February 15, 2007...2:29 pm
The Ron Thompson Effect
OK, I understand this thing called FMLA and that people should not be kicked out of a job because of a disability (ADA), but come on!
We have an elected official in West Virginia who can’t fulfil the requirements of the job. Initially the House Speaker allowed the particular member to continue to serve as long as he came to the session by February 5. He didn’t show and didn’t send word whether he would be back. So the House voted to kick him out and let the Governor appoint his replacement. Then one week later the absentee Delegate manages to get word to the Speaker that his doctor said he’s having some issues and shouldn’t be kicked out, he might recover. So the House recinds their previous ruling and lets him have his “old job” back.
The man can’t fulfil his duty to his constituency, for g-d’s sake! What the h*ll is he doing trying to keep his office? Apparently, he thinks this is an entitlement program and West Virginia Delegates are elected to full-time jobs.
Being a politician was never intended to support you or your family. This man needs to moveon and let someone serve the people who can actually perform the duties of the office.
2 Comments
March 15, 2007 at 2:57 am
I don’t think that the FMLA or ADA would apply here. What I do think happened is the self-preservation of their own as part of a good-old-boys network.
March 16, 2007 at 5:45 pm
My friends in Nicholas County would argue that the Beckley area is already over-represented in the legislature (although they have nothing on Charleston’s 7 delegates and 4 senators) and, unless the state were to switch to a “one-district, one-delegate” model, Thompson’s absence actually has the unintended consequence of making the HoD a tad bit more fairly representative, at least to the rural parts of the state.
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