and a great editorial on the subject !!!

“If every member pledged to not vote for it if they hadn’t read it in its entirety, I think we would have very few votes,’’ he said. The majority leader was declaring, in other words, that it is more important for Congress to pass the bill than to understand it."

Pretty sad, and the last sentence of this editorial is addressed to us the voter, whether Republican or Democra or Independent....

"Steny Hoyer chortles at the thought of asking members of Congress to do their job properly. It’s up to voters to wipe the grin off his face."

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ed...fore_you_vote/

"Steny Hoyer chortles at the thought of asking members of Congress to do their job properly. It’s up to voters to wipe the grin off his face."

It is in this very sad respect that congress in fact does whatever it wants, when ever it wants for what ever it wants, no matter how much it costs or whether there ever be any money to pay for it, KNOWING the voters are apathetic/don't care/are too busy/too dumb/etc to EVER get after their representative to do their job properly. I use the word dumb in the preceding sentence as I feel it is justified.

How would you describe those who re-elect representatives who are proven incompetent or self serving?

btk

[QUOTE=Bucco;214243]and a great editorial on the subject !!!

“If every member pledged to not vote for it if they hadn’t read it in its entirety, I think we would have very few votes,’’ he said. The majority leader was declaring, in other words, that it is more important for Congress to pass the bill than to understand it."

Pretty sad, and the last sentence of this editorial is addressed to us the voter, whether Republican or Democra or Independent....

"Steny Hoyer chortles at the thought of asking members of Congress to do their job properly. It’s up to voters to wipe the grin off his face."

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ed...fore_you_vote/[/QUOTE

Good Article... Maybe if they had to read it , they might write it so it could be understood. Of course thats what the 2-3 millon for staffers is for.

Obama lied, transparency died.

[quote=GrayGoose;214252]

Originally Posted by Bucco

and a great editorial on the subject !!!

“If every member pledged to not vote for it if they hadn’t read it in its entirety, I think we would have very few votes,’’ he said. The majority leader was declaring, in other words, that it is more important for Congress to pass the bill than to understand it."

Pretty sad, and the last sentence of this editorial is addressed to us the voter, whether Republican or Democra or Independent....

"Steny Hoyer chortles at the thought of asking members of Congress to do their job properly. It’s up to voters to wipe the grin off his face."

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ed...fore_you_vote/[/QUOTE

Good Article... Maybe if they had to read it , they might write it so it could be understood. Of course thats what the 2-3 millon for staffers is for.

That is NOT what staffers are for. I've dealt with several, and the whiz kids rermind me of my military days where some wives would act as if they had their husband's rank (the old days - very few female officers then!)

Staffers are supposed to be researchers, gophers, take-people-on-Congressional-tour leaders, phone-answerers, and letter-writers. Staffers are not supposed to be the congressperson's alter-ego. Staffers may write briefing notes on complex segments of pending legislation, testimony or reports, but they are not in existence to relieve a congressperson of his/her responsibility to be fully cognizant of the basics (pending legislsation, testimony and reports) prior to rendering a vote. They do not (or should not) provide advice.

Let's look at it this way. Would you sign the contracts to sell your house in TV, or buy a new one, to include all the terms and conditions of financing, based on the advice of your neighbor who said s/he read some of the paperwork and thought it was a good/bad deal? Of course not! The neighbor has no responsibilities in the matter to anyone, while you have a responsibility for your family's well-being. It's no diffferent for a congressperson, whose first obligation is to his'/her district's constituency to know whether the pending legislation, testimony or report impacts his/her district, to what extent, and whether that impact needs to be accepted, mitigated or denied. Anything less is utter laziness and failure to perform.

It's our money at stake, and our agents (congresspersons) are supposed to protect it, make sure it is spend only when necessary, and that what is spent is the minimum necessary. If they don't read and understand the pending legislation, testimony or reports, how can they do their jobs effectively? Why else do they exist?