Government Wasteland: The House Hearing on Transparency and Accountability for Stimulus
The Washington Times reports on a hearing regarding the Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board, by the House panel with oversight of the body set up by the recently enacted stimulus bill to ensure $787 billion in stimulus funds are spent wisely.
The problem is most of our elected representatives didn’t bother to show up to do their jobs – stay informed about the work of the accountability board so they can adjust policy if need be.
Congressional slackers included:
- Democratic Reps. Steven R. Rothman of New Jersey, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee, Charles A. Wilson of Ohio, Alan Grayson of Florida and Bart Gordon of Tennessee.
- Republican Rep. Ralph M. Hall of Texas also skipped the session, while Rep. Brian P. Bilbray of California showed up for one third of the meeting.
With all of the sound and fury over the stimulus bill is it too much to ask from members of Congress to go to “important” hearings? I know there are some hearings that they cannot attend due to votes or other hearings, but we’re talking about the largest value bill ever passed.
It’s insulting to the public servants on the transparency board who no doubt were there to deliver testimony to empty chairs.
Finally, to the Democrats, if we’re serious about our way forward out of this recession, let’s act like it. While President Obama’s efforts at greater transparency and accountability are being recognized as “change,” you folks are shirking your responsibility to forward that agenda.
