Muscatine

I predict this supercommittee idea will end up being challenged in the courts.  I do not believe it is constitutional. 

I copied the following, but it expresses my opinion fairly well:

"This is WILDLY unconstitutional and illegal. Calling it a "committee" is a deception. It's basically a new branch of government, or a new legislative body. It is a substantial disruption of the separation of powers. It is another attack on the Constitutional framework. Another power grab by an elite minority. This new legislative body not only hijacks the power of the purse away from Congress where it rightfully belongs, but it could also be used to fast-track unconstitutional legislation against the will of the people.

The Constitution says members of the Senate and House have the opportunity to debate or modify items. It also says spending bills can only originate in the House, not the Senate (and certainly nowhere else!)

But under this new system, the House and Senate are forced to vote straight up and down without the opportunity to debate or modify items. And bills authorizing spending can now be originated outside of Congress and forced through without going through the proper Congressional procedures.

It does not follow the rules of the House which permit amendments, and it does not follow the rules of the Senate which permit a filibuster.

And before anyone even TRIES this argument, it does not matter if Congress passed the bill that created this body, because Congress can not vote to give away its legislative powers.

Let me put this as clearly as I can. Congress CAN NOT create a new legislative body without amending the Constitution first. Legislative powers are clearly enumerated in the Constitution, and unless that language is changed, THE SUPER CONGRESS IS ILLEGAL. Period.

This is probably one of the most egregious and troubling Constitutional violations I've seen in my lifetime.

Only time will tell if this will be allowed to stand, and what further damage will result.

Source(s):

One (or two) questions.   Are the Congress and the President bound by this committee's solution?   Is their suggestion automatically law?

Oh, oh, I know....

Notice how davie and mallcontent are gone for days, and then magically return within hours of each other......