Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Should Congress Be Subject to the Laws They Pass?

What a dumb question, you ask?


Here is the proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the
United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or
Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the
Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens
of the United States".


Now, the 28th amendment proposal is a good idea, but recall that this was one of the foundational elements of the Contract with America.

It was introduced as H.R. 1 in the 104th Congress and titled the “Congressional Accountability Act of 1995". Sadly, it didn't become law because it got lodged in the Senate.

House and Senate versions of the health care bill included provisions to exempt Congress from coverage, though....Cong. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) supported H.Res. 615 that would have required "that Members who vote in favor of the establishment of a public, federal government run health insurance option are urged to forgo their right to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and agree to enroll under that public option."

If you agree this makes sense, let us know!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree and believe that Congress should not be allowed to pass any law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to elected and appointed government officials and employees, including Senators and Representatives, and to government departments, offices and agencies, and Congress shall make no law that applies to government officials, employees, agencies, departments and offices that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States

Anonymous said...

Why would you say the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 didn't pass when it's actually Public Law 104–1? Passed on Jan. 23, 1995.