Pst. The Constitution is designed to actively limit the scope and abilities of the government. Claiming that I need to find a passage that says Congress CAN (as opposed to CANNOT) is a misrepresentation of the nature of the document. Buddy, I hate this bailout bill too (and both my crap Senators voted for it, thankfully my Rep did not and he will receive my vote this year) but there’s nothing unconstitutional about it.
BDS.
BECAUSE the Constitution limits the scope and abilities of the government, Congress must derive its actions from the Constitution, which is written in plain English. The Constitution enumerates powers. It says what the government CAN do, not what it CANNOT. Of course, it's a moot point anyway. They're just going to do what they want. It's getting to be time for the people to consult the Declaration of Independence.
Sorry, Terpfen, but your logic is exactly backwards. The document proscribes, in detail, that which the Federal Government is permitted to do; and leaves no doubt that anything NOT specifically permitted by the document is forbidden. The House and the Senate and the president should be forced by law to cite where the Constitution permits any and every bill or action that they pass/take. That they do NOT is the reality, and it has led us to this rush towards socialism. No one should ever have to prove Government actions Unconstitutional, but the the Gov't should have to prove Constitutionality for EVERYTHING that it does. If ever a person stepped forward to run for office on THAT platform, I would champion them till I died! And REAL conservatives would (or should) as well, regardless of the name of the party.