Obey: Tardiness Will Be Punished

Here's a warning to House appropriators: Your chairman won't call on members who show up late.

Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) told members of his committee Thursday morning that he will no longer recognize members who show up more than 10 minutes late for hearings and other meetings unless the tardy lawmakers makes a public apology.

Obey told members that he will follow up with a letter to their staff, according to Amy Doolittle of the Federal Times who attended the markup. "Responsible adults ought to know better," Obey told the group.

School may be out for the summer, but attendance is still mandatory in the House Appropriations Committee.