Republican Representative John Shadegg from Arizona has sponsored the Enumerated Powers Act in the United States House of Representatives every year since 2002. It has not yet become law. It would "require Congress to specify the source of authority under the United States Constitution for the enactment of laws, and for other purposes." Pretty simple, huh? Ron Paul is one of its co-sponsors. Guess which 2 representatives from Utah are not sponsors? (1 is currently a sponsor)Here is the ENTIRE text of the bill:
A BILLYet in the last six years, this bill has never made it out of the Rules and Judiciary Committees, over which in that period Republicans and Democrats alike have presided.
To require Congress to specify the source of authority under the United States Constitution for the enactment of laws, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Enumerated Powers Act'.
SEC. 2. SPECIFICATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY FOR ENACTMENT OF LAW.
(a) Constitutional Authority for This Act- This Act is enacted pursuant to the power granted Congress under article I, section 8, clause 18, of the United States Constitution and the power granted to each House of Congress under article I, section 5, clause 2, of the United States Constitution.
(b) Constitutional Authority Statement Required- Chapter 2 of title 1, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 102 the following new section:
`Sec. 102a. Constitutional authority clause
`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. The failure to comply with this section shall give rise to a point of order in either House of Congress. The availability of this point of order does not affect any other available relief.'
(c) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 2 of title 1, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 102 the following new item:
`102a. Constitutional authority clause.'.
Someone who does not support this legislation is not fit for public office, let alone being a member of the United States Congress. Every SINGLE co-sponsor of the bill is Republican. That doesn't surprise me.
The answer to the question--which 2 Utah representatives are NOT co-sponsors of the bill? Answer: Chris Cannon and Jim Matheson. Rob Bishop supports it.
You want Congress to actually articulate the authority by which they act? You're living in a dream world, man... :)
ReplyDeleteThe Bush administration has repealed Article I of the Constitution by executive fiat. Henceforth, the basis for all legislation is "because the Decider wants it that way."
ReplyDeleteI think they changed Article I to read "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in George W. Bush, and shall be transferred to either Hillary Clinton or Rudy Giuliani at the next inauguration."
ReplyDelete