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What if terrorists kill 100 congressmen?
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | April 22, 2004 | Sarah Foster

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: doomsdayscenario; homelandsecurity; hr2844; sensenbrenner
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To: fight_truth_decay
Is this a form of term limits?
61 posted on 04/22/2004 8:50:50 PM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, DemocRATs believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: fight_truth_decay
OK, the other question is if 100 were killed, regardless of party, would they all now vote Democrat?
62 posted on 04/22/2004 8:53:07 PM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, DemocRATs believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Related thread here:

House OKs Speedy Elections if Attacked

Your thread is different and much better, but I thought some might want to cross reference.

63 posted on 04/22/2004 8:55:28 PM PDT by null and void (New conspiracy theories hand crafted while you wait...)
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To: wingster
Thanks. I admit, I stole the "My, Oh my, Oh my" from Tommy Lee Jones' first line in "The Fugative."

Supposedly, he wrote the line, after seeing the opening scene accident - bus/train, etc., for the first time hiself.

It's a great typical Texas understatement.
64 posted on 04/22/2004 8:59:52 PM PDT by MindBender26 (For more news as it happens, news first, fast, 5 minutes sooner, stay tuned to FReeper Radio!)
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To: Thor_Hammar
The indiscriminate killing of our politicians would be the stupidest thing the terrorists could do. Odds are that they would kill some valuable allies.
65 posted on 04/22/2004 9:00:34 PM PDT by BikerTrash
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To: Gabz
Doesn't that describe most voters of today???????????

50% Today and growing. Just a few votes short of a sure majority.
66 posted on 04/22/2004 9:03:26 PM PDT by Warlord David
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To: KillTime
Didn't hear of a movie, but sounds a lot like Clancey's Executive Orders.
67 posted on 04/22/2004 9:04:54 PM PDT by null and void (New conspiracy theories hand crafted while you wait...)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Are they trying to get back in our good graces?
68 posted on 04/22/2004 9:06:33 PM PDT by MARTIAL MONK
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To: MindBender26
I wonder how long it would take before the American people realized they were even gone.......
69 posted on 04/22/2004 9:06:38 PM PDT by Two-Bits (Stupidity is not inherited but indoctrinated by the Left. Stop indoctrination NOW! Activate Brain!)
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To: fight_truth_decay
The way things have been looking, that is the only way we could get term limits!
70 posted on 04/22/2004 9:10:04 PM PDT by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything!")
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To: Warlord David
I do what I can to change it.......and was doing it long before I had a child of my own.........
71 posted on 04/22/2004 9:19:59 PM PDT by Gabz (Smoke Gnatzies: small minds buzzing in your business.....SWAT'EM)
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To: fight_truth_decay
But films like Independence Day, Deep Impact, Armageddon, and just about every James Bond movie are examples of films that celebrate, and profit from, the depiction of destruction on a grand scale.

I recall folks applauding when the whitehouse was blown up in ID4. I absolutely loved the end of Debt of Honor. After I read it. I sat there for a second and thought to myself, "He didn't really just kill off the entire congress and senate did he?" Then I re-read the last few pages and savored it a bit.

72 posted on 04/22/2004 9:25:40 PM PDT by zeugma (The Great Experiment is over.)
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To: zeugma
"The fact that political ideologies are tangible realities is not a proof of their vitally necessary character. The bubonic plague was an extraordinarily powerful social reality, but no one would have regarded it as vitally necessary."- Wilhelm Reich
73 posted on 04/22/2004 9:58:25 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay
There's no time to waste! Launch them all into orbit on the Space Shuttle to prevent terrorists from killing them!
74 posted on 04/23/2004 7:07:33 AM PDT by boris (The deadliest weapon of mass destruction in history is a Leftist with a word processor)
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To: zeugma
GTMA
75 posted on 04/23/2004 7:23:55 AM PDT by null and void (I was told I needed to see a shrink because of my compulsive interest in nanotechnology...)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Candidates for replacements would be nominated to the ballot by the political parties recognized in various states within 10 days of such an announcement.

The flaw in our political system in so many words. You can be certain that any choices that get to the ballot won't upset the status quo.

76 posted on 04/23/2004 7:45:38 AM PDT by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: fight_truth_decay
"What if terrorists kill 100 congressmen? "

No great loss. The majority are lying compromisers and would NOT be missed. The only problem is that at the hint of trouble they'll be in some bunker somewhere safer than civilians who pay for all their perks, salaries and protection. Again, to hell with the taxpayer - they'll be too busy saving their arse.
77 posted on 04/23/2004 7:49:56 AM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: null and void
N&ampV,

GTMA?

Sorry. That's one I don't know.

78 posted on 04/23/2004 8:17:16 AM PDT by zeugma (The Great Experiment is over.)
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To: zeugma
It's GMTA before coffee.

GMTA=Great Minds Think Alike
79 posted on 04/23/2004 8:19:42 AM PDT by null and void (I was told I needed to see a shrink because of my compulsive interest in nanotechnology...)
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To: fight_truth_decay
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.

Of course, it would have to be a Dimocrat who wouldn't want the People to choose their representatives - especially after a mega-terror attack. Methinks that he is VERY well away that after such an incident the popularity of his party would be somewhat below that of cleaning a public restroom with your tongue.

80 posted on 04/23/2004 9:04:43 AM PDT by Ancesthntr
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