Cite the Constitutional authority

[DC]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=23148

ON CAPITOL HILL
Enumerated Powers Act
picks up steam
Would require Congress to cite constitutional
authority for every bill


By Julie Foster
© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com

Next month, a House Judiciary subcommittee is expected
to consider a simple measure in Congress that would
require all legislation to include a constitutional citation of
authority.

Sponsored by Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., the
one-paragraph proposal's operative sentence states,
"Each Act of Congress shall contain a concise and
definite statement of the constitutional authority relied
upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act."

Called the Enumerated Powers Act, this is the measure's
fourth introduction into Congress. H.R. 175, this year's
version of the proposal, currently has 26 cosponsors.

Shadegg said he introduced the measure "to continue the
fight against a federal government that is too big and is
involved in too many areas which are beyond its
constitutional authority. The federal government can no
longer ignore the 10th Amendment and run roughshod
over the rights and authority the Constitution preserves to
the states and to the people respectively."

Rest of article

 

[Dead]

This should be applied retro-actively!!!

 

[C.R.Sam]

What Dead said.

 

[Christopher II]

It won't pass.
It won't even come up for a vote.
But still, one must give credit to Rep. Shadegg for having the spine to stand up and do the right thing. Good on him, and on his cosponsors. Perhaps, given time and effort, this bill can become a reality.

Later,
Chris

 

[Christopher II]

Here's a link to the bill itself: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query

Here's a list of the co-sponsors. Perhaps they could use a note of thanks/encouragement... http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:HR00175:@@@P

Later,
Chris

 

[ahenry]

Don't give up!

It might not go anywhere but we should sure do what we can to try and make it go somewhere. If each member of this board sent a message to the people holding it in committee I would bet it would at least come up for a vote. If we then notified all our congress critters there is a good chance it might go somewhere. 10,000 people all commenting on one issue is about 9,950 people more than normally comment. Come on we hold the big stick here, it's time to wield it. Don't give up the fight before it's fought.

I would be happy to write a form letter that people could cut and paste, but I suspect there are some other more eloquent members of this board that could do a far better job than I. Any takers?

I will see if I can't compile a list of people that we should be contacting. This would be a great bill. Lets see just how much power "the people" still have...

 

[Dead]

Who are the ones holding it in committe, what are their addresses??? I want to fire up the letter maker

I know who my congrasses are.

 

[ahenry]

ok, what I can find...

Current status of H.R. 175: Sent to the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on the Constitution.

Subcommittee on the Constitution:
Phone: (202) 226-7680

Chair: Steve Chabot, OH, Republican
The Honorable Steve Chabot
129 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515-3501
Phone: (202) 225-2216

Members:

• William L. Jenkins, TN, Republican
  The Honorable William L. Jenkins
  1708 Longworth HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-4201
  Phone: (202) 225-6356
  
• Lindsey O. Graham, SC, Republican
  The Honorable Lindsey O. Graham
  1429 Longworth HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-4003
  Phone: (202) 225-5301
  
• Spencer Brachus, AL, Republican
  The Honorable Spencer Bachus
  442 Cannon HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-0106
  Phone: (202) 225-4921
  
• John N. Hostettler, IN, Republican
  The Honorable John N. Hostettler
  1507 Longworth HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-1408
  Phone: (202) 225-4636
  
• Melissa A. Hart, PA, Republican
  The Honorable Melissa A. Hart
  1508 Longworth HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-3804
  Phone: (202) 225-2565
  
• Lamar S. Smith, TX, Republican
  The Honorable Lamar S. Smith
  2231 Rayburn HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-4321
  Phone: (202) 225-4236
  
• Asa Hutchinson, AR, Republican
  The Honorable Asa Hutchinson
  1421 Longworth HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-0403
  Phone: (202) 225-4301
  
• Jerrold Nadler, NY, Democrat
  The Honorable Jerrold Nadler
  2334 Rayburn HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-3208
  Phone: (202) 225-5635
  
