Salt: The New York Post reports that No-Show Lee has skipped out of “more than half of full [Foreign Affairs] committee hearings last year.”
Shot: “His attendance record is worse – absent 67 percent of time – when looking at full committee and subcommittee hearings focused just on ISIS and the Syrian crisis – issues Zeldin regularly lectures about on cable news.”
Lime: Zeldin spokesperson: “The congressman is never truly absent from any committee or subcommittee hearing.”
ICYMI: Tough-talking freshman congressman has been blowing off work
New York Post
January 14, 2015
WASHINGTON — Freshman Rep. Lee Zeldin has positioned himself as a foreign policy firebrand with his tough talk on taking out ISIS.
But Zeldin has skipped out from his assignment as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which is charged with dealing with national security foreign policy.
A review by The Post found the Long Island Republican missed more than half of full committee hearings last year.
His attendance record is worse – absent 67 percent of time – when looking at full committee and subcommittee hearings focused just on ISIS and the Syrian crisis – issues Zeldin regularly lectures about on cable news.
“I have noticed that he’s not been here a lot of the time,” said one concerned member of the committee when approached by The Post.
Zeldin’s office defends the absences as a symptom of his “impressive” level of responsibility, serving on three full house committees with seven related subcommittee assignments.
If he’s not at a foreign affairs hearing he’s focused on another congressional duty, such as meeting with constituents, or attending veterans’ affairs and transportation committee hearings, where he is also a member.
“The congressman is never truly absent from any committee or subcommittee hearing,” said Zeldin spokeswoman Jennifer DiSiena.
Zeldin was a no-show last year at 12 of 18 hearings that dealt specifically with ISIS and Syria.
“If Congressman Zeldin is unable to attend a hearing someone from the legislative team is present to take notes and report back.”
Most members of Congress serve on at least two committees and various subcommittees and have to balance meetings, votes, fundraising and hearings.
“We all have incredibly busy schedules,” said Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), who rarely misses a meeting. “We all try to the best we can. We all have to prioritize. I give a very high priority to foreign affairs and I give a very high priority to other things as well.”
Zeldin was a no-show last year at 12 of 18 hearings that dealt specifically with ISIS and Syria.
But he thumps his chest as a foreign policy guru pushing for more aggressive action to take out ISIS and block Syrian refugees from coming to the US.
“The largest humanitarian victory we can deliver is by wiping ISIS off the face of the earth. I mean dropping bombs on their lap, putting rounds in their forehead,” Zeldin told Fox News in November.
Zeldin’s attendance record at full committee hearing is among the bottom tier for Foreign Affairs Committee members, but not the worst.
A member at the bottom is Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), who is chairman of the major Homeland Security Committee and has been tied up running his terrorism-fighting panel.
McCaul defended Zeldin’s no-shows and pointed out legislation Zeldin sponsored to prevent foreign fighters from traveling between countries.
“I think he’s doing a fantastic job as a new member. I’ve worked with him closely,” McCaul told the Post. “Lee was really a leader on that legislation. He’s representing his district well. In New York, terrorism is still probably the No. 1 issue unfortunately, and I think he gets that.”
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