will be ringing today..bet on it. Not sure what can be done with these two clowns but refusing to seat them might be a good start.


33 posted on 01/07/2011 12:24:54 AM PST by rrrod (at home in Medellin Colombia)
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To: American Dream 246; Tribune7; HonestConservative; Kid Shelleen

Ping.

Republicans Pete Sessions (TX) and Michael Fitzpatrick (PA) missed the swearing in with the rest of Congress. I know PA doesn’t have recall, will there be a challenger at the next primary?


34 posted on 01/07/2011 12:33:18 AM PST by brityank (The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !! Â)
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To: American Dream 246

Let em hear from ya folks!
http://speaker.house.gov/


35 posted on 01/07/2011 12:42:15 AM PST by rrrod (at home in Medellin Colombia)
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To: American Dream 246

There is no excuse for this foolishness.

None. Zip. Zilch. Zero. Nada.


36 posted on 01/07/2011 2:13:36 AM PST by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind.)
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To: re_nortex

That flub wasn’t his fault. CJ Roberts messed up.


37 posted on 01/07/2011 2:16:24 AM PST by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind.)
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To: bigbob
Two more Rs who deserve a primary challenge...

----------------------

We're fully awake and watching now!

032710_teaparty_doomsday_604x341

38 posted on 01/07/2011 2:40:23 AM PST by BobP (The piss-stream media - Never to be watched again in my house)
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To: BuckeyeTexan

Not a single supporter on FR for their arrogance to skip the swearing in. I don’t believe swearing in to the 111th carries over to the 112th. They should have been in full attendance with their brains in gear.


39 posted on 01/07/2011 2:52:22 AM PST by healy61
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To: American Dream 246

I hope these two clowns had a good excuse....like they were drunk...or with real nasty wimmens....


40 posted on 01/07/2011 2:58:28 AM PST by Tainan (Cogito, ergo conservatus - Domari Nolo)
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