Yesterday, as an interested but open-minded observer, I attended a hearing on railbanking chaired by Rep. James Hansen, R-Utah. For this hearing, he invited as guests to the House of Representatives witnesses who favored and opposed draft legislation.
Aside from government employees, witnesses included private citizens, public officials and officers or agents of interested organizations.Rep. Hansen listened with courteous attention and gave considerable leeway to the panel members favoring the legislation. When he seated the panel members opposing this legislation, he reminded them of the time limits on testimony and then walked out of the hearing room.
I hope that his insulting and rude behavior toward these invited guests, including a small-town mayor/grandmother and President Ronald Reagan's former national security adviser, on crutches because of recent surgery, is not representative of his constituency.
Michael L. Hays
McLean, Va.