Comments on: Fun on Capitol Hill http://poliblogger.com/?p=2378 A rough draft of my thoughts... Mon, 08 May 2025 15:34:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.2 by: Priorities & Frivolities http://poliblogger.com/?p=2378#comment-9081 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=2378#comment-9081 <strong>Slip and Conquer?</strong> I appreciate contrarian thinking (and engage in it myself), but I have to dismiss this post by Mark Schmitt. In it, he conjectures that Republican domestic initiatives are somewhat deliberately ill-constructed to create a backlash. Such public outcry w... Slip and Conquer?
I appreciate contrarian thinking (and engage in it myself), but I have to dismiss this post by Mark Schmitt. In it, he conjectures that Republican domestic initiatives are somewhat deliberately ill-constructed to create a backlash. Such public outcry w…

]]> by: John Lemon http://poliblogger.com/?p=2378#comment-9076 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=2378#comment-9076 I am surprised that there has never been a movement to reform legislative procedures making it more difficult to write omnibus legislation. Obviously, politicians would not favor it, but I certainly don't hear anything about this in the grassroots. When I proposed this several months ago, some folks *cough*Joyner*cough* said something like it wouldn't be constitutional, though I'm not sure that is true -- Congress can create any procedures it wants for passing legislation so long as it conforms to the majority and supermajority provisions in the Constitution. And after the SCOTUS ruling on McCain-Feingold, what the hell do we need a constitution for anyways?! I would favor a movement advocating that all provisions within a bill address one specific issue and that a bipartisan committee or forum would determine whether legislation met those conditions. Of course this would slow down legislation (a good thing), and pols could probably manipulate it to some degree (a bad thing), but I think it would tend to limit some pork and force legislatures to make difficult choices on specific issues. I am surprised that there has never been a movement to reform legislative procedures making it more difficult to write omnibus legislation. Obviously, politicians would not favor it, but I certainly don’t hear anything about this in the grassroots. When I proposed this several months ago, some folks *cough*Joyner*cough* said something like it wouldn’t be constitutional, though I’m not sure that is true — Congress can create any procedures it wants for passing legislation so long as it conforms to the majority and supermajority provisions in the Constitution.

And after the SCOTUS ruling on McCain-Feingold, what the hell do we need a constitution for anyways?!

I would favor a movement advocating that all provisions within a bill address one specific issue and that a bipartisan committee or forum would determine whether legislation met those conditions. Of course this would slow down legislation (a good thing), and pols could probably manipulate it to some degree (a bad thing), but I think it would tend to limit some pork and force legislatures to make difficult choices on specific issues.

]]> by: ProfessorBainbridge.com http://poliblogger.com/?p=2378#comment-9080 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=2378#comment-9080 <strong>Complexity of legislation</strong> Calpundit Kevin Drum rebuts a conspiracy theory explanation for complex leislation:[L]egislation has been getting increasingly complex for a long time, and it seems to be a bipartisan failing. In fact, one of my political science professors, Morris Fio... Complexity of legislation
Calpundit Kevin Drum rebuts a conspiracy theory explanation for complex leislation:[L]egislation has been getting increasingly complex for a long time, and it seems to be a bipartisan failing. In fact, one of my political science professors, Morris Fio…

]]> by: OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY http://poliblogger.com/?p=2378#comment-9079 Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:59:59 +0000 http://poliblogger.com/?p=2378#comment-9079 <strong>COMPLEX LEGISLATION</strong> Kevin Drum correctly points out the increasing complexity of laws passed by Congress and the reasons behind this trend. Steven Taylor extends the analysis, noting... COMPLEX LEGISLATION
Kevin Drum correctly points out the increasing complexity of laws passed by Congress and the reasons behind this trend. Steven Taylor extends the analysis, noting…

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