Blog @ MoreWhat.com

From the Politico on Sept 25, 2009 the Senator from Wisconsin, Russ Feingold (D-WI) of McCain/Feingold fame is weighing in on unelected members of the US Senate and what should be done about it. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has also weighed in.

When Paul Kirk is sworn in Friday, he’ll become the sixth unelected member of the current Senate.

And by Russ Feingold’s math, that’s about six too many.

“People shouldn’t be voting in the United States Senate unless they’ve been elected by the people,” Feingold — a Democrat elected three times by the people of Wisconsin — said Thursday as Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick named Kirk as a temporary replacement for the late Ted Kennedy.

Feingold wants to amend the Constitution so that all Senate vacancies are filled by special elections rather than by gubernatorial appointments. But until that happens, the 17th Amendment allows states to let their governors appoint replacements — and that means that Roland Burris (D-Ill.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ted Kaufman (D-Del.), George LeMieux (R-Fla.) and, soon, Paul Kirk will be representing constituents who never had a chance to vote for or against them.

Another example of the public being shut out of the process that requires a look at the 17th Amendment and beyond.

Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

A few more notes on the amendment…..

Amendment [XVII.] 9

There are those who favor the 17th Amendment and those who would like it to be repealed. Feel free to make your case either way.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 2:54 am and is filed under Public Affairs, Education, wordpress, America, United States, Freedom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.