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Okay, I'm going to take on the job of asshole and ask this question.
Should we have an amendment to the Constitution regarding Representatives and Senators who are unable to discharge their powers and duties so that another person may have their seat and represent their constituents?
The reason why I ask is because of Gabrielle Giffords. She's the Representative of Arizona's 8th district. Since assuming her 3rd term on January 3 of 2011, she has missed 98% of the votes in Congress. This is, of course, because she was shot on January 8 of 2011.
Now I absolutely commend her for her struggles in recovering from that shooting, and do not in any way seek to take away from that. Also, I wish her nothing but the best in her recovery. I will also be the first to praise her and her husband for their bravery in dealing with this tragedy that struck them.
Even so, Arizona's 8th district is being unrepresented in Congress. And that really doesn't sit well with me.
We have the 25th Amendment to deal with Presidential succession and disability in order to officially clear the matter. However, we have no manner to deal with Representatives and Senators who are unable to discharge their duties. And I think that their duties are equally as important as those of the President.
So should we have an amendment that provides for procedures to replace an elected Representative or Senator who is unable to do his or her duty in Congress?
I would guess Representative Gifford's constituents already have a mechanism to replace her but have chosen not to at this time. Am I wrong about that?