Education Hearings Sucked

@GOP @GOPHOUSE @GOPSenate @SenateDems Hearing Committee members you should be ashamed at yourselves for how the senate hearing was conducted, especially @SenAlexander  and @PattyMurray who led the committee. Non of  you pushed for substantive type of questions at the #Senatehearing on Education for @BetsyDeVos.  Questions that were important to the American people, like plans, timelines, impacts, costs etc. were never asked by either #republicans or #democrats.

Either you were trying to sing Ms. Devos' praise or were grandstanding for soundbites.  The inter arguing between rules and procedures clearly could have been done on your own time, surely you have rules, or do those changes with every new nomination?  The hearings were a sham, but the #MSM mainstream media was no better.  Information from the public was reported with amp'ed up drama to either incite anger at Ms. Devos, or anger towards Politicians.  In several #MSM reports, journalists wrote information out of context to make their point.  (Which makes me consider a future topic on the differences between journalism and news reporting)

The hearings and the media failed us, and while I want to point the finger solely at them, I must remind , that it is our civic duty to be involved, and as such my contribution is to report a perspective from an average person, so you the reader can consider how to further contribute.  I am not about complaining without providing solutions, and while I have no control on the internal strife of Congressional Workings regarding their processes, I will recommend that they streamline their hearings in the future, so that they are substantive.

ETHICS OFFICE

1. Congress established an Ethics Office:  https://www.oge.gov/ for Nominimees. The information is open to the public and the requirements are listed.   There is even a PDF on Roles and Responsibilities   The office notes what they are responsible for, but also what they are not responsible for:

"OGE’s mission is one of prevention. OGE does not adjudicate complaints, investigate matters within the jurisdiction of Inspectors General and other authorities, or prosecute ethics violations. For more information about enforcement, click"(pg.4 of PDF)

Which is why I am sure many Americans are irritated with Congressional Democrats for only now realizing they want additional paperwork under the auspice of the Ethics Office, to clarify conflicts of  interest.  If it is important now, it was important then, and important in the future, and while it seems like a good argument, the time to decided something is important, should not be after the facts or to bolster drama on a topic that is already being reviewed through an established process by the Ethics Office.  Let's also not forget that the FBI does a complete background Check on all nominees, and that does include a personal financial conflicts of interest.

I am a big fan of Ethics, but having a code of Ethics is only as good as the ability to enforce through reward or punishment, and since the Federal Government is Federal, those ethical violations that are punishable, at this time, are only those that are illegal under LAW.  Which means unless an activity is illegal, no matter how shady something looks (like Cattlegate) there is nothing to gain but Grandstanding and taking up time complaining about ethics as a philosophical point of view.

QUESTIONS

2. Ask Nominees relevant questions about the job.  Americans understand many congressmen and women have not been in the Work Feild, but typically job interviews are conducted.  Why would that be any different for Cabinet Nominee that is going to be running a Federal Cabinet position, AND why are there no Human Resource professionals at these conferences asking relevant questions?

To give everyone an idea of the type of questions Americans would have liked to hear in regards to Ms. Devos' case, here are just a few

1. What is Ms. Devos' understanding of Educational Funding. Does she support the funding system or see that system changing?
2.  Are there areas needing attention and/or improvements?
3. Does she have a vision on what she would like to accomplish?
4. Why did Pres Elect Trump you to lead this Department?
5. How will she be working with Congress?
6. What is her view on the Ed Departs role in Education between Federal and States?

These are the type of questions that matter, that give clarify, and even further discovery.  Unfortunately NON of Congress who did bother to attend the hearing asked these types of questions.

GET IT TOGETHER CONGRESS

Congress, your job is to work for the people.  You are not the PROFESSIONAL in every industry, so bring those type of people to ask questions.  We are tired of the manipulative narrative being fed and reported to the media, and while it may draw the drama from segmented people, it is not working with those of us who are educated, read and think.

REMEMBER 

#Democrats you got your butts spanked from this election, so learn from that and #Republicans you are on very thin ice, so remember this:

 #wk4theppl

Additional Information & Resources

Everything you could possibly want to know about the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: http://www.help.senate.gov/

The Video Hearing: http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/nomination-of-betsy-devos-to-serve-as-secretary-of-education

This Article is still being edited.