Colombia’s House President carries out his threat Thursday and cut salaries of 105 congressmen who failed to show up at a debate due to be attended by 165.
Augusto Posada, president of the House of Representatives, apologized to the few who made the effort to show up at Thursday session by stating “I am very sorry to have made it here and have to endure these words, and I offer my sincere apologies, but this can not go on.”
“Madam Secretary take careful note of the registration of the representatives who have made presence today, then deduct the salary of those who did not attend,” Posada added.
The House president stressed that there is a long line of about 170 bills waiting to be debated in the legislature reminding his colleagues that “we have an obligation to the country.”
Those 170 bills do not include Tax reform, Health reform and, ironically, a reform of Congress which enjoys a chronically low approval rating.
“We can not allow the Colombian people continue to lose confidence in Congress. For you and for me this is the home institution of democracy,” exclaimed an angered Posada in front of around 35% of the entire House.
The Colombian senate took steps to penalize unauthorized absences in 2010 when it was agreed that senators who missed days would be penalized by having to repay about $259 of their $386 daily salary. Posada threatened to use his authority and cut lawmakers’ wages when taking seat in June.
