Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome, everyone, and thank you for joining us this afternoon.
Happy birthday, Mr. Askari.
Thank you for spending your birthday with us. I'm sure this is probably one of your most thrilling birthdays.
I would like to ask you a few questions.
I want to talk first of all about the independent senators. You say they have resulted in more cost to your office. Why would that be so? Why would the independence of the senators make a difference in the amount of work you would have to do?