Congress has slated a wave of hearings on economic, finance and regulatory issues, reflecting Democrats’ growing ambitions in the final weeks of the 2008 election campaign. The effort is unusual because it comes during a congressional recess. The schedule crests next week when six different House committees plan to hold eight hearings. They include a Budget Committee session featuring Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy, a Financial Services Committee look at overhauling regulation of the U.S. financial system, and an Education and Labor Committee field hearing in San Francisco to examine sagging retirement savings

In the debate over the weakening economy, Democratic leaders hope to use the hearings to pave the way action on a measure designed to boost growth. They envision a bill that would include spending on highways and bridges, extended benefits to unemployed workers, aid to cash-strapped states and a tax cut. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California is inclined to support a $150 billion package. A group of economists convened by Ms. Pelosi urged the Democratic leadership to consider a package twice that size.

Would not this had been better done before they threw $700 billion at the “problem”?