Ron Paul not voting on a lot of recent bills...?

[Umbro2914]

Does anyone know if he's ok? Amash posted in a comment to one of his statuses that Paul had a family emergency and couldnt vote... anyone hear anything about this? Is it his wife perhaps?
Just want to make sure everythings ok, especially since a bill was 270-270 with Paul not voting, so I knew something was up. Maybe he's just away?

[sailingaway]

I wondered about that, too.

[RileyE104]

Does anyone know if he's ok? Amash posted in a comment to one of his statuses that Paul had a family emergency and couldnt vote... anyone hear anything about this? Is it his wife perhaps?
Just want to make sure everythings ok, especially since a bill was 270-270 with Paul not voting, so I knew something was up. Maybe he's just away?

What bill??

And 270 - 270 ???

[Matt Collins]

Please quote exactly what Amash said.

[Imperial]

a week or two ago the husband of one of his staffers in district died, so he went back to TX-14 for the funeral.

[devil21]

How does one bill = a lot of recent bills?

Do you have a list? Not really doubting you but need more info.

[lynnf]

hey, if he's going to be traveling all around the country for the campaign or preparation for the campaign, I'd say that's worth some missed votes........

lynn

[Feeding the Abscess]

He's been out of town in Iowa a couple times, too.

Anyway, something else that made me raise my brow, from Amash:

"Chuck, even if many of the EPA's activities are unconstitutional, it's not completely clear that all of its activities are unconstitutional (even for me, the most libertarian Representative in Congress)"

Yeah, sorry bro. You can't call yourself the most libertarian rep in Congress when you vote against bringing troops home from Europe and the Middle East.

Or this one:

"I'm confident I've had fewer errors in judgment than anyone else in Congress this term. ;)"

I like confidence, but being a douche isn't cool. Especially when you fall on your face on a troop withdrawal amendment.

[JoshLowry]

He's been out of town in Iowa a couple times, too.

Anyway, something else that made me raise my brow, from Amash:

"Chuck, even if many of the EPA's activities are unconstitutional, it's not completely clear that all of its activities are unconstitutional (even for me, the most libertarian Representative in Congress)"

Yeah, sorry bro. You can't call yourself the most libertarian rep in Congress when you vote against bringing troops home from Europe and the Middle East.

Or this one:

"I'm confident I've had fewer errors in judgment than anyone else in Congress this term. ;)"

I like confidence, but being a douche isn't cool. Especially when you fall on your face on a troop withdrawal amendment.

Calling him a douche isn't cool either. ;)

[Brett85]

"Yeah, sorry bro. You can't call yourself the most libertarian rep in Congress when you vote against bringing troops home from Europe and the Middle East."

He explained both of those votes. Once again, he voted against the amendment to cut funding in Afghanistan because he didn't have time to read it and study it. He voted against pulling troops out of Europe because he first wanted advice from our military commanders. But it is a bit ridiculous that he called himself the most libertarian member of Congress with Ron still there.

[Feeding the Abscess]

Calling him a douche isn't cool either. ;)

Stolen from another poster on this forum:

I'm not all that good at that - but I'mma point my finger when I see it.


He explained both of those votes. Once again, he voted against the amendment to cut funding in Afghanistan because he didn't have time to read it and study it.

At the risk of sounding like The Collins, Amash personally responded to my questions on those votes by saying that he had read those amendments; that he just wasn't sure of removing that amount of troops was the right thing to do without consulting military commanders. He may have explained himself, but he showed a lack of understanding of our foreign policy. In his own words:

"Any objections were particular to me and my lack of knowledge on the subject."

Which is fine; he's a new congressman. It's still better for us in the long run to hold our own over the fire.

I agree with your second observation, and would add that he claimed that he's made less mistakes than Ron (and everyone else). This is taking into consideration the foul-ups on the troop withdrawal votes. It reeks of arrogance, and puts me off.

[Brett85]

Stolen from another poster on this forum:

I'm not all that good at that - but I'mma point my finger when I see it.



At the risk of sounding like The Collins, Amash personally responded to my questions on those votes by saying that he had read those amendments; that he just wasn't sure of removing that amount of troops was the right thing to do without consulting military commanders. He may have explained himself, but he showed a lack of understanding of our foreign policy. Which is fine; he's a new congressman. It's still better for us in the long run to hold our own over the fire.

I agree with your second observation, and would add that he claimed that he's made less mistakes than Ron (and everyone else). This is taking into consideration the foul-ups on the troop withdrawal votes. It reeks of arrogance, and puts me off.

Do you know which roll call contained the language to withdraw our troops from Europe? I'd like to know how my representative voted on that. I'm sure he probably voted no, but it would be nice to know for sure.

[Feeding the Abscess]

I can't find it at the moment. I'm not sure he posted it to his Wall; I checked it, and only found him referencing the amendment. I haven't found a roll call or other vote through Google search, either. If/when I find it, I'll post it in this thread.

[Brett85]

http://www.facebook.com/repjustinamash/posts/204248846253085

I found it. A whole 5 Republicans voted for this amendment.

[Feeding the Abscess]

Good find.

And yes, it's sad that we can't count on either party to bring some troops home, even after 80-some TP backed members were elected.

[Umbro2914]

What bill??

And 270 - 270 ???
sorry about that, it was 210-210
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll126.xml
Here's the roll call for Amendment 166 to H R 1, which prohibits funds from being used for a project that requires a "project labor agreement." PLAs effectively require union members to be hired for federal construction jobs, at a cost of $2.2 billion per year. I voted yes. It failed 210-210.

Most of the votes Paul missed were amendments to HR 1, so maybe he didnt stay long into the night to vote for them?

Some votes he missed, in no order
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll144.xml
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll143.xml

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll142.xml
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll141.xml
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll140.xml
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll138.xml
etc etc the list goes on, but it is quite a few.

[Umbro2914]

Please quote exactly what Amash said.

Justin Amash Jeffery, it is my understanding that Rep. Paul had a family situation to deal with and did not intend to miss this vote.
Yesterday at 3:55pm · Like · 2 people

[Maximus]

What happens in the case of a tie in the House?

I know the Vice President breaks a tie in the Senate

[QueenB4Liberty]

:( I hope everything is ok. He posted some pictures on his facebook gardening, earlier. He didn't look unhappy.

[sonofshamwow]

Paul is about as libertarian as it comes on a few major issues that posters around here really seem to love, particularly foreign intervention. But Paul often casts votes that are not truly libertarian/conservative on issues that are not "hot button" around here. For example: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?280726-Amash-opposes-corporate-welfare-RP-supports

[sonofshamwow]

My bet is if you guys pay attention to some of the votes on the less "sexy" issues (i.e. things other than wars, the fed, or the patriot act), you'll find that Paul makes some strange, seemingly anti-liberty decisions, like he did with the NASCAR vote.

Best way to "pay attention" to that is to follow Amash's vote updates on his facebook wall: www.facebook.com/repjustinamash

[AZKing]

I do recall reading an article about him attending a funeral.