Who's doing their job?

A story in today's The Hill newspaper pointed out that four U. S. House members have missed every vote since the Nov. 7 election. None of them were from Ohio or Northern Kentucky. But it made us wonder... Have our lawmakers been doing their jobs?

A quick scan of the 11 roll call votes recorded during the post-election lame duck session shows that Greater Cincinnati lawmakers have been faithfully casting their votes, even Sen. Mike DeWine, who lost his re-election bid.

But Ohio's new Gov.-elect, Rep. Ted Strickland, and the Democrat who bested DeWine, Rep. Sherrod Brown, have missed several votes. Is this a case of senioritis?

Here's the tally:

Nov. 13: Three votes, including extending normal trade relations to Vietnam, which failed.
Who missed? Ohio Reps. Strickland, Deborah Pryce and Paul Gillmor.

Nov. 14: Two votes, including one to fund programs to prevent underage drinking.
Who missed? Ohio Reps. Strickland, Pryce, Gillmor, Brown and Mike Oxley, who is retiring.

Nov. 15: Two votes, including a resolution to congratulate the St. Louis Cardinals on winning the World Series.
Who missed? Ohio Reps. Strickland and Gillmor.

Dec. 5: Two votes, including a resolution encouraging employers to hire former U.S. soldiers wounded in service.
Who missed? No one!

Dec. 6: Two votes, including a procedural motion and a resolution condemning the decision of St. Denis, France, to name a street in honor of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted murder of Philadelphia Police Office Danny Faulkner.
Who missed? Ohio Reps. Strickland, Oxley and Brown.