Post by lazyamp on Nov 15, 2011 11:19:48 GMT -6
So guys, the overall goal is that a constitutional convention is called, and from this historic event emerges only one or two amendments from it?
decora in a previous thread was right about stopping the Revolving door for our non-elected officials. Sec. 3 of the current 29th amendment text says:
The wording of "holder of any office" could be interpreted to be applied to non-elected bureaucratic regulators/officials, which is good. But this doesn't limit gifts after stepping down from a position would be a good addition as well.
A 5 year period where you cannot be on the payroll or receive gifts from private industry (or another company bankrolled by the industry) one worked with in a governmental position seems like a good starting point to start the amendment (i.e. a EPA official ruling on drilling permits for ExxonMobil would not be able to receive anything from the ExxonMobil corporation or it's subsidiaries within that period).
As another unrelated amendment, a convention is a great time to bring up a change of our presidential election from the electoral college to a direct nationwide election.
I'm not a legal scholar and wouldn't know how to word each of these, but though I agree that campaign finance reform is #1 priority, if we have the opportunity for a bit more this would be the time to push for it. Especially the Direct Election amendment is a simple idea that the three quarters of the country could easily grasp and stand behind, giving additional public support to the movement... although that has to be weighed against if there would be enough States who benefit from the electoral college to fight back against.
Anyway, throwing out some ideas for the debate.
decora in a previous thread was right about stopping the Revolving door for our non-elected officials. Sec. 3 of the current 29th amendment text says:
Sec 3. No appointee or nominee to, or holder of, any office of any government body shall accept gifts or compensation to their personal accounts save their duly awarded salary from said government body; they may receive campaign contributions in a separate campaign account subject to disclosure.
The wording of "holder of any office" could be interpreted to be applied to non-elected bureaucratic regulators/officials, which is good. But this doesn't limit gifts after stepping down from a position would be a good addition as well.
A 5 year period where you cannot be on the payroll or receive gifts from private industry (or another company bankrolled by the industry) one worked with in a governmental position seems like a good starting point to start the amendment (i.e. a EPA official ruling on drilling permits for ExxonMobil would not be able to receive anything from the ExxonMobil corporation or it's subsidiaries within that period).
As another unrelated amendment, a convention is a great time to bring up a change of our presidential election from the electoral college to a direct nationwide election.
I'm not a legal scholar and wouldn't know how to word each of these, but though I agree that campaign finance reform is #1 priority, if we have the opportunity for a bit more this would be the time to push for it. Especially the Direct Election amendment is a simple idea that the three quarters of the country could easily grasp and stand behind, giving additional public support to the movement... although that has to be weighed against if there would be enough States who benefit from the electoral college to fight back against.
Anyway, throwing out some ideas for the debate.