Rep. Labrador takes heat over voting absences
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Republican Rep. Raul Labrador is fielding criticism from his Democratic challenger over the amount of times he's missed votes in the U.S. House.
The Idaho Statesman reports Labrador has been absent from voting at triple the rate of his predecessors, Walt Minnick, Bill Sali and now-Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter. Labrador's challenger, Jimmy Farris, says the absences show a lack of a work ethic.
According to GovTrack, a group that follows Congress, Labrador missed 72 of 1,531 recorded votes or 4.7 percent, nearly twice the median average for House members.
Labrador cited three reasons for missing votes, including his son's weeklong hospitalization, the first-ever GOP presidential caucus in March, and his May primary. Labrador says he doesn't think his absence rate is acceptable and he'll work to bring it down.
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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com
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