Did you hear that the U.S Senate just finished a 100 hour legislative blitz?
During this harried span of hours, the new Democratic majority worked on legislature to increase the minimum wage, make our ports more secure, follow suggestions from the infamous 911 report, expand embryonic stem cell research, cut student loan interest rates and allow Medicare to buy cheaper drugs. These are all important causes, requiring much time and consideration.
However, the very important, life-altering 100 hour blitz took only 87 hours?
Magic! That’s time-efficiency at its best.
Did you also know that in December 2006, the new House majority leader decided that House members would have to work five days a week. Prior to this, our public servants stressed and strained for a whopping three days a week.
While I type this, I have about 30 emails awaiting my attention. It’s Friday and I will be working this weekend on weddings, real estate writing that is past due and finishing up production work that I could not complete during the week. Yep, I am whining a little. But it is for all working Americans.
The average middle class American works a 56-hour week. While we commoners toil to keep the kids fed, bills paid and roof over our collective heads, our elected officials are magically doing 100 hours of work in 87. I demand the secret recipe that magically trims away 13 hours. Does this mean that they earn 13 hours less pay?
In order to keep these guys and gals honest (since honesty is the foundation of all politics), I suggest that work hours clocked be posted on every political advertisement for re-election.
In addition to “I’m Senator Workaholic and I paid for this commercial.” They should be required to say “I’m Senator Workaholic and I worked 17 hours a week during my last term.”
The irony of Washington is that most of the politicians who cannot make it to their Capitol offices, have plenty of time to meet with special interest representatives. Lobbyists are lining up to meet with them. Special interests groups are kowtowed to, while legislative responsibilities sit on the hill.
The final insult- our elected officials vote for their own pay increases. When do they find the time?
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