The House of Representatives schedule for 2012 has been posted.

It's an election years, so Representatives will be at work (or should I say scheduled to be at work) for 109 weekdays for the entire year.

The House will be in recess for 151 weekdays so that House members can campaign back in their districts. Think about it: we pay Representatives so they can campaign. You didn't think they took a cut in pay because they are excused from the people's work, did you?

There are 6 scheduled workdays in January, 3 in August, and 5 in October. How many congresspersons do you think will return to Washington for those few days?

Those of us who actually work for a living will be at work approximately 20 days a month during those months--and during February, March, April, May, June, July, September. About 15 days in November and December.

What an uproar there would be if we shut down like that because we had business at home and continued to collect our pay while we took care of personal business.

Yeah, they argue that it's the public's business they're about while campaigning. Do you accept that argument?