WASHINGTON — Despite his office being just across the hall from the Senate Judiciary Committee chambers, Sen. John Edwards has the worst attendance record of any committee member since he joined it three years ago.

That has Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, questioning whether Edwards, John Kerry's choice as his Democratic vice presidential nominee, is more show horse than work horse, a common criticism by Republicans.

"He is rarely present at important committee meetings, and as a voter that is something I would want to know about," Hatch said.

Michael Briggs, Edwards' press secretary, blamed the absences on the election campaign, saying, "When senators run for president, they miss votes and miss committee hearings."

However, a Deseret Morning News review of committee records shows that Edwards' attendance was low even before he began his unsuccessful bid to become the Democrats' nominee for president or became Kerry's vice presidential candidate; his attendance has just gotten worse.

For example, during the 107th Congress in 2001 and 2002 — before Edwards began his presidential campaign — he attended 10 of the 30 business meetings (for debate and votes) that were held after he joined the committee in July 2001. His 33 percent average attendance was half the 70 percent average for all committee members.

That meant Edwards had the second-worst attendance for that pre-campaign period, behind Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., who attended one less meeting. Edwards was also tied with the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, D-S.C., who was then 99 years old and in failing health.

When hearings are added into the total along with business meetings for that same period, Edwards finished fourth-lowest among 19 members, behind Thurmond, Joe Biden, D-Del., and Kennedy.

Edwards attended 31 of 91 total meetings, or 34 percent. The committee attendance average was 49 percent.

Once Edwards started seeking the White House, his attendance dropped further, giving him the lowest attendance on the committee both for the 2003-04 108th Congress, and for the entire three years since he joined the committee.

Details for different categories include:

• In the 108th Congress in 2003-04, Edwards attended three of 34 business meetings — worst on the committee — or 9 percent. The average for all committee members was 69 percent, or almost eight times higher.

• Edwards did not stay for all of the meetings he did attend. Committee records show his votes were recorded "by proxy" at some of those meetings. After the committee achieves a quorum, busy senators often leave and allow a party leader to vote by proxy for them.
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