CSPAN: Kucinich making powerful argument on the floor

HR 5228 - Opposing the Sensenbrenner bill of Disclosure Requirement for Foreign Representatives. He is saying that is effectively forcing the calendars of Congress to be open to the Attorney General.

TUNE IN!!!

as defined by the administration must report to the Atty Gen within 45 days. "Bill opens the door towards the destruction of the separation of powers in the Constitution".

I :loveya: Dennis

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1285.
Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Sensenbrenner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


H.R. 5228:
to require representatives of governments designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism to disclose to the Attorney General lobbying contacts with legislative branch officials, and for other purposes

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

text of the bill here - http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.5228:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2006_record&page=H4236&position=all
Mr. KUCINICH. I want to state this again. This bill increases executive branch scrutiny over the scheduling books of Members of Congress.

Now, in the last month, there has been a significant debate in this country and in this Congress over questions of separation of power, over the very speech and debate clause of the United States Constitution which gives me the ability to stand on this floor and basically state anything that I think is in the interest of my constituents or the American people. And I can say it with impunity. This is a privilege that is given Members of Congress, that sets our role apart from the rest of the people in this country. No one outside this Chamber can make statements that would be free from being subject to attack by libel laws. Here we can say anything we want. We have a special role. This bill takes away the ability that Congress has to be able to meet independently without having to report to the executive branch or being reported on to the executive branch with respect to discussions with representatives of other countries.

I want Members of Congress to hear me loud and clear. The doctrine of separation of powers is at stake here. Our constitutional ability under speech and debate, which has been under attack by the Executive, is at risk when the Attorney General now will be collecting information from other countries based on contacts made with them by Members of Congress.

I want Members of Congress to think about this. We are a coequal branch of government, and we are a separate branch of government. Members of Congress, this is a power grab by the Executive over the legislative branch, and specifically targets Members of Congress who believe in engagement over isolation and believe that diplomacy is an important tool to achieve peaceful resolution to conflicts.

Ironically, this power grab by the Executive has been initiated by the legislative branch. Why are we so ready to give up our constitutional prerogative?

Why are we asking for countries whose representatives we meet with to report on us to the Attorney General?

What could possibly be the motivation for that, to set the stage for Members of Congress for being accused of being disloyal to the United States? How absurd can that be? Yet this is exactly what this legislation sets the stage for.