"I PLAN TO FILE SUIT TOMORROW AGAINST THE PRESIDENT": Rep. John Conyers

[kpete]

Taking the President to Court
by Congressman John Conyers
Thu Apr 27, 2006 at 12:46:24 PM PDT

As some of you may be aware, according to the President and Congressional Republicans, a bill does not have to pass both the Senate and the House to become a law. Forget your sixth grade civics lesson, forget the book they give you when you visit Congress - "How Our Laws Are Made," and forget Schoolhouse Rock. These are checks and balances, Republican-style.

As the Washington Post reported last month, as the Republican budget bill struggled to make its way through Congress at the end of last year and beginning of this year (the bill cuts critical programs such as student loans and Medicaid funding), the House and Senate passed different versions of it. House Republicans did not want to make Republicans in marginal districts vote on the bill again, so they simply certified that the Senate bill was the same as the House bill and sent it to the President. The President, despite warnings that the bill did not represent the consensus of the House and Senate, simply shrugged and signed the bill anyway. Now, the Administration is implementing it as though it was the law of the land.
.................
After consulting with some of the foremost constitutional experts in the nation, I determined that one group of people are injured by the entire bill: Members of the House. We were deprived of our right to vote on a bill that is now being treated as the law of the land.

So, I am going to court. With many of my Democratic Colleagues (list appended at the bottom of this diary), I plan to file suit tomorrow in federal district court in Detroit against the President, members of the Cabinet and other federal officers seeking to have a simple truth confirmed: a bill not passed by the House and Senate is not a law, even if the President signs it. As such, the Budget bill cannot be treated as the law of the land.


more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/4/27/154625/574

[CottonBear]

1. Thank you John Conyers. You are a true patriot.

:patriot:

[Roland99]

72. Imagine him as the *Chairman* of the Judiciary Committee!!!

[dragonlady]

75. See my sig line

which comments on the current chair, and the candidate who will send him home next year.

[Roland99]

76. Oh it would be awesome to get rid of Senselessbrenner.

[fooj]

86. What an awesome visual!

B-)

[PegDAC]

95. Roland99

I imagine him as Speaker of the House!

[xultar]

2. BOOM shaka laka shaka laka!

[Tigress DEM]

80. Yep

[file83]

111. BOOM!!

[faithnotgreed]

3. thank you again john conyers

one of the very few.....

[myrna minx]

4. kpete, how on earth do you stay on top of everything!

You always have the best threads! :applause:

[kpete]

6. Anger!!!

[ldf]

42. anger

is a very honorable emotion.

we need to use it to the max.

when reagan was president i thought i could never be any angrier. how little i knew....

:shrug:

[WiseButAngrySara]

63. I'm amazed at your productivity as well! Many times, I've thought about

changing my DU name, because it does seem to be a bit of a contradiction (Can one really be wise and angry?), but I was VERY angry when I chose this name. If anger contributes to the excellence of your posts, I don't feel so bad now about having a name like WiseButAngry! Maybe your name should be changed to WiseButAngrykpete!

[stepnw1f]

5. kick (nt)

[KyndCulture]

7. YAY!!! my rep is in the list.

Collin Peterson.

[ClintonTyree]

77. Mine too!

Louise Slaughter. You go girl! :applause:

[katinmn]

93. My former rep is - Oberstar

I'm glad they stepped up when called.

[Catherine Vincent]

8. How dare he file suit against the President?!?!

Rep. Conyers forced his staffers to babysit his kids!! :sarcasm:

[Mandate My Ass]

9. His initials are JC. He's acting as our savior. Co-inkydink?

Methinks not. :patriot:

[quiet.american]

13. :) n/t

[LSparkle]

16. That's GREAT -- and I agree about no coincidence

Conyers personifies the good, just man (like the other JC), IMHO.

[blogslut]

10. kicked

and nominated

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. "It would be so much easier if this were a dictatorship, so long as I'm

the dictator." GW bush 12/18/2000. He's trying real hard to make it so.

