Can someone elaborate on the addition to the title: ... with no one to stop it I understand it's close to Christmas but is it really that unusual to have

Can someone elaborate on the addition to the title: ... with no one to stop it I understand it's close to Christmas but is it really that unusual to have hearings in late December? Are they really going to have a better showing of proponents vs opponents with this new date? Otherwise can we tone down the added sensationalism to an already emotional topic? (Unless, of course, this is indeed an important point to make, and then I request some one elaborate)