• Barney Frank, MA, Democrat
  The Honorable Barney Frank
  2252 Rayburn HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-2104
  Phone: (202) 225-5931
  
  
• John Conyers, Jr., MI, Democrat
  The Honorable John Conyers, Jr.
  2426 Rayburn HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-2214
  Phone: (202) 225-5126
  
• Robert C. Scott, VA, Democrat
  The Honorable Robert C. Scott
  2464 Rayburn HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-4603
  Phone: (202) 225-8351
  
  
• Melvin L. Watt, NC, Democrat
  The Honorable Melvin L. Watt
  2236 Rayburn HOB
  Washington, DC 20515-3312
  Phone: (202) 225-1510

The chair and seven of the members are republicans, and only 5 of the members are democrats...

 

[Dave R]

This is a GREAT bill! Great way to get legislators to read the constitution, if nothing else. I'm happy to see my rep. as a co-sponsor.

Now we need TFLers from:

Washington, DC
South Carolina
Alabama
Indiana
Pennsylvania
Texas
AND ESPECIALLY
New York
Massachussetts
Michigan
Virginia
North Carolia

to write your Representatvies on the comittee and get them to send this to the floor with a "do pass" recommendation.

 

[Waitone]

Since we are talking fantasy, let's enrich it.

How 'bout adding a provision that says every law, EVERY LAW passed will have sunset provisions. I just found out today that our much ballyhooed tax cut has a 10 year sunset, meaning all provisions reset to what existed before the law was passed. How come it is tax cuts have sunsets but tax spending is indefinite?????

P*ssed of taxpayers want to know why.

 

[Bob Locke]

Ron Paul has introduced a similar bill every single year that he's been in Washington. He's been blocked by, you guessed it sports fans, the Republican leadership.

The thing that gives me a small amount of hope on this one is that Lindsay Graham and John Hostetler are on the committee.

To say that I would love to see them actually pass this would be an understatement, but it would also be tantamount to them admitting that they've been ignoring the 10th amendment on a regular, ongoing basis for the last hundred years or so, which is why I won't be holding my breath.

 

[Jim V]

John Conyers Jr. would not vote for the bill for any reason. He is so far to the left, his car can't make right turns.

 

[Lance]

Form Letter

Ok, ahenery, write it up, and I will clip and paste, add my own 2 cents, and send it off.
I try not to let a single week go buy without writing to congress on taxes, guns, and freedom.

 

[Fuzzy]

Bush needs to pick this up and make sure it doesn't die!!! It needs some BIG name supporters because this is too important!

-Fuzzy

 

[Quartus]

Don't give up the fight before it's fought.

Right on, ahenry!!!

BTW, Ah fergit whar ah saw it, but a recent story pointed out that most legislators get so much email that they aren't reading it anymore. Send it anyway!!! But also, please Send it snailmail!!!! It will get more respect!

 

[Jeff Thomas]

Rep. Shadegg is a very good man. He would make an excellent Arizona Senator ...

hint

Regards from AZ

 

[Stephen Ewing]

Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but the one they've been using for all their mischief in the past was Article I, section 3, clause 17 (IIRC) the "elastic clause" that says Congress can make all laws they deem "necessary and proper."

Am I missing something, or does this bill not do anything to keep them from using the exact same blank check they have used for the last 200 years?

Steve

 

[Bob Locke]

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

That's not a"blank check" as I read it. It says that the Congress can legislate on those things over which the Constitution gives them authority. Everything over and above that is un-Constitutional.

But that assumes that they actually read and abide by the Constitution, which we all know they don't.

 

[Cosmoline]

ACTUALLY,

Congress already does this most of the time, albiet in very general terms typically in an Act's preamble. Pre-Lopez, they could simply cite the Commerce Clause for everything. That's getting tougher, thankfully.

 

[jimpeel]

This should properly be titled the "Take my power to author as many unconstitutional and extraconstitutional laws as I wish" law of 2001. That's the way they will read it regardless of the title.