Those are simply the days congress is in session. The definition of "work" for a politician is not so simple. Is meeting with "constituents" (mostly lobbyists of various kinds) work? What about meeting with staff in DC and the home office? Meeting other politicians? Government officials? Travel back and forth to DC? Trips abroad? Talk with press? Various PR events? And of course probably the biggest single time sink of all: raising money for election campaigns? I bet they are a lot busier than most working people.
Anyway I doubt there is any relationship between the amount of time the legislature is in session and actual results. One data point: the Texas legislature is in "session" only every other year - typically five months - and they seem to be doing as well as most other states. So I doubt too few days in session is even in the top 10 things that are wrong with our legislature.
Right, because a lot of work gets done in the states, outside of Washington. Otherwise, everyone who wants to talk to a congress-critter would have to trek all the way over there. And it makes sense to have them around holidays to coordinate travel schedules. They're more likely to be in the area already.
