Nothing But Love :: golf blogger

Baseball, Steroids, and the Government

The U. S. House of Representatives has a committee called the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.* This is the Congressional committee that is investigating the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball.

Here's the question I have about the investigation, many stories about which have been in the newspapers, news wire services, and television, to the exclusion of other, what I would consider, more important issues. In the general scheme of things, what does it matter what Roger Clemens did or did not do to advance his career or whether Barry Bonds' hat size increased to the size of the non-planet Pluto in the last five years? If the players purchased illegal drugs, there are actions the government can take under the present system of injustice, such as criminal prosecution. For a Congressional committee to investigate allegations of drug use in baseball or any sporting event is ludicrous and a monumental waste of the taxpayers' money.

I know that the government has granted baseball an exemption from anti-trust laws, but I don't see how this particular committee has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of drug abuse in Major League Baseball. It seems to me that the F.B.I. should be investigating interstate transport of illegal substances, money laundering, and drug law violations.

The rhetoric gushing from Capitol Hill does nothing to solve any of the problems with drug abuse in sports and, more importantly, the rampant substance abuse in this country. An investigation into the worthlessness of the "Just Say No" and other programs into which the government pours gobs of money should be conducted. We'd all be better off if that money and the gajillions of dollars spent to house drug abusers in the nation's prisons would be spent on certain treatment programs that work -- and they do work -- and the facilities involved in offering those programs. But that would mean the prison industry in this country would suffer tremendous monetary losses, and those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, that is, making money, in that arena (construction, management, services, etc.) are vehemently opposed to any attempted change of societal attitudes toward drug addiction, substance abuse, and the associated problems.

But it is time for change.

* -- See extended entry for the dry, legal stuff.

There are two functions of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is in two areas, taking care of legislative matters and the responsibility of oversight of government programs, such as the billions of dollars spent in Iraq, for which there has been no accounting.

House Rule X, Clause 1, grants the committee legislative jurisdiction in the following areas:
• Federal civil service, including intergovernmental personnel; and the status of officers and employees of the United States, including their compensation, classification, and retirement;
• Municipal affairs of the District of Columbia in general (other than appropriations);
• Federal paperwork reduction;
• Government management and accounting measures generally;
• Holidays and celebrations;
• Overall economy, efficiency, and management of government operations and activities, including federal procurement;
• National archives;
• Population and demography generally, including the Census;
• Postal service generally, including transportation of the mails;
• Public information and records;
• Relationship of the federal government to the states and municipalities generally; and
• Reorganizations in the executive branch of the government.

House Rule X, Clause 2(b), grants the committee authority to review and study on a continuing basis —

• The application, administration, execution, and effectiveness of laws and programs addressing subjects within its jurisdiction
• The organization and operation of Federal agencies and entities having responsibilities for the administration and execution of laws and programs addressing subjects within its jurisdiction
• Any conditions or circumstances that may indicate the necessity or desirability of enacting new or additional legislation addressing subjects within its jurisdiction (whether or not a bill or resolution has been introduced with respect thereto)
• Future research and forecasting on subjects within its jurisdiction.

House Rule X, Clause 3(i), states that the committee shall "review and study on a continuing basis the operation of Government activities at all levels with a view to determining their economy and efficiency."

House Rule X, Clause 4(c)(1), provides that the Committee shall:
• Receive and examine reports of the Comptroller General of the United States and submit to the House such recommendations as it considers necessary or desirable in connection with the subject matter of the reports
• Evaluate the effects of laws enacted to reorganize the legislative and executive branches of the Government
• Study intergovernmental relationships between the States and municipalities and between the United States and international organizations of which the United States is a member.

And House Rule X, Clause 4(c)(2), states that the committee "may at any time conduct investigations of any matter without regard to clause 1, 2, 3, or this clause [of House Rule X] conferring jurisdiction over the matter to another standing committee."

Posted by Bill at January 16, 2008 06:33 PM