Seven ways Rick Perry wants to change the Constitution

The Ticket via Yahoo ^ | 8/19/2011 | By Chris Moody

[US Navy Vet]

Rick Perry has many ideas about how to change the American government's founding document. From ending lifetime tenure for federal judges to completely scrapping two whole amendments, the Constitution would see a major overhaul if the Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate had his druthers.

Perry laid out these proposed innovations to the founding document in his book, Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington. He has occasionally mentioned them on the campaign trail. Several of his ideas fall within the realm of mainstream conservative thinking today, but, as you will see, there are also a few surprises.

[Gene Eric]

No doubt in my mind we’re better anchored to the spirit of the Constitution and God on this issue.

[Gene Eric]

As far as I’m concerned, the state shouldn’t have employees.

I am fervently against the state sanctioning homosexual marriage — it’s perverted statism, but so are the manipulative aspects where licensing heterosexual marriage is concerned — we’re not #ing dogs that need to be registered with licenses in order to coexist as natural, procreative couples, especially when blessed by our Lord.

[federal__reserve]

Perry is better than Obama anyday. ABO (anybody but obama)

[cva66snipe]

In deed. I'm usually leery of ANYONE who wants to start 'tweaking" the Constitution be it Democrat OR Republican. The only real problem I have with it is that it is not being enforced as intended. It won't matter if it is changed any at all if it won't be enforced.

That's the way I see it also. Not to mention a Constitutional Convention will open the door for the extreme left wing to amend the Constitution as too. I want to see The Constitution we have upheld by congress, POTUS, and the courts. Even with a few flaws it has if it was abided by our nation would be for better off.

[Lancey Howard]

I agree fully with your sentiments. I’m at the point now, though, that anything that can be done to rub crap in the faces of the activist sodomites should be done, just for spite and schadenfreude.

[jocon307]

What does he want to replace the income tax with?

I do think we’ve got to start thinking about restricting voting, repealing the 17th Amendment would be a good place to start. Clearly universal suffrage has not brought us to a good place.

Maybe only people who have EARNED income should vote.

That would exclude both welfare recipients and trust fund babies.

[SFRigger]

An amendment instituting term limits on congresscritters & senators needs to be on the table. Two terms for senators, six for congresscritters sounds good. What say Ye?

[newzjunkey]

Seven is far too many amendments. I'm loathe to amend generally but let's see what's on the table:

1. (Judicial term limits) May be a solution in search of a problem. Make the retirement age too low and we'll end up with far younger and less experienced justices. Strategic delay tactics could be used in anticipation of forced retirements to try to slow appeals to ensure fresh justices favoring one party over the other. Judge shopping at the highest levels. Yuck.

2. (Congressional veto over SCOTUS) Sounds like chaos could be unleashed. A time could come where the Congress looks like the CA legislature in terms of proportion with one party sitting on two-thirds majorities.

If I accept the premise as valid (and I'm inclined to reject it), two-thirds is frankly TOO LOW a burden. It should be three-quarters if SCOTUS is to be overturned by Congress alone.

You only need two-thirds to pass a constitutional amendment from Congress but you need three-quarters of the states to ratify. I don't trust Congress further than I can throw it.

I've heard a variant of this involving the legislatures which is less a threat to the independent judgement the court is meant to reflect.

There's already a way to overturn SCOTUS decision and that's the amendment process itself.

3. (Repeal Fed Income Tax) This works but some revenue system will have to exist to pay for the military and basic federal services. I assume Perry wants to do this as part of moving to his "Fair Tax" plan. More a "Flat Tax" fan from the '90s, I'm not fully on board with the "Fair Tax." That's topic for another thread.

4. (Repeal direct election of Senators) AMEN! Another dumb idea the early 20th century progressives gave us.

While we're at it, we must overturn SCOTUS ruling that destroyed state senates (Reynolds v. Sims, 1964) while we're at it? Sen. Dirksen (IL) tried because he saw the decision would lead to state legislative business being dominated by megacities at the expense of the other citizens. He was nearly successful but died and momentum died with him. A generation, later we see just how prophetic he was.

