User:TachyonJack/Baird Amendment

Baird amendment with Ornstein modifications: · When a majority of governors declare that a majority of their state’s congressional delegation is dead or incapacitated the amendment kicks in. · In the case of vacancies, governors may make 90-day temporary appointments and schedule a special election. · In the case of incapacity, a temporary member is appointed until the incapacitated member indicates he or she is recovered and resumes the seat. Or if an incapacitated 12 member dies, a temporary appointment of 90 days is made until the seat is filled by special election. Simple constitutional amendment. The House will adopt a procedure similar to Senate procedure for filling vacancies: · When any vacancy occurs (whether there is an emergency or not), state legislatures may empower governors to fill the vacancy with a temporary appointment until a special election can be held. · Temporary appointments limited to 90 days. Simple constitutional amendment that gives the Congress the power by statute to deal with mass vacancies and incapacity: · General amendment grants the power to Congress to deal with mass vacancies. · Statutory language clarifies issues surrounding temporary appointments, incapacity, etc. Statutory solution to require states to hold expedited special elections in case of mass vacancies and rulemaking proposal on counting quorums: · When half the seats in the House are vacant, an emergency procedure kicks in to require each state to hold a special election within 60 days. · House may declare a member temporarily incapacitated. Such incapacitated members would not count in the determination of the quorum requirement. They would continue to receive full pay and benefits. And they may resume their seats when they declare they are fit, subject to approval of the House. Statutory language to allow members to designate their own temporary successors in the case of vacancies: · All members will designate in advance a successor who would serve in the members place in case of death until a special election could be held or in case of a temporary incapacity.