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June 20, 2005
A Direct Attack on the Courts
A Saturday New York Times Editorial analyzed a House amendment to a budget bill that would limit the power of the courts by removing the teeth from their decisions.
The House of Representatives took a little- noticed but dangerous swipe at the power of the courts this week. It passed an amendment to a budget bill that would bar money from being spent to enforce a federal court ruling regarding the Ten Commandments. The vote threatens the judiciary's long-acknowledged position as the final arbiter of the Constitution.
This is part of a larger movement that has been underway for some time. However, this restrictive amendment to a budget bill is the first time, as far as I know, that such an attempts has progressed this far. If we want to continue to have a meaningful balance of powers, such attacks on the courts must be defeated at every turn. One can only hope that there are a majority of reasonable Senators. Perhaps a call or email will help their reasoning powers.
Richard Call of Aimless Wondering gives lists the votes on the amendment by the Representatives of his home state. I think bloggers from every sate should do the same.
Here are the California Representatives that voted to attack the courts, the Constitution, and the balance of powers by voting for this amendment.
- Ken Calvert (R-CA-44)
- Dennis Cardoza (D-CA-18)
- Randy (Duke) Cunningham (R-CA-50)
- John T. Doolittle (R-CA-4)
- David Dreier (R-CA-26)
- Elton Gallegly (R-CA-24)
- Wally Herger (R-CA2)
- Duncan Hunter (R-CA-52)
- Darrell Issa (R-CA-49)
- Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-CA-25)
- Gary Miller (R-CA-42)
- Richard W. Pombo (R-CA-11)
- George P. Radanovich (R-CA-19)
- Edward R. Royce (R-CA-40)
They can hide their amendment but they cannot hide themselves.
Posted by DuaneSmith at June 20, 2005 02:16 PM | Read more on Current Events |
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