I want to make plain that I am not against legitimate congressional hearings that investigate issues crucial to the citizens of our nation. Congress should explore ways to reduce prescription medication costs and reduce overall healthcare costs. Congress should investigate how various pieces of legislation will impact citizens, communities, and our nation.

But what has tired me to the point of keeping my TV screen in perpetual “OFF” mode when it comes to so-called news stations is the endless “investigations” that are little more than witch hunts and personal vendettas clothed in the garments of “justice.”

The January 6 hearings offer an example of how people in Congress put on a solemn face and wasted hours and millions of dollars. According to a Newsweek article by Nick Reynolds dated September 9, 2022, according to Congressional quarterly expense reports released toward the end of August, the Select Committee on the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot spent more than $3.3 million to conduct its work between April and June.

The budget for the Select Committee on the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot was roughly four times the budget of the committee to investigate climate change and eclipsed the total spending of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

A close review of House expenditures for that quarter shows that the committee’s spending was only below major standing committees like the House Committee on Foreign Affairs ($3.8 million), Committee on Homeland Security ($3.7 million), and House Ways and Means ($4.8 million).

Democrats spent millions investigating the supposed Trump-Russian Collusion. Now that Republicans have control of the House, we have already heard rumblings about hearings on Joe Biden and classified documents, Hunter Biden’s laptop computer, and a host of other issues to ensure various select committees keep minutes and waste hours.

How long will members of Congress – regardless of party – continue this waste of time and money? Will they ever get down to doing the business they were elected to do?

We can understand members of Congress holding committee meetings in a legitimate quest for truth and justice. Still, too many of us have observed that these so-called investigations are little more than personal vendettas masquerading as quests for truth, justice, and the American way.

Have we forgotten the justice system? Those who commit criminal acts can be processed through the courts.

Members of Congress have several key responsibilities. They serve as the trustees of this nation of more than 325 million people spread over 3.8 million square miles. Generally, members of Congress have seven spheres of responsibility: 1) Representation, 2) Legislation, 3) Investigation/Oversight, 4) Management, 5) Politics, 6) Collaboration, and 7) Leadership.

Unfortunately, Politics is the top priority, while Leadership and Collaboration end up at the bottom of their lists. Most of the time, we seem to have government by “Gotcha!”

Through the years, my support for term limits for members of the House and Senate has increased exponentially. I do not think any member of the House or Senate should serve more than 12 years – six terms for a House member and two terms for a Senator. If a member of the House or Senate sits out one term and then wants to run for that office again, fine.

Every person who serves in government needs to be reduced to the rank of ordinary citizen periodically to prevent them from forgetting how the rest of us have to live.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.