As the Supreme Court noted in its decision, I cautioned against such action at the time. Not surprisingly, the end result was passage of an unconstitutional law. Last year the Committee voted to report S.10, a juvenile crime bill, in July and filed its report in October, 1997. This year, in March 1998, the Subcommittee on Youth Violence got around to holding a hearing on the record keeping mandates included in the Committee version of that bill. On such occasions, the Committee has put the legislative cart before the horse.
Hearings can be an important part of the legislative process.
I cannot remember another time, however, that this Committee has adopted this Alice in Wonderland approach to constitutional amendments. I am saddened that we have come to this, that we are making a mockery of Committee consideration of constitutional amendments and a farce out of the constitutional amendment process. Proposals to amend the Constitution should not be used merely as election year fodder or media events. Those who feel strongly on both sides of this proposal to amend the Constitution and restrict the Bill of Rights with regard to the American flag deserve better. This topsy turvy approach to constitutional deliberation is not the way to show respect to the work of those who toiled over 200 years ago to bring forth this nation.