OPINION:
Today’s generation in Congress could learn much from the late Idaho Republican Sen. James A. McClure, who passed away eight years ago. His claim to fame on Capitol Hill was that he read every word of every bill before voting on it. For many years, he signed his own mail. Fast-forward to today. Did members of Congress take a speed-reading class to absorb the hundreds of pages contained in previous stop-gap spending bills, along with other so-called “emergency legislation” passed in the dead of night? Ater all, they only received these hours before being asked to vote up or down. Only lobbyists, and key congressional staff members employed by the House and Senate leadership teams who actually wrote the fine print had any idea of the details buried in the contents.
There should be a seven-day-minimum time-out period. This would provide adequate time for members of any legislative body. ordinary citizens, the media and independent government watchdog groups the opportunity to understand all of the contents contained in any proposed bill. Liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, we would all be better off if members of Congress would take time to actually read and openly debate in public any proposed legislation before voting.
LARRY PENNER
Great Neck, N.Y.
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