Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) is taking a lesson from the efforts to defund the Affordable Care Act, introducing a constitutional amendment requiring all government officials to be held to the same standard as everyday Americans.
Jenkins made the announcement introducing the amendment Thursday morning, following Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) lead. The resolution would make all laws applicable to U.S. citizens equally applicable to officials in all three branches of government, including U.S. Supreme Court justices, the President and members of Congress.
“This amendment should not be necessary, but we continue to see instances where the administration, members of Congress, or other groups have been able to carve out special treatment under U.S. law,” Jenkins said in a statement. “Those who make the laws, should have to live by those the laws. It is not fair that those in a position of power are treated differently than every other hardworking American.”
Paul introduced his constitutional amendment in the Senate on Monday, and it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The amendment is likely a result of the effort to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act. Republicans in both chambers argued members of Congress and the executive branch — namely the President and Vice President — should be required to enter into Obamacare’s exchanges as opposed to keeping their cadillac health plans.
If passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by President Obama, Jenkins’ and Paul’s resolutions would be the 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The 27th amendment was adopted in 1992.
