Accounting Expert Ketz Disheartened By Senate Enron Hearings

ByJohn S. McClenahen U.S. senators taking part in Capitol Hill hearings into Enron Corp.'s collapse are "posturing and preening for points with the public" and not focusing on substantive issues, asserts J. Edward Ketz, associate professor of accounting at Pennsylvania State University's Smeal College of Business in University Park, Pa. The senators "aren't asking hard questions," he complains. "In fact, they aren't asking many questions about accounting, or organizational control or how to improve the communication of corporate reports," he says. "If we are going to prevent future Enrons, senators need to direct their comments to accounting and finance issues and quit worrying about re-election."