EDITORIAL - Missing in action

With the millions spent by taxpayers for the annual upkeep of each congressman, the 290 members of the House of Representatives should earn their salaries and perks and attend the remaining session days before their next long break.

Crafting laws is the main task of Congress, and there are still several pieces of major legislation waiting to be passed. The budget for 2016 must be enacted before the year ends. The law creating the Bangsamoro may still be passed before Christmas, although its acceptance by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is a big question.

There are economic measures that may still be approved to make the country more investment-friendly, such as the Customs Modernization Act that is being pushed by the foreign chambers of commerce. Proposed cuts on individual income and corporate taxes also deserve congressional attention together with the quid pro quo sought by Malacañang: easing bank secrecy laws for tax purposes.

With all that workload, however, lawmakers now seem preoccupied with only one thing: the 2016 elections. The lack of a quorum at the House has become such a problem that Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has reportedly resorted to asking congressmen to just text their votes or opinions on various legislative measures.

Voting by text is better than failure to vote. But for sure, those who actually participate in deliberations and listen to resource speakers will have a better appreciation of the proposed laws than those who are missing in action.

The House – and the Senate, for that matter – should publish online the attendance records of all lawmakers. This should guide voters on the politicians who are repaying their employers – or, as described by President Aquino, the bosses – with dereliction of duty. The people can express what they think in May 2016.