? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

What would be the protocol to get a bill passed that the congress can not pass any bill that exempts them from that bill?

*I will be in and out today and will check back in later. Thanks

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Are you referring to the Healthcare bill? If you are, it is not true that the House or Senate bill exempts Congress from it's provisions.

I'll be in and out today, mostly out. :heeheehee

If you aren't referring to the Healthcare bill, can you give a little more detail or reword the question. Thanks!

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

I'm talking about ALL bills.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

I don't know that there is any way to get a bill passed to require Congress to be subject to the laws it passes. Their argument is that it keeps Congress above the law, which is necessary to preserve the constitutional separation of powers.

It's interesting that James Madison, in Federalist No. 57, stated that, "Congress can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of society."

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

I agree with James Madison. Why should Congress be above the law?

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Yes, I agree with him as well. It just shows how far we have come from the original intent of our Constitution.

And what candidate is as concerned as we are?

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Esther, it boils down to math

435 members of the House
100 members of the Senate

To get such a law, you need exactly 218 members of the house to vote for it.
You need, at a minimum 60 senators to agree to vote on the subject, then you need at a minimum 50 senators plus the vice president to vote for it.


good luck.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Can the people not put this on a ballot and vote on it without Congress approval?

Don't they work for us?

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

No, they don't work for us. They work for themselves.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

There is no such thing as a "the ballot" on the federal level.

The constitution requires congress pass all laws.


The concept of ballot inititives is a state level advent created by State Constitutions.



The only other option is a constitutional convention. For that you would need 33 state legislatures to call a convention.


Article V - Amendment The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Back to the subject of do they work for us?

This is a dicey question. on the surface the answer is YES.

But in more detail only 3 of the work for YOU. You have 1 Member of the house that represents you and 2 senators that you vote on.

These and only these truely work for YOU as an individual.

What we really find is that while Congress NEVER has an approval rating reach even 50% and currently has one below 20%, if polling is done at the district level, it is rare to find an indiviual congressman who's approval rating in his own district below that 50% mark.

So while in theory "congress works for us" and is "beholden to us", the reality is that simply isnt true. there are 435 house districts and each member must keep 50% plus 1 member of his/her district happy.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

And like Newt has said, we need to focus our attention on who we elect into these offices.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Thanks Ferd. I nominate you and Po.

You two seem to know the law better than those elected!

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Question for Ferd: are you in the Dallas area? I'm asking becase you seem deeply knowledgable of politics. Just basing that off overall posts of yours. If so, do you ever listen to Mark Davis on WBAP? I do and actually agree with a lot he has to say. Just curious to know how you feel about his approach and response to all things politics locally, statewide, and federally...

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

yes, you can make congress do what ever you want them to do.
remember the bogus election in the Ukraine in 2004. it was called the orange revelution. We could have a demestration everyday in washington and go on strike like we used to and get a law passed. It happened in the 50's with the truckers.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Yep. I am in the Dallas area. and I have listened to Mark. Its hard these days as he is on during a period when I am in the office and working.

I see a lot of things the way MD does. He is very bright. There are a few areas where he goes more liberatarian than I do, and a couple where i veer more liberatarian than him! LOL!

He is very entertaining though.

Re: ? for Ferd and PO and whoever
 

Oh, yes...definitely agreed there. I like his "gotta-get-you-to-think" approach on everything he discusses. I can't get him when I'm in the office (firewalls, no good radio signal), but when I'm home I'm all ears...