DAVE ROSS

It’s only right for the Senate to allow children on the floor

Apr 20, 2018, 6:07 AM | Updated: 6:49 am

Senate...

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., arrives at the Capitol for a vote with her new daughter, Maile, bundled on her lap. In an historic change in Senate rules, the lawmakers decided to allow babies of members on the floor during votes. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

It was back in February when Senator Tammy Duckworth, who was about to become the first senator to give birth in office, asked this question on a Politico podcast.

RELATED: Could the IRS machines be telling us something?

“So am I not allowed to vote. Can I not do my job?”

She wanted to breastfeed. And she also wanted to be able to vote. Yet Senate rules were clear: no children on the Senate floor while the Senate is in session – period.

“I’m even being told that I can’t technically take maternity leave. Because if I take maternity leave then I won’t be allowed to sponsor legislation or vote.”

Talk about an election year embarrassment – punishing a member for having a child. That was not gonna happen. So, as Nancy Cordes reported, the Senate voted unanimously to allow senators to carry their infants onto the floor.

Nursing on the floor is not allowed. Nor is diaper changing. As for crying, that should fit right in with the whining that already goes on.

However, as it turned out, little Maile wasn’t a problem on her first day. She slept right through the vote! We CSPAN fans can certainly identify with that.

I know many of you might see this as yet another outbreak of political correctness. But the way I look at it there ought to be infants in the chamber when the Senate votes. With the deficits they’re approving it’s only right they do it in front of the kids who’ll have to pay for it.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

3 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

10 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

1 month ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

2 months ago

It’s only right for the Senate to allow children on the floor