Posted on 01/10/2005 3:35:48 AM PST by kattracks
WASHINGTON - With no fanfare, the U.S. House has passed a controversial doomsday provision that would allow a handful of lawmakers to run Congress if a terrorist attack or major disaster killed or incapacitated large numbers of congressmen.
``I think (the new rule) is terrible in a whole host of ways - first, I think it's unconstitutional,'' said Norm Ornstein, a counselor to the independent Continuity of Government Commission, a bipartisan panel created to study the issue. ``It's a very foolish thing to do, I believe, and the way in which it was done was more foolish.'' But supporters say the rule provides a stopgap measure to allow the government to continue functioning at a time of national crisis.
GOP House leaders pushed the provision as part of a larger rules package that drew attention instead for its proposed ethics changes, most of which were dropped.
Usually, 218 lawmakers - a majority of the 435 members of Congress - are required to conduct House business, such as passing laws or declaring war.
But under the new rule, a majority of living congressmen no longer will be needed to do business under ``catastrophic circumstances.''
Instead, a majority of the congressmen able to show up at the House would be enough to conduct business, conceivably a dozen lawmakers or less.
The House speaker would announce the number after a report by the House Sergeant at Arms. Any lawmaker unable to make it to the chamber would effectively not be counted as a congressman.
The circumstances include ``natural disaster, attack, contagion or similar calamity rendering Representatives incapable of attending the proceedings of the House.''
The House could be run by a small number of lawmakers for months, because House vacancies must be filled by special elections. Governors can make temporary appointments to the Senate.
Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.), one of few lawmakers active on the issue, argued the rule change contradicts the U.S. Constitution, which states that ``a majority of each (House) shall constitute a quorum to do business.
``Changing what constitutes a quorum in this way would allow less than a dozen lawmakers to declare war on another nation,'' Baird said.
My bet is that, from this point forward, the Democrats will always keep a greater number of Congressmen absent from Washington (as compared to Republicans). That way, if the Capitol goes up in smoke, the Democrats would automatically assume control.
Of course with Senators like Kerry, it won't be difficult for them to keep a majority absent!
Doubt our fearless leaders will let a little thing like the US Constitution stand in their way...
imo
I would think that the government ceasing to function for a while would save us a lot of money.
HOME RULE!
They'd deserve it for not securing the homeland.
Exactly. 98% of what our federal government does these days is unconstitutional. And what they are mandated to do by the Constitution (like protect our borders), they completely shirk. So why should this be any different?
No argument from me!
This is positively frightening, particularly because the Dems consider losing an election a national calamity.
Exactly spot on!
That sounds pretty odd.
Hard to see the downside of Capitol Hill being put out of commission. We have enough laws now to last a thopusand years.
Right before 9-11 Hollywood was in the process of making a movie where virtually all three houses of gov't were killed. The story followed a lone congressional aids (or somesuch) attempt to maintain the US gov't. It was shelved after 9-11, but with all the doomsday films out since, I wonder if they will continue to make the film.
Congress can determine through its rules what constitutes a quorum. And one can make a case that if the majority of Congresscritters were wiped out in an attack or natural disaster, those left could still conduct business. Of course vacancies would have to be filled by constitutional procedures as soon as possible.
The sheep have lots of good grazing, they wont notice.
D@mned dangerous!
Heck, it'd take that long to find 'em all and repeal them.
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