Limiting Speeches Could Curtail Congressional Grandstanding
After reading the article “GOP Hollers at Plan to Limit House Speeches” (Nov. 29), I decided to comment. My husband and I are often appalled to turn on C-SPAN to find certain (and often the same) members of the House speaking to an empty room in the late hours of the evening (Pacific time!) just to be on the record.
I do not think that taxpayers should pay the costs involved just so a few politicians can obtain free television coverage to promote issues in the absence of other members of the House and therefore eliminate the possibility of confrontation and debate on the issues being presented in these late-night forums.
Most hard-working people are forced to finish a day’s work in eight to 13 hours, and I don’t think that it is unreasonable to expect the same from our congressmen. Should they require additional time for discussion, they can calendar for another day.
In reference to the majority or minority parties: A time limit should be presented for the day’s session, and each speaker desiring to speak should be given a time limit for the issue at hand, period.
SANDRA A. FRYER
Tustin
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