A group of House Republicans has proposed a constitutional amendment to prevent Congress from exempting itself from federal law.
“Passing laws that apply to the American people but that exempt Congress is inconsistent with the ideals of a republican form of government,” said Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. “Those who serve in Washington should be part of a service culture, not part of a ruling class that lives under its own set of rules.”
DeSantis introduced the legislation as a House bill with five original co-sponsors, well short of the two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate required to amend the Constitution. Campaigns against particular exemptions have attracted broad support in the past, however, and constitutional amendments can also pass through an arduous state-based process.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other conservatives have long accused colleagues of “exempting” themselves from Obamacare, a complaint that attracted attention among the grassroots and sparked internal legislative strife, but no change in policy. Congress also has exempted itself from the Freedom of Information Act, which allows reporters and other outside groups to compel the executive branch to hand over documents it might not want to release.
“Americans know full well that Congress refuses to hold itself accountable,” said retiring Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., another cosponsor. “This very necessary amendment would ensure that Congress always lives under the same rules as Main Street, and that no American need fear a law that doesn’t apply equally to their representatives in Washington.”
The bill might not attract much support within Congress, but it could still be a productive political exercise for its backers. DeSantis is running for U.S. Senate, and another co-sponsor, first-term Iowa Rep. Rod Blum, R-Iowa, faces a reelection campaign in one of the most difficult districts for Republicans in the country.
“Enacting this proposed 28th amendment will reduce the disconnect between Washington, D.C., and the American people and lead to better policymaking,” DeSantis said.
