Short Wrap-up of the 17th Amendment of the Web 22 February 2007

The articles below all focus on Utah’s SB 202. The first two are straightforward news items explaining the progress of the bill. The third is from the opinion page of the Daily Herald, in which the editorial staff calls the bill “a total waste of the Legislature's time.” The last is an interview with U.S. Senator Orin Hatch and as you can predict is opposed to SB 202.

Bill aiming to connect US senators to Utah lawmakers advances
Daily Herald - Provo,UT,USA
The bill has its origins in the 17th Amendment, which was ratified in 1912 and proclaimed that US senators would be elected by a vote of the people. ...

Bill may open way to goad US senators
Salt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USA
... attempt to "restore the connection between the state Legislature and our US senators" lost when the 17th Amendment became part of the US Constitution. ...

Legislature at a glance
Daily Herald - Provo,UT,USA
Stephenson's measure was an attempt to get around the 17th Amendment, which directs the public to pick senators rather than a state legislature. ...

Hatch voices views to Utah lawmakers
Deseret News - Salt Lake City,UT,USA
Then, he sought a "soft repeal" of the 17th amendment to the US Constitution, which calls for popular elections of US senators, as well as for state ...

Utah Senate Bill SB202

The central components to Utah Bill SB202 put forward by Chief Sponsor Howard A Stephenson:

The General Description: This bill addresses issues related to the 17^th Amendment to the United States Constitition and permits the Legislature to give direction to certain United States Senators and to receive certain reports from them.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:

• allows the Legislature to give formal direction to a United States Senator elected from Utah:
• allows the Legislature to direct a United States Senator elected from Utah to report to the Legislature on certain issues determined by the Legislature:
• provides that any direction or reporting requirements be made by:
• a joint resolution of the Legislature; or
• a written statement, called “The Sense of the Legislature,” that contains the signatures of a majority of members of the House and a majority of members of the Senate; and
• directs the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel to maintain a record of all resolutions, statements, and responses issued under this section.

Comment: It’s fairly obvious that the U.S. Senate has become a media circus where individual Senators do more to profile themselves rather than represent their states. This bill would hold the Senators “feet to the fire” and make each accountable to the needs of the state. Hopefully, the citizenry would have a clear record to each senator’s performance. I wish Senator Stephenson and the other co-sponsors the best of luck and I hope this is enacted in Utah. The next step would be the repeal of the 17^th Amendment.

Related links:

Utah Bill SB202

Stephenson calls for yoke on U.S. senators, Salt lake Tribune

Howard A. Stephenson’s Biography

Wrap-up of the 17th Amendment on the Web 13 February 2007

Here is wrap-up of posting I found that mention the 17^th Amendment on the web. There are a couple of notables: John at The Founder’s Post discusses the rise in the national debt and makes the connection between it and the 16^th and 17^th Amendment; Justice Scalia shocks an audience with his remark about the 17^th; and Utah legislators are pushing forward a bill that would rein in their U.S. Senators.

BD

National Debt
By John
1913 The 16th Amendment (income tax) ratified, 17th Amendment (direct election of US Senators) ratified, Federal Reserve established 1980 $930200000000 226542199 $4106.08 2006 $9000000000000 298000000 $30200.00 ...
The Founder's Post - http://thefounderspost.blogspot.com/index.html

Time to repeal the 17th Amendment By George Warm
Looking back in history from 1913 till now since the 17th amendment was ratified. We can see a pattern emerge on the Federal Government gradually usurping power away from the States. The original...
- http://blog.myspace.com/repealthe17th

We should dump the 17th amendment
By Scottsolo
The 17th amendment was adopted in 1913 (if my memory is good). It changed the method of selecting federal senators. They were originally appointed by state legislatures. The amendment was put in place so that they would be elected by ...
Whistle Stopper Political Forums - http://www.whistlestopper.com/forum

Income Tax or Income Theft? you decide.
By a concerned citizen
Like the 16th Amendment, the 17th Amendment is a fraud--it was never ratified by the states. Therefore, we have not had a lawfully seated senate since 1913.) "That Representative having to stand for election every two years was close to ...
The new Great Depression and... - http://thenewgreatdepression.blogspot.com/index.html

We the People?
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - Fort Wayne,IN,USA
Only a vote-buying scandal involving Chicago-area legislators shamed Congress and the nation into adopting the 17th amendment, which requires direct ...

The 17th Amendment
By ronpaulfan
The 17th Amendment is a danger to our republic. Why have two houses of congress and have them both elected by popular vote. Our founding fathers never intended for the popular election of senators,that has given us things like Teddy…
Sean Hannity Discussion - http://www.hannity.com/forum

Democracy, the Worst Form of Government ever Tried, Part II
By Bevin Chu
Many reforms dotted this era, including Prohibition with the 18th Amendment ... the Income Tax with the 16th Amendment and direct election of Senators with the 17th Amendment. Muckrakers ... reaction-producing writers ... were among ...
The China Desk 中國紅 - http://thechinadesk.blogspot.com/index.html

With Characteristic Wit, Justice Scalia Engages Students
The Student Life - Claremont,CA,USA
In addition, the overflow audience outside the auditorium was shocked at Scalia’s answer to a question regarding the 17th amendment, in which he remarked, ...

Stephenson calls for yoke on US senators
Salt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake City,UT,USA
Last year's legislation sought a "soft repeal" of the 17th Amendment, which allowed the people to elect senators. Just like last year, Hatch is not pleased ...

Imperative Mandate
By Administrator
Until the 17th Amendment changed Senators to being directly elected by the people instead of being appointed by the states, It was similar for them — if the state didn’t like how their representative in Congress was voting, ...
The US-First Blog - http://us-first.us/blog