Meetings that convene hours late, if at all. Expert testimony that is not heard because of this. Long lunch breaks for no apparent reason. No clear expectation to adhere to meeting times. A sense of entitlement with which many representatives conduct themselves. All of this in the Maine Legislature is done using our tax dollars, unseen by taxpayers, as “affordability” slips away. Most of the matter described as a waste of resources. “Hurry up and wait.”

This is the eye-opening revelation that I don’t think was prevalent years ago. What can be done? And if it is this way in Maine, how much worse can it be in a place like our nation’s capital? It appears that representatives show up to talk on their cellphones, bicker, maybe vote, all without civil discourse. Is it time to review our Constitution? Maybe update it a bit with regards to new technology? I have heard that the work of government should be a slow, steady progress. Where is the “progress”?

I’ve been to the State House. I’ve been to Washington, D.C., and the sleepy House there. (When I was there, I think there were five people in the chamber.) It would seem to me that the Maine speaker of the House could impress upon the 150 representatives to kindly be on time for all sessions.

The speaker could delegate this duty to the majority leader. The House minority leader and/or the assistant to the minority leader could echo the importance of this. It seems that between these four leaders, expectations could be made clear. A transparency could emerge where representatives who don’t abide would be revealed. When you represent a population of Maine’s people, such a scolding should not be necessary.

My apologies to all the dutiful public servants who travel far and show up prepared and on time as expected. Please disregard this. Do prompt your colleagues to “get with it.”

Heidi Chadbourne 
Manchester