Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Senate elites speak their minds

The Senate Government Operations Committee held a hearing today on the topic of whether the Legislature should go part-time. Chairman and Majority Leader Mike Bishop gave strong and earnest support to the concept.

Some of his colleagues on the committee however, had a different view. One member expressed concern for how much work is involved and wondered how we could EVER do this job on a part-time basis. "The time spent in this career as a legislator is so intensive and so time-consuming that unless you walk in our shoes for a week, you never know just how much we do and the sacrifices that our families really make for us to be here."

Another member made it clear that 50-60 hours a week is just not enough time to get all the work done and to fulfill all the demands and requirements of being a legislator. There was also a subtle suggestion that, what with a $40 billion budget to oversee, perhaps we are underpaid!

The topper was a simple statement made by a third member of the committee who shall remain nameless. Keeping in mind our track record over the last five months, this Senator said, "I think we have an effective legislature."


No comments: