Miller: Legislatures Should Pick Senators (Zell suggests repeal of 17th Amendment!)

Associated press ^ | 4/28/04 | JEFFREY McMURRAY, Associated Press Writer

[adam_az]

WASHINGTON - Zell Miller, Georgia's maverick Democratic senator, says the nation ought to return to having senators appointed by legislatures rather than elected by voters.

Miller, who is retiring in January, was first appointed to his post in 2000 after the death of Paul Coverdell. He said Wednesday that rescinding the 17th Amendment, which declared that senators should be elected, would increase the power of state governments and reduce the influence of Washington special interests.

"The individuals are not so much at fault as the rotten and decaying foundation of what is no longer a republic," Miller said on the Senate floor. "It is the system that stinks. And it's only going to get worse because that perfect balance our brilliant Founding Fathers put in place in 1787 no longer exists."

The Constitution called for voters to directly elect members to the U.S. House but empowered state legislatures to pick senators. The aim was to create a bicameral Congress that sought to balance not only the influence of small and large states but also the influence of state and federal governments.

Miller said that balance was destroyed in 1913 with the ratification of the 17th Amendment. He has introduced a resolution, which he acknowledges has no chance of passage, to repeal the 17th Amendment and again let state legislatures pick senators.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., suggested Miller and others were treating the Constitution as a "rough draft" by proposing a series of recent amendments to require a balanced federal budget, define marriage and criminalize flag burning.

"We are the example of representative self-government in this world that works," Dorgan said. "It's messy, the noise of democracy is annoying sometimes, but it works."

[adam_az]

Incredible development - Can anyone find the resolution number, so we can start contacting our State Senators and reps, and urge them to cosponsor???

This is some of the best news I've heard in ages!

Thank you, Zell. If only your (R) friends will have the moxy to support this, too!

[John O]

bttt

[adam_az]

A good article for the "rights" part of your rights, farm, environment list...

bump for States rights!

[Finalapproach29er]

I agree with Zell.

[fishtank]

I'm sure Arlen Specter would find something in Scottish law that would prevent him from supporting this.

Dweeb.

[MCRD]

Byron Dorgan is always annoying.

[fishtank]

[MegaSilver]

"It's messy, the noise of democracy is annoying sometimes, but it works."

Democracy never works, Senator.

[Integrityrocks]

Ok.. I'm not understanding it... someone explain how a State's legislature picking a new senator is better than the State's voters. Really... I'd like to hear both sides.

[Formoore04]

"Democracy never works, Senator."

Well it works for him. And he's not going to let his power be removed by any states rights do-goodnick.

[jayef]

Restore the Republic. There was a reason why the founders wanted legislatures to pick Senators. The Senate is supposed to be the deliberative body and is not supposed to be subject to popular whim. Go Zell!!!

[My2Cents]

ROFL!

[My2Cents]

Read Zell's book. I recall something in it about this issue, and found myself agreeing with him.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Repeal the 17th amendment and restore the States power to check the Federal usurpation of States Rights.

[Integrityrocks]

So ok.. next question. If the state's House is mostly democrats, then the next senator picked would be Democrat right (or visa versa)?

[adam_az]

Thats how the COnstitution was originally written.

It is the key to checks and balances to ensure that the Federal government is responsive to States.

Right now, the States Governments have NO representation in Washington. The 17th Amendment destroyed the concept of a Federal Republic.

State governments used to pay Senators salaries - now they come from the Executive branch. Who do Senators work for...? That's the key to this issue.

[fishtank]

Separation of powers was intended not only between:

(1) Exdcutive
(2) Legislative and
(3) Judicial

but between:

(1) The federal government
(2) the state governments
(3) and the citizenry.

[My2Cents]

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., suggested Miller and others were treating the Constitution as a "rough draft" by proposing a series of recent amendments to require a balanced federal budget, define marriage and criminalize flag burning.

Oh yeah, fine! Dorgan OK with the courts making things up as they go, reading things into the constitution that don't exist. But to actually go through the legitimate process of amending the constitution?....I guess that's too much for the Dems.

[JmyBryan]

I fully agree with this and hope to see this become a movement.

[fishtank]

Yes, and it would be a greater motivtion for the citizenry to pay attention to the state houses and senates.