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Don Young Rises to Constitution's Defense
Don't worry, America! Rep. Don Young (R-AK) will ensure that the blessed integrity of our nation's Constitution is upheld.
Last week, the Senate voted to require the Justice Department to open an investigation into how the language of Young's Coconut Road earmark was modified after it cleared both houses of Congress, but before it was signed by the President. Young, of course, welcomes scrutiny of any and all of his beloved earmarks. But it's the law of the thing that's got him upset:
"What the Senate did was unconstitutional," the Alaska Republican said Wednesday. "No other body can request an investigation on another body."
Now, while there are a host of touchy Constitutional issues surrounding the Senate's measure, this, to my understanding, isn't one of them. Democrats objected to Sen. Tom Coburn's (R-OK) measure to create a bicameral committee because it would have involved one chamber investigating another (that measure failed). And there are legitimate concerns that any DoJ investigation would clash with Congress' Speech or Debate Clause protections. But no one else has put it quite the way Young has put it -- that the Senate's request for an investigation by the DoJ was unconstitutional.
Of course, just to underscore the circularity of all this, the Justice Department is already investigating Young's Coconut Road earmark, along with his ties to Veco and who knows what else. So if the Senate's possibly unconstitutional measure to force the DoJ to investigate Young's unconstitutional earmark fails, the DoJ will investigate it anyway.
Somehow I think that the Constitution will survive all this. As for Don Young...
Comments (15)
YOung's pork must be in his office freezer.
April 24, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's funny when rethuglicans claim to be concerned about the Constitution.
They've slept through seven years of Cheney and his lackey using it for toilet paper.
~
April 24, 2008 6:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm pretty sure that pork-probing was determined to be a lawful interrogation technique by the administration....
Oh wait, maybe I'm thinking of something else
April 24, 2008 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
The headline for this should get into the double entendre hall of fame: "Young Claims Probing His Pork is Unconstitutional." Kudos!.
April 24, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's time for Don to call in a true Constitutional scholar, someone who could really articulate his concern for that sacred document.
I understand Alberto "Fredo" Gonzalez is available.
April 24, 2008 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I still don't get why the House can't investigate this.
April 24, 2008 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
A bill is modified after it is passed by Congress but before the President signs it. Yet no one in the government can investigate because of "constitutional issues". Really great system of government we got here.
April 24, 2008 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don has been known for his grasp of nothing but pork. I spent 6 of the years I lived in AK trying to retire him. The voters insisted. Maybe the DOJ will solve the problem.
April 24, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
And why shouldn't the House and Senate investigate each other?
Congress can investigate the Executive Branch and the DOG can investigate Congress, within limits. Wouldn't this end the gentleman's agreement to let sleeping dogs lie?
April 24, 2008 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
see Article XVII, Section 3: Mink Biting.
April 24, 2008 11:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
IMHO, neither party's that we elect feel or think that they owe us, the American taxpayer/people a damn thing. They are filling their rice bowls at our expense.
It is up to us, the people to stop this BS. Start holding these elected bottom feeders to the fact that they work for us. Vote all office holders out, and then tell the new ones, get it right the first time, or you are out in the next election.
It may take several elections to wake the crooks up, but it must be done, if we want a gov't that will work for the people.
April 25, 2008 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Damn stright, the Senate is unconstitutional...if the Senate (and the House) actually believed in the Constitution Don Young and his fellow crooks in the White House would be in prison....
April 25, 2008 1:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have nothing amusing or snarky to say about Don Young. I just want to see this hopelessly corrupt and venal piece of garbage out of the House and behind bars as soon as possible.
April 25, 2008 8:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
It remains my fervent hope and desire to read that Young dies in a lonely prision cell of old age.
April 25, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd settle for his resignation at this point. But, as a long time Alaskan, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HIM. Ever.
His arrogance is only exceeded by his conceit. He has run rough shod over the law and the Alaskan people for years.
Don - PLEASE resign. Do it for the Alaska you claim to love.
April 25, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink