02.28.08
A proposal for a change in our government. Part II.
This is part 2 of my proposal for changes in the USA government. Based on my previous post, we would have a new election system. Congress would be aligned along two lines - states’ rights and public representation. Congress would also be more diverse.
The presidency would be elected more along the lines the people’s wishes without removing the electoral college — which has functions even in today’s world.
Let’s talk about internal congressional procedures and how one item, bill riders, has skewed our governmental system of checks and balances.
One of the major issues with congress is the rider system. It needs to be outlawed or the president needs a form of line item veto to kill the riders. I favor both methods.
First, congress should not be allowed to add riders that do not directly relate to the pending legislation within the bill. This would kill the “pork” that congress likes to add to bills so that the president won’t veto due to the importance or political environment of the proposed law. Riders should still be allowed however they would need to relate to the bill. For example, a bill dealing with specific types of taxes would only have tax riders of the same type of taxes. A bill dealing with child welfare could only have riders dealing directly with child welfare.
Second, if the president can veto the bill or the riders or a combination, then this gives the power originally given to the presidency by the constitution back to the president. Riders are an effective way for congress to ram rod through items by attaching them to bills the president can’t or won’t veto. It would not be right for the president to veto parts of a bill. With this proposal, the president would only be able to veto the riders or the bill itself. And if the bill is vetoed, then the riders would be vetoed automatically as well. But if the president vetoes a rider and signs the bill, the bill becomes law without the rider.
Congress would still be allowed to override a veto on a rider or bill in the same manner currently used. Namely, a two thirds vote in congress to override the veto.
By restricting riders and allowing the president limited veto rights on those riders, the intent of the constitution is reinstated. Right now, presidential power is partially usurped by congress with the current rider system.
My next post on this subject will deal with war and war powers. Stay tuned…
