House Likely to Defeat Succession Plan

[UpInArms]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/8819785.htm?1c

WASHINGTON - The House is turning aside a proposed constitutional amendment to have governors appoint new representatives if half the 435-member chamber is killed in a terrorist attack or other disaster.

Opponents argued Wednesday that the House should never give up having every lawmaker chosen by direct election. Lawmakers supporting the amendment said that without the succession plan, the House would expose itself to a lengthy period of powerlessness should hundreds of members die at the same time.

"We feel very, very passionately about the need to ensure that no one ever serves in the 'people's house' without having first being elected," said Republican Rep. David Dreier of California, chairman of the House Rules Committee and critic of the amendment.

Proponents acknowledged that, with GOP leaders against them, they would fall short of the two-thirds needed to approve a constitutional amendment.

...more...

[Just Me]

1. Good!!!! n/t

[stopthegop]

2. remember you said that...

if something takes out half of them, and no 'official' actions can be taken until they are replace via election...like a declaration of war against the nation that took half of the out....

[denverbill]

5. No declaration of war? Yeah THAT would be a problem. /sarcasm

When was the last time we declared war anyway? World War II, IIRC.

Since then we've had Korea, Vietnam, Panama, GWI, GWII, Grenada, Kosovo, and god knows how many others.

Besides, if that happened, Bush would declare a national emergency and rule by decree anyway.

[stopthegop]

6. true enough...

but lack of a House of Reps would 'justify' going to war with no declaration

[struggle4progress]

7. We'll be pretty well f***ed if that happens anyway.

Appointed or elected, the House won't be a pretty sight.

[Walt Starr]

3. That amendment opens up things to a night of the long knives

I agree, no amendment of this nature should ever pass.

[BadGimp]

4. smart move

Never make yourself less valubale by making yourself more easily replaceable.

In other words.. if you let them replace you if they kill you, they just might.

[phantom power]

8. I wonder how Cheney's "shadow govt" figures into all this

Whatever this "shadow government" is, they sure weren't elected either.