Do what I say and not what I do is the mantra of Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
When asked how to solve our political problems, her canned answer is we must have lots of committee meetings. She doesn’t talk about resolutions, just convening meeting after meeting and asking questions and more questions.
How ironic for Cathy to say meetings are important, as Cathy missed 92 percent of the committee meetings she was to attend. This figure is based on 1,000 committee and subcommittee hearing minutes that were analyzed for congressional member’s attendance.
To be marked present a member of Congress only needs to appear for a short time, but Cathy didn’t bother. Her spokesman spoke up for her saying she had “family situations that kept her away” and that her duties as chairman of the House Republican Conference conflicted with meetings.
Can all members of Congress with “duties” just not show up at meetings? Can we use her excuse to not do our jobs 92 percent of the time? Congress has a lot of issues to deal with and as a member of a committee that work is important...unless you’re Cathy.
Cathy is the perfect example of why Congress doesn’t work...literally and figuratively.
Pat Bates
Clarkston, Wash.
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