JP> -> I'd like to see the NRA taking a more pro-active role in
JP> legislation -> like this. If it can be prevented from being
JP> introduced, we don't -> have to worry about defeating it.
JP> Technically speaking, ANY member can introduce ANY legislation they
JP> want and there is no way to prevent it. (I fully expect some of
JP> these idiots to try to solve the "problem" of children falling out
JP> of trees by introducing legislation to repeal the law of gravity  .
JP> . . sigh)
JP> What CAN be done is to encourage the committees to table these bills
JP> or send them out "for more study" or whatever rather than send them
JP> to the full body for a debate and vote.
That's exactly the strategy I would advocate. You are correct in saying 
that any member can introduce a bill, however, that accomplishes nothing 
unless he can get it past the Rules Committee and the committee that has 
jurisdiction over that piece of legislation. The Rules Committee is 
particularly important. Between 1992 and 1994, the Democrats controlled 
that committee with a 2/3 + 1 majority. *NO* Republican bill was 
reported out of Rules without a Democrat co-sponsor. Rules also 
determines which committee the bill will be assigned to. One way to kill 
a bill is to assign it to an unfriendly committee.
JP> -> Our problem in doing this, however, is the current Republican ->
JP> leadership still includes people like Henry Hyde who are anti-gun.
JP> True, but if you can reach enough of the committee members, you can
JP> work around this.
It is politically hazardous to antagonize a committee chairman. They 
sometimes have the power to destroy a political career - especially the 
Rules Chairman. People who antagonized Senator Byrd in past years found 
it impossible to get any bill reported out of the Senate Rules 
Committee. He was so powerful that *nothing* could get through Congress 
without his blessing. (Which, BTW, is one of the factors behind many of 
Bob Dole's compromises.)
JP> The problem, Dan, as I see it, is this.  Congressional incumbents
JP> are now running PERPETUAL re-election campaigns.  Campaigns are
JP> almost completely about slogans and soundbites, not issues.  No
JP> incumbent wants to give his opponent a soundbite to use against him.
I would suggest that this makes them particularly vulnerable to people 
who are active enough to attend public meetings and ask them 
embarrassing questions.
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 X RM 1.3 02881 X P-Porky P-Pig of Borg: You will be assim-assim...absorbed
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