From: filfeit@rael.Tymnet.COM (Fil Feit)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: Congress "above" the law?
Date: 17 Aug 92 17:39:12 GMT
Reply-To: filfeit@rael.Tymnet.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems

In article 14431@sequent.com, bills@sequent.com (Bill Sears) writes:
>In article <BD.92Aug14084801@fluent.UUCP> bd%fluent@dartmouth.EDU writes:
>>
>>You know, I keep hearing this (mostly from the pig, Rush Limbaugh), and I 
>>wonder if it's accurate (it might be, but I wonder).  I had thought the 
>>reason for this is that Congress is Constitutionally exempt from them, since 
>>the Executive Branch enforces the laws, and separation of powers limits the 
>>influence of the Executive Branch over Congress.  
>>
>>Anyone have a clue what the real story is?
>
>I don't know about federally, but this is true at the state level in Oregon
>but only when congress is IN SESSION.  Last year (or maybe two years ago),
>OR state congressman Caloury (Ted?) was pulled over for exceeding the speed
>limit on OR highway 217.  He said that since congress was in session, he was
>exempt from this particular law.  Never mind the fact that he was 50+ miles
>AND travelling AWAY from (state capitol) Salem.
>
>It doesn't seem particularly unlikely that the federal congress has this
>same perq.
>
And doesn't this seem to be the heart of the problem?  The people who are
supposed to represent us, and have their ears to the heartbeat of the
population-at-large, make sure they don't have a clue as to what it's
like to be "one of the people".

Living 'inside the beltway', I can give a couple of examples:

- in addition to subsidised gyms, subsidised haircuts, right to set their
  own pay, etc., etc., Congress has it's own underground railway to shuttle
  them between buildings.  Everyone else not only has to battle some of the
  worst city traffic anywhere, but watch out for supersonic bike messengers,
  double-parked everything (worse than NYC, imho), and kill for a parking
  spot that's likely as not going to result in a ticket anyway.
- At national airport, which, btw, was built for the convenience of Congress,
  there is a small (~50 car) lot near the main terminal.  Sign at the lot:
  "Parking for Congress and Members of the Supreme Court Only"
- Exemption from EOE, AA, and so on, in their own staffs.  I can't hire _my_
  idiot relatives to work for my company, or we'd be broke before the year's
  out.  Congressmen can just pad the staff and send *me* the bill.
- Really Horrid Example: If I (tried) to put an ad on TV saying "buy my 
  product, because brand X sucks and the brand X company is owned by a pervert,
  it would either be rejected by the TV station (rightly so), or I'd probably
  be sued.  Anyone running for national office is exempt from this.  His ad
  cannot be rejected, truth-in-advertising is waived, and subject matter is
  his choice alone.  Witness the RTL ads showing alleged aborted fetuses all
  day long in some states.  I can't wait until someone catches his opponent
  on video in a "compromising situation" and shows those videos on his ads.

If I showed up for meetings with the regularity of my senator, I'd be fired.
I pay these people to do something, dammit!  I expect something to be done.

Isn't it about time our elected officials tried to live like us?  At least
_tried_?

**vent off**

--f2
--------------------------------------------------------------
  Watch the Republican Convention on the only place it counts:
  Comedy Central