[file83]

113. Not just him - he's getting a LOT of help.

[Cha]

12. Thank you, Congressman

John Conyers! I know they make it hard to keep up with all their dirty double dealing but this farce needs to be dealt with NOW!

Where are the other Congress People and Senators on this?

[katty]

14. go John!

[Alamom]

15. K& R....this is great to hear.

[riona]

17. Wonder if this will end up in the Supreme Court?

[KoKo]

18. This is wonderful....and check out his supporters...

Can they ignore this? Refuse to hear it? Will the MSM even report it?

Stay tuned for the "sounds of silence."

Although...I've got my fingers crossed that I'm wrong....

[drm604]

19. Thank you John Conyers! K&R

:kick:

[incapsulated]

20. Conyers Rawks!

:headbang:

[marmar]

21. Delivered with the passion that only a Detroiter could deliver...

JC, I'm proud to share a hometown with you! :patriot:

[KoKo]

22. K&R....Hope his Makes DU FRONT PAGE!!!!

[Avalux]

23. Thank you sir! Let's hope this gets lots of press,

and makes a lot of people curse. ;-) You are truly a treasure, Mr. Conyers. :patriot:

[Canuckistanian]

24. Take away his Passport

Make sure he doesn't flee the country.

[Qutzupalotl]

99. and put him on the no-fly list

he's dangerous

[quiet.american]

25. Thank you, John Conyers! n/t

[Rosco T.]

26. Alert Olberman! - Alert Randi! - Alert Malloy!

get this link over to them NOW!

[rniel]

27. He's the decider

not congress

This is f''ed up

[file83]

114. Is "Decider" the new "Dictator"???

[infogirl]

28. Not Barney Frank!!

He is there to obstruct...even if Conyers has to invite him..based on his committee chair...he must know his history. He is one of THEM. He has been highly compromised!

[KoKo]

35. What's wrong with Barney?

:shrug:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

40. "One of THEM"??? Since when?

[saltpoint]

47. I don't know, infogirl. You must be thinking of a different Barney Frank.

The one I'm thinking of is a tough, determined liberal.

[TahitiNut]

49. WTF?!? He's one of the most liberal members of congress.

Is your post an attempt at sarcasm? If so, use the :sarcasm: 'smilie' please.

On edit: Please note that "most liberal" is a GOOD THING™!!

[Pacifist Patriot]

107. I'm going to assume sarcasm on this one.

[rateyes]

29. God, I wish he were president....

he NEVER strays from the truth! That man REEKS integrity!

[malaise]

30. Thanks JC

Kick

[helderheid]

31. LOVE YOU JOHN!

:loveya:

[Initech]

32. Let's hope this one goes all the way to the Supreme Court!

[Tuesday_Morning]

33. K & R!!!

:applause: Thank you, John Conyers! :applause:

[cureautismnow]

34. JC - A True American Patriot

What to go, John! Force these evil bastards to follow the very document they swore to uphold. Expose the un-American frauds! :patriot:

[BeFree]

36. Count everyone's votes

First they stole the people's votes... and then they stole our representatives votes.

Two wrongs do make you a radical Right's politician.

[saltpoint]

37. This guy is a peach. Is he a peach, or what? Anybody here not want

Mr. Conyers as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee as soon as possible?

Thank you, Congressman.

[renate]

44. I want him to be King of the World as soon as possible

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[saltpoint]

46. I hope his constituents know what a gem they have representing them

in Congress.

I bet they do.

[berni_mccoy]

38. BAM! There's a reason why this man's image is my forum icon!

K&R!!!! :kick:

[Roland99]

39. It's HAPPENING!

[AzDar]

41. Excellent! n/t

[SpiralHawk]

43. go johnny, go johnny, go -- k and r

nail their cheating republicon hides to the bench....

[annabanana]

45. day - UM!

Cojones like the moons of Jupiter, that one!

[Hubert Flottz]

48. Congressman John Conyers is a patriot.

I'm thankful that our party still has some real Americans in congress. The Republicans in congress are bushbots, to a man...

