The Maryland House of Delegates voted Friday to consider a resolution that would expel absentee Republican Del. Christopher Bouchat, but that is likely to die before receiving a hearing with the state House Rules Committee.
Republican Del. Lauren Arikan introduced the resolution, which said Bouchat has skipped floor votes and both committee and subcommittee meetings since late February.
The resolution emphasized that Bouchat is wasting taxpayer money and said his failure to perform duties is slowing down the chamber.
“I think he should be removed and I think the people of Carroll and Frederick should have the opportunity to have somebody appointed by the governor to replace him,” Arikan told Maryland Matters. “Anybody who doesn’t want to be here, who feels that his presence is irrelevant, I would say, ‘Sure, and we’ll replace you with somebody who wants to be here.’”
The resolution also stated that Bouchat told Maryland Matters on the record, “his priority is his personal business,” and the delegate is “financially benefiting from his absence at State taxpayer expense.”
However, the measure was introduced late, meaning it needed 95 votes to pass the two-thirds vote requirement. 102 people voted to introduce the resolution. While it passed that vote and was assigned to the Rules Committee, it is unlikely to see any movement.
Arikan told lawmakers on Friday, “There are many legitimate reasons why folks may not be able to be here. They may be sick or may have personal reasons why they are unable to be here today, or during committee meetings or subcommittee meetings. But those folks who should be here who do not have a legitimate reason, who are simply refusing to come because they claim it is harming them financially—.”
Arikan was cut off during her statement for a point of order, in which she was asked for clarification as to why the bill was late, not why it was a good resolution.
“The absence of one of our members has on more than one occasion caused our committees or subcommittees to be delayed in starting,” Arikan continued.
Rules Committee Chairwoman Anne Healey, a Democrat, told Maryland Matters, “Everybody has a justification for their late-filed bills, but it is very late, and we have a lot of work to do, so I’m not sure that we’ll get to it.”
MAN SENTENCED TO OVER THREE YEARS IN PRISON FOR SENDING THREATENING LETTERS TO JEWISH INSTITUTIONS
“We have a lot of bills that are piling up,” she added.
Bouchat was also under fire recently for leaving checks for lawmakers amid his absences.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Arikan and Bouchat for comment.
