House Concurrent Resolution 81 is effectively dead, following a surprise bit of sleight of hand by the House Rules Committee. The resolution demanded an end to US involvement in the Saudi invasion of Yemen, on the grounds that such involvement was never authorized under the War Powers Act.
Under the War Powers Act, any Congressman is able to bring such a legal challenge, and is guaranteed a floor vote on the matter. The H.Con.Res. 81 challenge was offered in early October, and delayed until November 2.
November 1 rolled around, however, and House leadership quickly forced through a Rules Committee vote which changed the rules on H.Con.Res. 81, stripping it of its privileged status (which would have guaranteed a floor vote). Though the War Powers Act guarantees such a resolution privilege, the Rules Committee claimed Yemen doesn’t rise to the level of the War Powers Act applying.
One legislative aide was quick to bash the move, saying it was in “defiance of the plain text of the War Powers Resolution,” and warning that it set a “very dangerous precedent” for future challenges to illegal wars.
Instead of H.Con.Res. 81, the House leadership is going to allow an alternative “compromise” resolution on Yemen. This will allow debate on whether America’s involvement in the Yemen War is legal, but the vote will be non-binding.
Amid mounting unauthorized US wars around the world, H.Con.Res. 81 was the biggest attempt to enforce the War Powers Act to limit such conflicts. While the Rules Committee technically only stopped a single challenge this way, and the War Powers Act remains on the books, the success of this sort of chicanery means that the Congressional leadership can do the exact same thing to any future challenges.
A joint statement on the move against H.Con.Res. 81 is available here.
The democracy and the rule of law are dead. And the legislators have risen above the population they are supposed to serve, and transformed in front of our eyes into priviledged and superior elite. They just could not care less. And it is not Saudi Arabia that is the Mastermind. But those that had set their eyes on Russia, the place of both triumphs of victory and agonies of defeat. But it is our interest they are risking — not theirs. The coming of age if Atlas Shrugged.
I disagree.
The framework is still there, we just need to get the money out of politics, so that the negative influence of both lobbyists and big-money donors is lessened. Also, laws that prohibit retired Congresscritters from taking plush jobs with companies they were supposed to be regulating. Basically, attempt to turn Congress into a profit-free zone where legislators can actually focus on laws instead of fundraising, and keeping monied interests from influencing as best we can.
If you want to get rich, become a hedge fund manager or a corporate lawyer. Make becoming a Congressman a hindrance to one’s career and portfolio.
More pipe or bong dreams…..!!!!!!
We will never get the money out of politics with these new tax cuts of only 3 different tax rates 15 % 25 % and 35 % These are decent rates for working people.earning between 20 and 500,00O dollars a year . But this is not enough taxes on our ruling class of elite people earning many millions and maybe even billions of dollars a year .George Sores and the Koch brothers have so much tax free play money they even donate to protestors to help shape the government we have . So our government ends up working more for what the elites and tax free foundations want . more than the common people . These sensible tax rates are just another example of us turning over our democracy and country to very few people that don’t have a sensible incomes . They have a ridiculous incomes and they need ridiculous tax rates for their ridiculous incomes .People don’t make hundreds of millions of dollars by being clever and working hard . They earn this money by having the law on their side .and by eliminating competition I say Tax the tax free foundations and put ridiculous tax rates on ridiculous incomes .believe it or not I consider myself a sensible conservative . sensible taxes for sensible incomes and ridiculous taxes for ridiculous incomes sounds sensible to me .
As you say, we will never get the money out of politics. Unfortunately, we will never get those making ridiculous incomes to willingly impose ridiculous tax rates on themselves. And since the ones making those ridiculous incomes are the ones who would have to change the tax laws to impose ridiculous tax rates on themselves, the chances of that ever happening is negligible at best. It’s in THEIR best interests not to do that.
There is no getting money out of politics, try again…!!!!!