The Tucson Citizen reports Sen. John McCain has missed nearly 50% of senate votes; 117 as of Tuesday.
Although the Senate has addressed some weighty issues while he has been absent, McCain says he has never missed a vote where his participation would have affected the outcome. Here is a snapshot of votes McCain has missed and where he was that day. Among the significant votes McCain has missed this year:
—Feb. 17 — The Senate refused on a Saturday to advance a nonbinding resolution disapproving of President Bush’s troop surge in Iraq. McCain was campaigning in Iowa, saying that the symbolic measures are “insulting to the public and the soldiers.”
—March 13 — McCain missed a vote to approve a new homeland security measure so he could attend a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser for his campaign in Beverly Hills, Calif. —March 15 — McCain missed a failed vote to require a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq to begin within 120 days. He was on the “Straight Talk Express” in Iowa.
—March 20 — McCain missed three votes mid-day, including one to end the attorney general’s authority to fill U.S. attorney vacancies without Senate confirmation. McCain was in Pennsylvania, Alabama and Florida. In Florida, he attended a $2,300-per-person fundraiser in Coral Gables that raised $200,000.
—April 18 — McCain missed a vote to let the government negotiate Medicare drug prices. He was campaigning in South Carolina, joking about bombing Iran.
—April 26 — While the Senate voted to begin withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by Oct. 1, McCain was campaigning in South Carolina. He decried the timetable even though he wasn’t present to vote on it.
—May 7 — The Senate voted to require U.S. officials to certify the safety and effectiveness of prescription medicines imported from foreign countries. McCain was in Iowa.
—May 16 — The Senate rejected an effort to cut off money for the Iraq war. McCain was at his daughter’s graduation from Columbia University.
—May 22 — McCain missed the vote on a new temporary worker program. He was campaigning in Texas.
