In a few weeks, a special Senate commitee will start holding meetings to talk about money for the state’s transportation needs. Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Morris Westfall of Halfway does not want to see the meetings he has planned labelled as “hearings.” He prefers to think of the meetings as a public relations effort. But Senator Jim Mathewson of Sedalia says they are, indeed, hearings. And, he says they are a waste of time. No schedule for the gatherings has yet been released.