It doesn't get any lower than this. Or does it? The Honorary Board of the House of Representatives has launched an investigation into allegations of sexual impropriety among legislators. Some of the elected representatives quickly went up in arms responding to this news last week, stating that such behavior was only human even though deplorable, that it was not confined to politicians only and that this can be found in other professions. Point well taken, dear honorary members, but we still want to see the sex-scandal investigation proceed.

This is only the latest scandal to hit the House that is undermining its already tattered public reputation and image. So what else is new?

House members are already embroiled by criticism over their planned foreign trips. The latest was the group from the Honorary Board, which left for Greece on the weekend supposedly on a comparative study to look into ethics in politics.

The fact that this trip, and others by other House groups earlier, went ahead in spite of public criticism, provides further evidence of how insensitive, deaf and unethical, our elected representatives have become toward those who put them there.

Earlier in the year, the House had to scrap a plan to renovate the House building after reports surfaced that the new facility would include a spa and other luxury amenities that do not befit the House's main function as the representatives of the people. On this one, at least the House was responsive toward public sentiments.

But why is the House coming under so much attention and why are the public and media scrutinizing just about every single move it makes?

These are highly paid elected politicians who live off taxpayers' money. So, naturally the people demand a better performance.

One year since these elected politicians were installed, their performance has been nothing but disappointing. They were fortunate that most of the attention and criticism this month went to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who also marked the first anniversary of his second term in office. This does not mean, however, that the House has been spared from the people's wrath.

The spate of scandals and scathing public criticism suggest that the House has been under close public scrutiny all year round, so much so that most of us missed the one-year anniversary when it happened.

Our elected representatives have enjoyed a high public profile in the past year, but this has not been matched by what they actually have delivered. The House spent considerable time picking on high profile cases, such as the Bank Century scandal and its scathing attacks against Malaysia, all of which sustained them in the news every night. But on legislation, which is its other main duty, the House has very little to show for.

The House has scaled down its ambitious target of deliberating and passing 70 bills in its first year to 40, and even this seems ambitious by late October. At the last count, they have passed 20 bills, and most were minor and insignificant legislations. Yet, our democracy and nation building hinges on how fast the House can pass these badly needed laws.

People have been urging President Yudhoyono to replace his Cabinet members who fall short of expectations after one year. If the same criterion was used in judging House members, we should probably replace the entire 550 elected legislators for their poor performance in the last 12 months.

Unfortunately, we are stuck with this bunch of mostly political clowns for four more years. If only to keep the people amused, then bring the sex scandals to the surface. It is still not worth the taxpayers' money we spend on them, but at least we learn who is sleeping with who, and who is just simply sleeping on the job.

There may be some entertainment value there after all, which is better than nothing.