By Alethia Kasben
Managing Editor
Posted: September 24, 2014 3:52 PM

Certain House Democrats appeared ecstatic as Rep. John Olumba walked into the House chamber at 2:44 p.m. today; one hour and fourteen minutes after session began.

Democrats seated around Mr. Olumba’s (I-Detroit) desk cheered and pounded on their desks as he entered the chamber. Shortly after 2 p.m. Rep. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), who sits next to Mr. Olumba, tweeted a photo of his empty chair saying: “It might be time to reinstate Olumba watch.”

Since the House has been back for eight sessions starting on August 27th, Mr. Olumba has been absent or walked in during late for all but one of them. On the September 10th and 11th his absences were excused.

Rep. Brandon Dillon (D-Grand Rapids) quipped to Mr. Singh via Twitter that Mr. Olumba was prepping for his next committee meeting, as earlier this year he was made chair of the House Appropriations Fiscal Oversight Subcommittee (the committee has never met and is not scheduled to meet in the near future).

Shortly after Mr. Olumba sat at his desk, Mr. Singh tweeted a picture of him and said “The Olumba watch is over.”