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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 20, 1993                   TAG: 9301200345
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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HOLD LAWMAKERS MORE ACCOUNTABLE

THE EXCELLENT article by Dale Eisman ("Panel makes mockery of reform," Jan. 3) rekindled my disgust with the whole process of government in our state (and nation). You could perform a valuable service by introducing a regular column highlighting one interview per day by a staff member with each of our legislators.

Follow-up articles would report how the legislator actually voted and his/her explanation when there was a discrepancy. A refusal to be interviewed should merit front-page news, and an article describing the legislator's character, ethics, receipt of political-action-committee money and voting record.

This series would keep politicians' feet close to the fire with names and activities under intense scrutiny. And if my fellow readers would write, write and write again to tell them what they like or don't like about their behavior, together we just might make a difference.

As William Burke (1727-1797) put it, "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." GRAHAM H. BOURHILL MARION

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