Posted on 04/22/2004 6:23:27 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
House to vote on 'Continuity in Representation Act' to assure survival.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote today on a bill assuring its continued functioning in case large numbers of its members are killed or incapacitated in a terrorist attack or other catastrophe, at the same time preserving the electoral system established by the Founders.
Sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., the "Continuity in Representation Act," H.R. 2844, would require states to hold special elections to fill wide-scale vacancies within 45 days after the speaker of the House announces that "extraordinary circumstances" – defined as 100 or more vacancies in the House – exist. Candidates for replacements would be nominated to the ballot by the political parties recognized in various states within 10 days of such an announcement.
"This legislation provides for a functioning House of Representatives and protects the people's right to elected representation even under the most tragic of circumstances," Sensenbrenner said upon introducing his bill last July. "Under this legislation, our republic will maintain its democratic character and the House will maintain its 'intimate sympathy with the people,' as James Madison wrote in the 'Federalist Papers,' by remaining a body composed only of those members who are elected by the people."
The bill enjoys broad bipartisan support, including the House Leadership and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers of New York and Arkansas Democrat Vic Snyder. Co-sponsors include House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier, R-Calif., House Constitution Subcommittee Chairman Steve Chabot, and Reps. Ron Paul, R-Texas, Candice Miller and Tom Cole.
However, the bill has its critics, who complain the proposal is not adequate and that House Republicans are stifling debate on other suggestions that deal with the issue of continuity of government following a disaster. These alternative plans require passage of a constitutional amendment. One suggestion being floated is to grant the governor of a state the authority to appoint successors to vacant offices.
Another, by Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow each House member to designate a replacement to serve temporarily in the event the member dies or is incapacitated in a catastrophic event. The replacement would serve until a special election is held.
Baird, one of H.R. 2844's harshest detractors, views the bill as "significantly flawed," and is especially critical of what he views as congressional inaction and failure to come to grips with an important matter.
"This Congress has now been idle for 2½ years, denying full, fair debate on the issue of its continuity," said Baird at a press conference Tuesday. He said he planned to collect signatures for a discharge petition that would force the House to debate alternative proposals. He'll need 218.
Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I., joined Baird in his signature-gathering effort, saying 45 days was too much time for Congress to remain inactive and not enough time for states to organize special elections.
But supporters of the Sensenbrenner bill adamantly object to charges that the House has been sitting on its hands since Sept. 11, 2001, and reject allegations of inadequate discussion.
Ample debate
"This is something that's been given extremely careful consideration because of the tremendous importance of it, and there has been ample debate," Jessica Boulanger -- press secretary to Republican Party Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri -- told WorldNetDaily.
"Has there been floor debate?" she asked yesterday, answering: "That is something that happens once a bill actually gets to the floor, and tomorrow will be the first day for floor debate. But as for behind-the-scenes communication between members in the very bipartisan way that's been happening since 9-11, and in committee hearings, and behind-the-scenes work in negotiation that takes place to get to where we're at today, which is a bill that will be voted on tomorrow -- so there has been a tremendous amount of input both by Democrats and Republicans."
Proponents of Sensenbrenner's proposal say there is no need to amend the Constitution and that the problem of continuity can be dealt with legislatively.
In a letter dated April 19, the heads of three major House committees – Sennsenbrenner, chairman of House Judiciary; David Dreier, chairman of House Rules; and Bob Ney, chairman of House Administration – detail the reasons for their support.
"Unlike other proposals designed to deal with the continuity of Congress … H.R. 2844 will preserve the people's constitutional right to elected representation," they write. "The House – uniquely among all branches and bodies of the entire federal government – is rooted in democratic principles and those principles must be preserved, always."
As for the feasibility of holding elections expeditiously, they explain that this matter was carefully deliberated and expertise was sought.
"The 45- and 10-day time frames are the result of extensive vetting with state and local election officials," they write. "R. Doug Lewis, Executive Director of the Election Center – a non-partisan organization representing the nation's election officials – has stated that 'elections administrators [from combined responses nationwide] feel that they can conduct an election within as few as 45 days.' In addition, the Congressional Budget Office has pointed out, already 10 states – including New York – require special elections within 45 days in normal circumstances."
Sensenbrenner's bill has been widely promoted by the Liberty Committee – a nationwide network of grass-roots activists, founded by Ron Paul – which has spearheaded much of the support at the same time fighting proposals involving amending the Constitution.
As WorldNetDaily reported, the Liberty Committee hopes to mobilize the public into demanding House members support H.R. 2844. The committee's website features a special program enabling anyone, anywhere in the country to sign and send letters electronically to his or her representative.
"Our entire focus is on the legislative process, and everything we do is to advance the legislative remedy to a problem," says Kent Snyder, executive director. "We give [people] information and ask them to participate in the legislative process."
"In this case we're saying: Here is a constitutionally proper, practical solution to address the potential problems in the future without amending the Constitution and – underscore this point – always electing House members, never appointing them
Someone had to say it.
regards - red
I bet we would do fine without them. This has proven to be the case with some of them anyway. For example, John Kerry has not been to work in the Senate for over a year. Lieberman was not around much during the presidential campaign. The other guys in Congress that ran for president were not around much either. Which proves none of them were all that important.
WHICH 100 Congressmen are we talking about???
My sentiments exactly!
Umm, yes. Federal disaster relief, for one.
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