A recent letter to the editor argued for ending lameduck sessions of Congress by repealing the 20th Amendment. But before the 20th Amendment, the lameduck period was even longer than it is now. The Constitution set March 4th as the date on which terms expired for the President, Vice President, and members of Congress. The 20th Amendment changed that to January 3rd for Congress and January 17th for the President and Vice President.
In 1787, the Founding Fathers believed four months between the election and taking office gave new office-holders time to put their personal affairs in order and make the long journey to the Capital. But much had changed by the 1930s. The 20th Amendment recognized those changes and shortened the lame duck period to two months. Does Alan Wilcox really want to go back to a longer lame duck session?
Dr. Wilcox is also misguided in his assertion that the recent lameduck Congress acted contrary to the wishes of the American people. Polls show most Americans favored the extension of tax cuts and unemployment benefits, help for 9/11 first responders, the new nuclear arms treaty, repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, stricter food safety regulations and support for community radio. The lameduck Congress was more effective because members no longer had to worry about distortions of the campaign season.
Alison Hirsch
Williamsport
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom
