David Skaggs: “I want to address myself for the moment to the process by which this proposed amendment has been brought to the House.…”

“I want to address myself for the moment to the process by which this proposed amendment has been brought to the House. Passing for the moment the fact that I believe it is a bad idea and bad constitutional law, even worse is how we consider it today under a process that insults the intelligence and responsibility of Members of the House, that contradicts any suggestion that this House is able to operate in a thoughtful and considered manner, and that demands and debases the very process of constitutional amendment itself. The original proposal brought forward by the gentleman from Texas, House Joint Resolution 159, received a single hearing before the House Committee on the Judiciary on March 6. It was then essentially removed from the committee and scheduled for a vote on the floor today. It was not marked up or approved by the Committee on the Judiciary. That committee... is vested with the responsibility and authority under the rules of the House to give the kind of thoughtful consideration to a constitutional amendment that I believe the people of America think ought to obtain.”