A Massage, as Inspector Clouseau would say,

From the Liberty Committee:

Elect, Never Appoint U.S. Representatives


On June 20, 2003, we issued the following alert: "The clock is ticking. A well-orchestrated, well-financed
campaign to quickly amend the Constitution is underway. A proposed constitutional amendment would
take away your right to vote for your U.S. representative. We can't and won't stand by and let our republic
be gutted by this amendment."

This alert was in response to the "Continuity of Government" (COG) report made public on June 4, 2003.
The report calls for a constitutional amendment that would allow for the appointment of members of the
U.S. House of Representatives under vaguely defined circumstances. During the June 4th press
conference, COG touted their proposed constitutional amendment and predicted there would be no
opposition to it. In addition, they predicted Congress would pass their proposed amendment and be
ratified by the states within 14 to 18 months. Their predictions were wrong, as is their proposed
constitutional amendment.

On July 23, 2003, The Liberty Committee presented opposition at a briefing for congressional staff
members. Congressmen Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Vic Snyder (D-Arkansas) spoke persuasively against
the COG proposal, as did Charles E. Rice, professor emeritus of Notre Dame Law School.

On July 24, 2003, Representatives Sensenbrenner, Dreier, Miller, Cole, Chabot, and Paul introduced
the Continuity in Representation Act of 2003 (H.R. 2844) as the alternative to the COG proposal. H.R.
2844 is the practical and proper solution because it requires states to promptly hold special elections
of U.S. House members; not special appointments.

On January 21, 2004, the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 2844. The U.S. House will vote on H.R. 2844 on Thursday, April 22, 2004.

Take Action: Urge your U.S. representative to vote "yes" on H.R. 2844. Click here.

Background

Sensenbrenner, Dreier, Ney Letter April 19, 2004

Cato Policy Analysis: Restoring the U.S. House of Representatives Feb. 17, 2004

House Committee on the Judiciary Press Release Jan. 21, 2004

Congressman David Dreier Sept. 9, 2003

Congressman James Sensenbrenner July 24, 2003

Professor Charles E. Rice June 17, 2003

Phyllis Schlafly June 16, 2003

Congressman Ron Paul June 4, 2003

Congressman Vic Snyder Nov. 19, 2001 (pdf)



Privacy Statement


© 2004 The Liberty Committee