We probably could have spending cuts if not for the RINOs - On 09/27, Trump released his tax plan. Posted: Oct 26th, 2017 - 5:01 pm In Reply to: Hold on to your wallets. The Senate version (now adopted - by the House) does not address
The Constitution, as written by the founders, intended the Senate to represent the states (Senators were chosen by the state legislatures) and the House to represent the people. The 17th amendment made the Senate also elected by the people so it no longer represents the states.
The Constitution provided for House members to be elected every two years. The short terms were intended to ensure the House members would be accountable to their constituents. Short terms were also intended to result in frequent changes in representation and discourage the development of a long term professional representatives. Senators were given six years so they would not be swayed by changes popular opinion but would attend to the long term interests of the states who chose them.
Unfortunately, direct election of Senators + long 6 year terms has resulted in a Senate which is not accountable to the people or the states. Senators today are owned by big donors and represent the interests of the wealthy donors and corporations who fund the expensive reelection campaigns, provide Senators with lucrative insider investment deals, and provide the lucrative lobbying and board positions Senators which are the big money payoff in “retirement”.
One of the problems with 6 year terms is Senators are completely unaccountable once they are in their final term. Corker’s current behavior is typical of a Senator who does not intend to face the voters again and is therefore not accountable to Tennessee voters or the party. McCain’s current behavior, taking actions to hurt the president at the expense of the voters, is enabled by the knowledge his brain cancer means he won’t live to face the voters again. Likely every GOP and Democrat Senator over the age of 70 has a plan for their last 6 year term when they can be free of accountability to party or voters.
We need to stagger the terms so every 2 years one of each state’s 2 Senators is facing the voters. In addition 12 year term limits for members of the House and Senate would go a long way toward eliminating the professional politicians and making the legislature more accountable to the people.
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