WASHINGTON – Fearing terrorists might target Congress, the House on Thursday approved a bill to set up speedy special elections if 100 or more of its members are killed.
The House, in a 306-97 vote, put aside for now the larger issue of whether the Constitution should be amended to allow for temporary appointments in the event that an attack caused mass fatalities among lawmakers.
The House, said Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., sponsor of the elections bill and a foe of appointments, “is rooted in democratic principles, and those principles must be preserved at all costs.”
Thursday’s vote came two and a half years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the crash in Pennsylvania of United Airlines Flight 93, a plane that many believe was destined for the U.S. Capitol.
“Those passengers gave their lives to give us a second chance,” said Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., a supporter of the broader constitutional approach. “Eternal shame on us if we do not take action” to protect Congress’ survival after a possible attack.
The measure would require special elections within 45 days of the House speaker confirming that a catastrophic event had left at last 100 of the 435 seats vacant. Language was added to ensure that military personnel stationed overseas would have their voting rights protected.
The current legislation has split the two parties in the House, with many Democrats saying they were not given the chance to offer a constitutional amendment that would allow for temporary appointments until special elections could be held.
The Constitution requires that House vacancies be filled by elections. Senate vacancies can be temporarily filled by appointments made by governors.
Sensenbrenner said expedited elections could get the House back on its feet after a disaster without betraying the democratic underpinnings of the chamber.
As for the possibility of a largely appointed House, he asked, “Is that what the framers of the Constitution had in mind?” His answer: “No way.”
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