Abolish hearings ‘in aid of legislation’

Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives are mandated by our Constitution to make legislation. To do their job, the same Constitution allows them to conduct “hearings in aid of legislation.”

Invited to these “hearings” are resource persons — not accused persons who need to be investigated or cross-examined. These are not and should not be “investigations,” or worse, “trials”—which are unconstitutional.

And many of these “hearings” or “investigations” or “trials” do not result in the creation of legislation.

Because of the free, nationwide TV coverage, our publicity hungry senators and congressmen really grandstand in verbal bullying in aid, not of legislation, but of titillation and demolition.

We have enough laws. And we’ve had enough of senators and congressmen who waste taxpayer money in pursuit of personal political glory.

It is time to remove one layer of national politicians — replace them with the new legislature of governors and mayors — thus decentralizing our government and saving billions.

AMADO MUNDA, [email protected]