Congress is attempting to once again seize power from the judicial branch with highly controversial legislation that would prohibit all federal courts established by Congress from even hearing cases concerning the Pledge of Allegiance and the First Amendment. Rather than spending the few weeks left this session on legislation designed to address the many critically issues facing our country, the Republican leadership is planning to fast-track this proposed legislation to the House floor.
The judicial branch plays an important role in reviewing legislation and ensuring that it is in line with the Constitution. By tying the hands of the federal courts, Congress is restricting the courts' role as a system of checks and balances, and hurting the defense of our constitutional rights.
The resources and priority given to this proposed legislation to this most recent court-stripping bill is an ominous sign for the future of checks and balances in this country. Regardless of whether or not you agree with recent court decisions regarding marriage or the pledge, we can all agree that elected officials should not respond to court decisions with which they disagree by preventing the appropriate courts from reviewing them!
Take Action! Urge your Representative to oppose this overreaching legislation.
Congress seems to be addicted to court-stripping. Congress seems to be suffering from court-stripping fever this year. In addition to H.R. 2028 and the Marriage Protection Act passed earlier this year, we have seen proposals to strip the courts of jurisdiction to hear cases on the Ten Commandments and, almost laughingly, all cases that are "religious freedom-related." We must stop this dangerous trend now before we see proposals to strip the courts on everything from gun control to abortion.
Congress needs to get its priorities in order. Congress needs to focus on real priorities and stop its relentless attack on courts and the Constitution. This is a perversion of proper legislative process and needs to be stopped cold.
Checks and balances exist for a reason. The federal court system is in place as an important safeguard of our liberty. If Congress continues to subvert and sidestep the judicial branch, our rights are not getting the protection they deserve.
TAKE ACTION!