It’s not just good, worthwhile or well-considered legislation that fails to see the light of a floor debate. Take this gem that seems to be doomed to disappear into the void of unpassed bills:
What is it? House Concurrent Resolution 29, by Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton.
What would it do? It would encourage “memorializing the U.S. Congress to pass House Resolution 1146 to withdraw the United States from membership in the United Nations.
Come again? Every session in D.C., U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (the famous Texas District 14 nominal Republican/spiritual libertarian) files a bill called the American Sovereignty Restoration Act, which says the U.S. should quit the UN. This resolution just says that it would be really nice if it passed.
Why would it be good? Because it would send a strong message to those New World Order liberals in their black helicopters that are obviously circling around Brazoria County.
So what would it really do? Very little since it’s only a resolution, but it’s astonishing how much time, cumulatively, the House and Senate spends on resolutions that are generally just a quick slap-on-the-back mention for a constituent. In total, there’s (deep breath) 230 HCRs, 1,894 HRs, and 108 House Joint Resolutions this session. It’s not much better over in Senate, with 962 Senate Resolutions, 67 Senate Joint Resolutions, and 72 Senate Concurrent Resolutions. Remember, even if they’re not heard, someone had to write, file, and copy these things.
What are the odds of it passing? Arguably, it could be said that the Lege has better things to do with its time. Unseen and unloved since Feb. 12, it looks like it’s heading for the same Dumpster as Paul’s bill.
This article appears in April 27 • 2007.
