Nearly 60 lawmakers skipped Monday’s only House vote series.
The only vote of the evening was on a measure to allow a parcel of land in Rockingham County, Va., to be used for a child care center, which passed 378-1. While the legislation pertains to a parochial issue, the absence of 56 lawmakers is still unusual.
{mosads}Attendance tends to be slightly lower during the first House votes of the week, which are typically on noncontroversial bills considered under suspension of the rules. But normally only 20 lawmakers at the most are missing from the week’s initial bed-check vote.
Many of the absent lawmakers are retiring or lost reelection, including Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), John Campbell (R-Calif.), Howard Coble (R-N.C.), Ralph Hall (R-Texas), Gary Miller (R-Calif.), Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Vance McAllister (R-La.).
Inclement weather also delayed many lawmakers from arriving to the D.C. area.