[eppur_se_muova]

50. Well, ** practically BEGGED Conyers to cast this thunderbolt.

Hope he likes the result he worked so hard to earn.

I live an hour's drive from Detroit ... thought I felt the ground shaking, now I know why.

[eppur_se_muova]

51. Browser issues ... can't see the list, would someone please post ?

I want to know every Dem who signs this list ... and who goes to my "DINO" list.

[WhollyHeretic]

52. Here you go

The other plaintiffs include Rep. John Dingell, Ranking Member on the Energy and Commerce Committee; Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Ranking Member on the Ways and Means Committee; Rep. George Miller, Ranking Member on the Education and Workforce Committee; Rep. James L. Oberstar, Ranking Member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Rep. Barney Frank, Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committee; Rep. Collin C. Peterson, Ranking Member on the Agriculture Committee; Rep. Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Committee; Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, Ranking Member on the Rules Committee; Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, Ranking Member on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee; Rep. Sherrod Brown, Representing Ohio's 13th District.

[PegDAC]

97. WOW! n/t

:bounce: :wow:

[papau]

53. see below

The following is a list of co-plaintiffs on this lawsuit. I would note that I did not invite every Member of the House to join in the suit, and I am certain many, many more Members would have joined if asked. However, this was not possible for various arcane legal reasons.

The other plaintiffs include Rep. John Dingell, Ranking Member on the Energy and Commerce Committee; Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Ranking Member on the Ways and Means Committee; Rep. George Miller, Ranking Member on the Education and Workforce Committee; Rep. James L. Oberstar, Ranking Member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Rep. Barney Frank, Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committee; Rep. Collin C. Peterson, Ranking Member on the Agriculture Committee; Rep. Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Committee; Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, Ranking Member on the Rules Committee; Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, Ranking Member on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee; Rep. Sherrod Brown, Representing Ohio's 13th District.

[eppur_se_muova]

58. So it's not that simple. Oh well. Thanks for the info. nt

[DearAbby]

54. When the time comes...and it will

when we take the majority, WE HAVE TO GIVE THIS MAN A MEDAL!

I salute you Rep. Conyers, a true American!

[Pithy Cherub]

55. JC rocking bush's underworld!

John Conyers the consummate patriot! :patriot: :woohoo:

[EFerrari]

56. Okay, who's working on a way to make Mr. Conyers immortal?

:kick:

[mike_c]

57. thank you John Conyers!

:patriot:

[dogday]

59. I support John Conyers!!!!

I am proud of him and the other Democrats doing the right thing....:woohoo:

[pinto]

60. Kudos Conyers et al! This is such a clear cut example of WH contempt

for government procedure and Constitutional law...the RW will holler "technicality", but this scores high on the common sense meter, imo. The House and Senate passed two different bills...only one bill, and only one passed by both houses, can go to the President.

[Vidar]

61. God, I love Conyers!

[AuntiBush]

62. Another BIG Thank You, Congressman Conyers!

:patrio: The man is a stateman, and hero.

[Kurovski]

64. Kicked and recommended.

How can one not kick and recommend such a post?

[Janice325]

65. WOW!!!!

Thank you so much, Congressman Conyers! :yourock:
:applause: :woohoo:
k&r

[titoresque]

66. Didn't Congress get the memo?

He's the DECIDER Koo Koo Kachoo.
What's so hard to understand about that?! Koo Koo Kachoo!

[file83]

110. "Koo Koo Kachoo" makes me think of a "psychopath sneezing".

Don't ask why. Great song by the way :thumbsup:

[spanone]

67. KICK AND RECOMMEND

It's time to issue a fatal blow to these criminal, politco-mafiosa RUINING OUR BELOVED NATION.

[Joe Chi Minh]

68. There must be a lot of very astute and knowledgeable

Democratic politicians on Capitol Hill, but surely Congressman John Conyers must be the paragon of legislators, the ultimate legislator, the legislators' legislator, the person any and everyone would wish to seek out for advice on a legal or legislative issue. Maybe even Wild Bill.

