[IP] House Leaders to Bush: Don't Even Think of Delaying Election
From Capitol Hill Blue
Capitol Hillbillies
House Leaders to Bush: Don't Even Think of Delaying Election
By Staff and Wire Reports
Jul 20, 2004, 05:46
House leaders called Monday for Congress to affirm that presidential
elections, to be held this year on Nov. 2, will never be postponed
because of a terrorist attack.
The move comes after the chairman of a federal election commission
suggested to congressional leaders last week that there should be a
process for canceling or rescheduling an election interrupted by
terrorism. National security adviser Condoleezza Rice said the
administration is considering no such plan.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge recently warned that intelligence
indicates that the al-Qaida terrorist network wants to disrupt the
upcoming elections.
A congressional resolution by Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, chairman of the
House Administration Committee, says "the actions of terrorists will
never cause the date of any presidential election to be postponed" and
"no single individual or agency should be given the authority to
postpone the date of a presidential election."
The resolution is supported by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.,
and more than 60 other lawmakers. Ney said he would introduce it on
Tuesday.
No national election has ever been postponed, the resolution says,
noting that federal elections took place as scheduled during the Civil
War, World War I and World War II.
"Postponing an election in the aftermath of a terrorist attack would
demonstrate weakness, not strength, and would be interpreted as a
victory for the terrorists," the resolution says.
Ney said the resolution would restore confidence in the electoral
process. Hastert agreed, saying: "This resolution will send a message
around our nation and around the world that the United States will not
be bullied by terrorism."
Unlike a bill, a House resolution is not binding if passed and does not
have the force of law. It merely expresses the sentiment of members of
the House.
Separately, about 190 House members, mostly Democrats, wrote to Ridge
insisting that he take no further steps in postponing the Nov. 2
elections.
"We must ensure that in the fight against terrorism we do not lose the
values and freedoms that we're fighting for in the first place," said
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif.
© Copyright 2004 Capitol Hill Blue
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