Proof that our government is failing us

Sen. Arlen Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, last Monday delivered an unusually candid assessment of the Senate's notoriously light work schedule.

In a National Press Club luncheon speech, Specter noted it was "very hard to convene a Monday morning hearing" because of extended weekends. He continued: "We've fallen into a routine . . . of starting our workweek Tuesday at 2:15 after we finish our caucus luncheons, and people start to get edgy and heading for the airports early on Thursday. So we might increase the workweek by 50 percent, say, to three days."

Realizing it was highly unusual for a senior senator to talk so frankly of the chamber's work habits, Specter quickly added with a smile: "By the way, that's off the record." The speech was broadcast live on C-SPAN.

The important part of this to remember is that these elected officials make more money than you. We elect them into positions of power as to better represent us, the working man, and in turn they apparently choose to no longer work. It must be rough to have to labor over luncheon tables for 2.5 days a week. They certainly understand the issues of the every-day man now. I wonder if the Congress works this hard... you know, how they decided not to raise the minimum wage since 1997 yet didn't fail to raise their own yearly salary.

Thanks to Volokh Conspiracy for the quote.

\\drew