[Swamp Rat]

69. YAAAAY!!! John Conyers for President!!!

:bounce: :patriot: :woohoo:

[Kurovski]

71. Hehehe!

a riff on Max Headroom. I love it!

[Swamp Rat]

101. I got the idea from Radio_Lady

;)

[Mnemosyne]

70. Another k & r, though it hardly needs it!

Thank you kpete, for all you do here. :toast:

[populistdriven]

73. k&r - WOOT 98 votes cmon TWO MORE!!!!!!!!

[debbierlus]

74. Conyers is a man of incredible integrity.

[StaggerLee]

78. A pic from way back of our JC and a King

Thank you Mr. Conyers!

:patriot:

[kpete]

79. Peace

[Generator]

81. It's Conyer's world

this OTHER one I cannot even fathom. Whew!

[Tanyah]

82. Why did Conyers just vote for the "Iran Freedom Support Act"

Does anyone know?

[bonito]

83. Gota love him, Kick! n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

84. Conyers is TIRELESS! He just never gives up.

We need many more just like him!:woohoo:

[ClassWarrior]

96. Never Give Up, in_cog...

Never Give Up. :hi:

NGU.

[kpete]

118. We need to be tireless too!

[Adelante]

85. That's just wonderful

:D

[FogerRox]

87. Great one kpete, thanks for finding all these stories and this one too,

KNR

[klook]

88. This makes perfect sense

If the budget bill isn't approved by both houses of Congress, then it can't be signed into law. Simple as that. I can't believe the Republicans are even trying something as basically flawed as this. I guess that goes to show you what a f'd-up time we're living through.

Conyers is one of the brightest lights we have, and what a strong force for good he is! I'm sure glad he's around.

[progressoid]

89. Daayum!

A big ass kick for Mr. Conyers.

[Hissyspit]

90. That's our guy!

<--------- :patriot:

[Independent_Liberal]

91. Kick!

Conyers is kicking ass! He's my MAN!

:)

[katinmn]

92. What a great thing to read tonight.

John Conyers coming through for us -- again!

I have the utmost respect for him.

[PegDAC]

94. Representative Conyers,

you are my hero!

:toast: :bounce: :thumbsup: :kick: :yourock: :woohoo: :patriot:

[PatrioticLeftie]

98. Have I mentioned today...

How much Conyers rules?

[Richard Steele]

100. Conyers rules!

Gonna have to keep an eye on this story.

[Kablooie]

102. God I'm glad that SOMEONE can do something.

This is a very scary time. I feel like a 1030's citizen of Germany.

Thank you Mr. Conyers and I'll look forward to seeing you in more of MM"s movies.

(Michael Moore, not Mickey Mouse)

[low_phreaq]

103. Remember this picture?

http://bagnewsnotes.typepad.com/bagnews/2005/06/the_corner_of_d.html

[suffragette]

104. Thank you John Conyers for always reminding us of what

we can and should do and be.


:yourock:

[Old and In the Way]

105. On what grounds will they fight this?

Seems like another dumb Republican move. Way to go Representitive Conyers! :toast:

[Faryn Balyncd]

106. The GOP assault the constitution will perhaps

be noticed by a brain-dead,servile press.

Thanks, John Conyers.

[bdamomma]

108. can we just press charges against this administration

wishful thinking?

[AndyA]

109. Is this unprecedented? I can't recall this ever happening before.

I say GO CONYERS! I love people who have a spine, and actually look after the interests of the citizens of this land. I wish we had more like John Conyers, I admire him for this action.

He's a good guy! Let's hope he wins his case!!

[myrna minx]

112. Rep. Conyers, how much to I love thee? Let me count the ways...n/t

[Laelth]

115. I am honored to kick and recommend this thread.

John Conyers is a true patriot. :patriot:

:dem:

-Laelth

[troubleinwinter]

116. Thank you, American Patriot John Conyers. Thank you.

[bdamomma]

117. could we file suit also

I would love to do this.