“We will support your bill with written testimony only.”

I received that message today.

That means no oral testimony.

I responded, “It would be far more effective if you were to provide oral testimony…This provides for dialogue with the Committee.”

Later in the day, I said to my staff, “Whom do you ask a question to about written testimony?”

I’ll be honest. I’m not riveted to every word that witnesses say during a long afternoon of bill hearings.

My laptop makes sure of that.

But not infrequently, something a witness says will get my attention and prompt me to ask a question – friendly or unfriendly.

Written testimony never does that.