A Republican congressman says all bills introduced in Congress should include a statement setting forth the specific constitutional authority under which a law is being enacted.
Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) says his Enumerated Powers Act will force Congress to re-examine the role of the national government and curb its "ever-expanding reach."
"For too long, the federal government has operated without Constitutional restraint, creating ineffective and costly programs and massive deficits year after year," Shadegg writes on AmericaSpeakingOut, a Republican Web site that seeks ideas from the American people.
Shadegg says the trend of Congress overstepping its role has gotten "alarmingly worse" in the past 18 months.
Great idea! Even better, let's make it reach further by stating that any law in place that cannot refer to an enumerated power be off the books until it can conform to the Constitution!
ReplyDeleteIt should also be added that any law passed by congress applies to them too-no exemptions or exceptions, with swift and harsh prosecutions. However, I wouldn't hold my breathe waiting for anything to change. This is just another election year ploy. It will all be forgotten after November.
ReplyDeleteNot too difficult: refer to the General Welfare clause every time. Case closed.
ReplyDeleteSo the founding fathers didn't want us to openly debate and create new laws based on changing times and situations and to simply abide by what they initially scribed as if the clock stopped ticking?
ReplyDeleteNews to me!