Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: Hawkmoon on June 17, 2017, 03:04:13 PM

Title: Congressional heads in the sand
Post by: Hawkmoon on June 17, 2017, 03:04:13 PM
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/15/how-congress-failed-to-plan-for-doomsday-215266

This was an eye-opener for me. I had no idea that the House of Representatives has no plan for recovery in the event of a disaster.
Title: Re: Congressional heads in the sand
Post by: Ben on June 17, 2017, 03:22:18 PM
Ironically funny considering how much time I recall having to spend on COOP related crap, I'm pretty sure by order of congress.
Title: Re: Congressional heads in the sand
Post by: Fly320s on June 17, 2017, 03:25:10 PM
Heads in the sand?  No.  We don't need Congress everyday.  We could go weeks or months without Congress and never notice.
Title: Re: Congressional heads in the sand
Post by: 230RN on June 17, 2017, 04:43:39 PM
Heads in the sand?  No.  We don't need Congress everyday.  We could go weeks or months without Congress and never notice.

I've often recommended that, in parallel with my absurd notion that for every law passed, two must be repealed.

Terry, 230RN
Title: Re: Congressional heads in the sand
Post by: Kingcreek on June 17, 2017, 06:17:40 PM
Congress?
Heads in sand would be an improvement over where their heads are currently located.
Title: Re: Congressional heads in the sand
Post by: bedlamite on June 17, 2017, 09:35:09 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VakU20APPdw
Title: Re: Congressional heads in the sand
Post by: RevDisk on June 19, 2017, 10:54:06 AM

Article is terrible. There is and HAS always been procedures. For House of Representatives:  "When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies." Article I, Section 2, Clause 4. In English, you HAVE to hold a special election. Rules for that is by state. For Senate, governor appoints the interim senator.

Article author failed civics 101. The special election requirement is a feature, not a problem. As long as one Rep survives, House of Representatives can function. Senators can be refilled by their governors. So no big problem there. Changing this situation would require a Constitutional amendment.

In my opinion, it would be a very bad idea to let governors pick both Senators and Reps during a mass casualty event. Apparently the rule that did pass is a law requiring states to hold expedited special elections within 49 days, if more than 100 congressional seats were vacant.

So in other words, we do actually have procedures in place for mass casualty events in Congress. It is intentionally not fast or efficient. Nor does it need to be. In an emergency, Executive handles the day to day stuff of running all the government agencies. Presidential secession rules were worked out in the Cold War. Article just failed to make it clear or concise. Because why point out reality when you can write sensationalist dreck for clicks.

Short story long, we're fine.