Without this change, repealing the 17th is moot. The major population centers would still control those representing the state in Congress, just indirectly.

5. (Balanced Budget Amendment / BBA) I like the BBA Hatch drafted to go with "Cut, Cap & Balance." It has safeguards against tax hikes, bans the courts from budget enforcement, caps spending at 18% of GDP, and provides an exception in a state of declared war. Balanced Budget Amendment, HJ RES 56 (same as SR RES 10)

The one that almost passed in '95 (1 vote short) was far more vague and full of danger. Text of proposed

6. (Marriage) I would propose DOMA Sec. 2 be the model for a "marriage" amendment.

"No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such relationship."

It would preserve individual state sovereignty over the marriage issue.

If we're going to believe in "10th amendment principles," we should recognize where states have had authority in defining the package of legal benefits and responsibilities each calls "marriage" and reenforce that thinking. Otherwise we end up with 38 states taking away what a few decided they wanted in an issue clearly in their domain.

7. (Abortion outlawed) Noble goal. Impossible to pass in our culture today. Even codifying the pre-Roe vs Wade world, with abortion as a state-level issue, would be a great leap forward.

[mmanager]

Those seven answers sums up who Perry is.

[SuperLuminal]

Hmmm...Not good enough, in my originalist pov. Some key missing ones are:

• The "vote" is for real property owners;
• Women do not vote;
• Government can "do" only those limited things explicitly stated in the former Constitution;
• All agencies not meeting the above criterion are summarily disbanded and excess government properties are auctioned off to the highest bidder;
• The federal government can own no land;
• All so-called National parks and other federal "preserves" stolen from the states should be immediately returned to the states and auctioned off to American citizens by the states;
• Congress can spend a maximum of 30-days each year in session and must punch a time clock with hours from 8AM to 6PM;
• Each congressman or senator is limited to no more than two (2) staffers (paid for out of their own pocket);
• Congressional pay cannot be set or established by Congress and, immediately would be reduced to the exact amount it was in 1800; and,
• The proposed annual federal budget is prepared in 4-year cycles and voted on (up or down) by eligible American citizens in a general election before it goes to the President for signature.

[Wiser now]

It is up to Congress to pass amendments to the Constitution and the staes to ratify those amendments.
The President can do nothing.

The left and the RINOS are clearly terrified of this guy.

[Sacajaweau]

The founders were very concerned about the Supreme Court because there was nothing to check the court. I’m sure they rolled when it came to pass that killing babies was some type of right....it’s an absurdity, just like gay “marriage”.

[Sacajaweau]

I'd like to see term limits.

English as Official Language

[Repeal The 17th]

Thanks for the extract.

[octex]

Thanks, AnalogReigns, for posting the seven items that USN Vet refused to post.

I’m only unsure about #3 and #4, but agree fully with all of the others.

If Senators aren’t elected, then how would they be able to take office?

If no income tax, then how would the local, State and Federal governments be funded?

(full disclosure... I’m in Texas and we have no income tax, but the property taxes here are very high to compensate for that lack of funds to the government)

[octex]

Your post #40....

Very good analysis and explanation of the items in your comments.

[octex]

Oooops!

That should be your posting #48, not #40.

[nikos1121]

I agree with him on the 16th and 17th amendments. I think we live with SC judges for life...I agree on the marriage issue. Abortion is either a crime or it isn’t. Apparently, to some states it will never be. Therefore, let the states decide on it. That would be a start.

[DaveA37]

Looks like room for a few more.........

Congress shall live under the same law(s) they pass

Eliminate/reduce their lifetime “salary” pensions

Term limits of not more than three terms for all elected Congress and Senator members

Others can reword these but you get the idea. I dan’t have time to create them right now...Bye!

[DaveA37]

Looks like room for a few more.........

Congress shall live under the same law(s) they pass

Eliminate/reduce their lifetime “salary” pensions

Term limits of not more than three terms for all elected Congress and Senator members

Others can reword these but you get the idea. I don’t have time to create them right now...Bye!