EDITORIAL – Truants at the House

Being a member of the House of Representatives has to be one of the cushiest jobs in the world. You get a four-day workweek, and then you’re free to take off, ostensibly to touch base with your constituents. You have more breaks than a student all year round, during which you are free to accept all invitations overseas at taxpayers’ expense. You have millions of pesos in pork barrel funds at your disposal, to win political and public support and help ensure your re-election. No wonder entertainers and athletes think shifting to politics is the logical career move once they’re past their prime.

Once elected, congressmen don’t even have to work. Consider the latest problem that House leaders are set to tackle this week: absenteeism. Failure to muster a quorum has been derailing the passage of legislation, the House leaders pointed out, and they want to do something about what has become a serious problem. Never mind if the derailed pieces of legislation are merely proposals to rename streets and public buildings after relatives of the bill endorsers. House leaders, however, say a number of the pending bills are important pieces of legislation.

The House, to its credit, is trying to deal with the problem, considering sanctions against chronic absentees. The public will give its wholehearted support to such sanctions. The measures should include a monthly report of lawmakers’ attendance at the session hall and committee hearings, so taxpayers will know who among the congressmen are merely wasting public funds.

Apart from wasting taxpayers’ money, the truants are also wasting the time and effort of their colleagues who show up for serious legislative work. There are members of Congress who actually try to make their salaries, perks and pork barrel worth it for the taxpayer. But the task of legislation is collegial; without a quorum, the diligent House members cannot get any work done. Any measure that will punish House truants will be welcomed by the nation.