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You may remember that the Democratic House instituted 5 day workweeks when they took over Congress, apparently in an attempt to get more done (yeah, that worked). Well, there’s apparently an ironic consequence of “working” more: Representatives not having time to actually visit their constituents.

“We have a long list of meetings that can’t be scheduled because I’m never back in the district,” said freshman Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.). “Part of it is related to the campaign, and part is simply doing my job back at home.”…

During the last years of GOP control, the House met on Tuesday evening and usually left by Thursday afternoon. Now the House typically begins its week on Monday night and leaves by Friday afternoon.

With that longer schedule, though, lawmakers often have only the weekend to spend back in their districts. For those with long commutes, it can be even less. And for freshman members, it’s a particularly sensitive issue because the first reelection fight tends to be the most difficult.

So in order to “work” longer (Read: Not actually do something), they’ve had little time to actually visit and hear out the constituents they represent.

“You come in late on Friday. It’s hard to do anything on Sunday, so you really just have one day: Saturday,” said Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.), explaining his weekends back home. “I haven’t complained about it, but I understand those who have.”

A Democratic leadership aide said leaders understood the frustration and believed that next year they would be able to ease the schedule.

“Next year, members will likely have more time in their districts,” the aide said.

Frankly, it’s my hope that many Democrats have a whole lot more time to spend in their districts next year, but pundits aren’t expecting us to regain control of the House, so…

Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.), who faces one of the toughest reelection fights of any Democrat, said he had opened a storefront office off the town square in Stuart, Fla., to help him meet with constituents over the weekend. And he said he’s there most of the day every Saturday he’s in town.

“It’s important for us to be back in our district. This is only half of our job,” he said as he stood outside the House chamber. “Not everyone can get to Washington for a constituent meeting.”

I live in his district and visited his storefront on a recent weekend. Wasn’t open when I was there.

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