[quote]The National Taxpayers Union is charging that former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and new Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina flouted an obscure federal statute calling for absentee members of Congress to forfeit part of their pay.

According to the law, which is rarely if ever enforced, members of Congress can't skip work unless they or a family member is ill -- the only excuse that usually works for regular people in regular jobs.

The `Virginia-based` NTU says Democrat Edwards missed 102 days on the job between January 2003 and October 2004 -- months when he was running for president, then vice president. NTU calculates that Edwards, who already looks to be running for president again, should give back $63,543.16 in salary because of the absences.

Republican DeMint, a House member in 2003 and 2004, had 37 unexcused absences as he pursued the Senate seat in a hot GOP primary and then in a hot general election contest. The NTU says his salary overpayment totals $23,305.56.

Spokesmen for Edwards and DeMint had no comment.

The NTU sent letters to a total of 25 members and former members of Congress, asking them to explain how they intended to comply with the `little-known` law.

Source: Charlotte Observer
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/10835801.htm

I laugh at DeMint, but why on earth does Edwards owe and Kerry doesn't? And what about the others who missed time? I know that DeMint and Edwards won't the only two who missed sessions of the senate/house inorder to campaign.

I know, William. Anyone who was campaigning probably missed sessions or votes. I am not sure why no one is going after Kerry. Excpet DeMint owing for this offense is ahoot because he has been called a friend of the Taxpayer, no wonder why Sen. Graham did not campaign for him until he absolutely had to.