Jim Baird: “I rise to make two fundamental points before we proceed to vote on this. The two points are these: This resolution does…”

“I rise to make two fundamental points before we proceed to vote on this. The two points are these: This resolution does not solve the real problem and it may create more problems than it purports to solve, and we have to understand that. It does not solve the problem for this reason: By leaving us without a Congress for 45 days, we essentially impose the opportunity for the executive branch to exert marshal law, and that is not what the Framers of this country had in mind. This bill, if we do not provide some mechanism for prompt replacement other than this bill, will leave this country governed by an unelected executive, a cabinet member most likely who not a single American elected to that office. Furthermore, it has a host of problems. It does not address the possibility that one delegation will elect its Representatives more promptly than another. They will come to this body, choose one of its members as Speaker. That person could move on to become the President. Then another delegation comes in, et cetera. You are essentially leaving this country without a House of Representatives, without checks and balances, without separation of powers, for at least 45 days, assuming an election can be held in 45 days and assuming that the terrorists through an anthrax attack, like they subjected this very Capitol to, will not somehow undermine that ability. This is reality. We have seen the reality here.”