Still out

The Senate is missing three of its members since early March.

Mitch McConnell, who fell on March 9 and was hospitalized for concussion from a fall, has still not returned to work in the Senate.  It turns out he was released to a rehab facility, and also had a fractured rib.  (I still wonder what was going on with his hands.  Remember that?  We never found out.)

John Fetterman, who checked himself into the hospital for depression, on or about March 7, has also not returned, but he has been working from the hospital.

Dianne Feinstein, who was hospitalized and being treated for shingles on or about March 3, but was since released to go home, will not be going back to the Senate, although at the time, she was saying she hoped to get back to the Senate very soon.  Vying for her seat are Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, and Adam Schiff, all outstanding candidates.

UPDATE 03/20/2023 9:30am:

The last time all 100 senators were on the floor voting together was more than seven months ago. And it’s starting to take a toll on both parties.

This Congress features one of history’s oldest Senates, a fact that’s fueled ongoing debate about gerontocracy in government. Yet it’s not just age keeping one member — and sometimes six or more — from the floor: Blame a confluence of illnesses, family matters and impending retirements dating well into last year.

Just last week, five senators missed every vote, with several out for extended absences. And it doesn’t look like all 100 senators will be back this week.

[...]

[Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who prides himself on his attendance record, is recovering from hip surgery but has not missed any votes since he had coronavirus in late 2020. Over the past two months, he’s progressed from a wheelchair to a cane as he returns from the procedure.

[...]

Feinstein’s absence from her perch on the Judiciary Committee is an acute Democratic concern. The party is trying to move judicial nominees out of committee to the floor but have postponed panel votes during her absence.

[...]

“I’m anxious, because I can’t really have a mark-up of new judge nominees until she’s there,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the party’s No. 2 and the Senate Judiciary Committee chair.

  Politico

Perhaps that's part of the reason they were able to convince her to stand down.

Durbin announced Sunday that he had tested positive for coronavirus and would quarantine, adding another absence.

[...]

Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) asked questions at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on Fetterman’s behalf last week and said in an interview he’s consulting with Fetterman’s chief of staff: “Anything I can do to help my colleague.”

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) is also working with Fetterman’s staff to help with constituent requests and potential legislation, like their bipartisan rail safety bill.

[...]

Casey missed a few days of Senate business in February after prostate cancer surgery, but he’s been back for several weeks.

[...]

Republicans want to peel back President Joe Biden’s water environmental regulations, but last week’s vote was delayed because McConnell, No. 3 Senate Republican John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) all missed votes. Cruz is expected back this week, according to an aide.

Too bad.

[Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the GOP whip,] partially blamed the lax attendance on some senators not considering the Senate’s recent schedule a must-attend affair. The agenda lately has mostly consisted of disapproval votes of Biden administration or D.C. Council policies, nominees and rolling back the Iraq military authorization.

[...]

“People feel maybe a little bit more flexibility than they would if we were doing really consequential legislating right now."

That last, at least, seems like a pretty consequential piece of leg. Name names, John.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.