Inside the Beltway

Lawmaker’s license

A newcomer to Capitol Hill, a Republican freshman congressman from Texas, is concerned that his congressional colleagues are not as well-versed on the U.S. Constitution as they ought to be as representatives of the American people.

So Rep. K. Michael Conaway has introduced a resolution that, if approved when voted on in September, would require every member of Congress and each person on their staff to read the Constitution at least once per year.

The Constitution is a relatively short document — about 2,500 words — not an “onerous task” by any means to consume, the congressman points out.

Republicans, in comparison, couldn’t wait to digest the 75,000-or-so words of “Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry,” and Democrats the 80,000 words of Michael Moore’s “Dude, Where’s My Country?”

Before Mr. Conaway was elected to Congress in 2004, he was a certified public accountant. He still maintains his license, which for renewal requires him to participate in 40 hours of continuing professional education each year.

He feels the standards should be no different for congressmen.

Take a lesson

That was golf legend Jack Nicklaus on Capitol Hill yesterday telling congressmen that positive behaviors are like the game of golf and are based upon these nine values: honesty, responsibility, respect, judgment, courtesy, perseverance, integrity, confidence and sportsmanship.

He testified about the importance of character education at a hearing of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.

Exit, stage left

Talk about an intriguing compilation of polls on the subject of patriotism, compiled by American Enterprise Institute resident scholar Karlyn Bowman just in time for Independence Day.

The good news from Gallup is that 83 percent of a group it surveyed said they are either extremely or very proud of being an American.

Story Continues →