There's a measure introduced in every Congress since 1995, by Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., called The Enumerated Powers Act that would require that all bills introduced in the U.S. Congress include a statement setting forth the specific constitutional authority under which the law is being enacted.

The Enumerated Powers Act currently has 44 co-sponsors in the House. In the Senate, it has never had a single co-sponsor, and that's a Senate that includes our three presidential aspirants. The question one might ask is why would Sens. Obama, Clinton and McCain have a distaste for, and fail to support, a measure binding them to what the Constitution actually permits?

This is an expert from Walter Williams' article: Political Loathsomeness

http://www.gmu.edu/departments/econo...thsomeness.htm

http://johnshadegg.house.gov/news/Do...cumentID=13333

Granted, John Shadegg isn't great on the Constitution-only activities himself (better than the majority though), it sounds like a great bill. So why do the three leading candidates and other members of Congress oppose this bill? Oppose something that substaniates their oath to protect the Constitution of the United States?

Because it places the ability to interpret the constitution with Congress, when that responsibility actually belongs to the Supreme Court.

It says, as a protector of the Constitution, before every bill you submit for approval, you clearly describe why it is within the confines of the Constitution and the ability and capacity of Congress to follow it.

But they don't want to (like the rest of Congress) because they know they have drifted too far away from the Constitution and every bill would be knocked down.

That may be one reason; however, I subscribe that listing where a law fits within the Constitution deems it necessary to interpret the Constitution, which does not fall under Congress' power - that is reserved for the Judicial branch in deeming laws unconstitutional.

"Why won't McCain, Hilary and Obama..."

I have to admit, I was thinking of the most disgusting threesome in history.

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Manu Chao - Bongo Bong

"Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious." - Oscar Wilde

"Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise." - Sir Francis Bacon

oh man, I think I just had a stroke...

*nods*... not a pleasant image. I sorry.

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Manu Chao - Bongo Bong

"Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious." - Oscar Wilde

"Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise." - Sir Francis Bacon

So then how does Congress do anything? They can't even interpret the Constitution to see what they are able to do...(then obviously, they can't interpret it to see what they can't do). Furthermore, they can't uphold their oath to protect the Constitution because they aren't allowed to interpret it...

That reason that they "aren't allowed to interpret" is flawed.

Congress must interpret the Constitution in order to carry out its duties. The Supreme Court steps in when that interpretation is incorrect or needs clarification of some sort. Although, the SC lacks in doing this.

Congress has the power of the purse. They control where the money goes, and hence what money get spent on which bills. Laws deemed unconstitutional are set as precedents, from which Congress makes laws. However, sometimes these laws are created to solve novel problems and thus the ammendments.

I thought this was the American Idol thread. All three apparently got "bumped".

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And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.