Could the plague bring reform to Congress? by Paul Danish
Adam Sloat
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he latest China Plague (at 1929 to about 720,000 today. That least the fourth to originate in alone tells you why the cost of runthe People’s Republic since ning for Congress, and the influence 1957) has set off discussion in of money in politics, has soared in Congress as to whether mem- the last century. It also tells you why bers of the House and the Senate Americans have less and less personshould be allowed to vote remotely. al contact with their congressmen. They should, and for reasons that But if the House of go far beyond the need for social disRepresentatives were to start contancing when the coronavirus is loose ducting its business via videoconferin the land. encing, it would no longer have to let Plague or no plague, the real the size of its membership be defined question should be why should by the size of its meeting room. It Congress continue to convene in the could, in fact, limit the size of conCapitol (the gressional disbuilding), or for tricts to a size that matter in the that was concapital templated at the to mount a (Washington, time the Bill of congressional campaign Rights was draftD.C.), when it in which the largest could conduct all ed — no more of its business than 50,000 citicosts were shoe leather remotely? zens per conand a relatively small Conducting gressional number of leaflets. Talk the business of distirct. the Congress by (There was about getting big money video conferenceven an attempt out of politics. ing and the interto write that net would have number into the advantages that extend beyond keepConstitution when the Bill of Rights ing members from spreading the was sent to the states for ratification. coronavirus to each other during quo- The original bill had 12 amendrum calls. It would allow for a proments, not 10. Two of the original 12 found and long-overdue restructuring were not initially ratified. One of of how Congress does business, start- these, the one stating that a coning with allowing for an increase in gressional pay raise couldn’t take the size of the House of effect until after the next congresRepresentatives. sional election, was ratified on May Currently the House of 5, 1992, more than 202 years after it Representatives consists of 435 mem- was proposed. The other had been bers. There is nothing magic about intended to limit the maximum popthe number. The size of the House of ulation of congressional districts to Representatives was set by law (not 50,000, but the wording of the by the Constitution) at 435 in 1929, amendment was botched; it ended ostensibly because that was the maxi- up saying that 50,000 people could mum number of Congressmen who be represented by no more than one could be seated comfortably in the congressman, which meant that a House chamber. single congressman could still repreFailure to expand the size of the sent more than 50,000. Most state House (or the House chamber) since legislatures chose not to consider it.) 1929 has led to a near tripling in the But if Congress were to conduct population of the average congresits business exclusively online and sional district, from about 250,000 in never set foot in Washington, con-
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MORTGAGE BROKER Q&A WITH MY FRIEND JEFF
It would be possible
Question: Jeff, any tricks or suggestions for homebuyers to secure the best mortgages and to make their offers really stand out from the pack?
Answer: Listing agents really like to hear from the buyer’s lender and know they are on top of things, so if you can select a local mortgage professional who communicates well with local real estate agents - that will go a long way to make your offer more attractive. Getting fully pre-approved ahead of time, where all that might be left to do is the appraisal on the home definitely helps too.” - Jeff Waymire, Trustlink Mortgage
720-466-8212 adam@adamsloat.com www.westwaterrealty.com 10
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MARCH 26, 2020
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BOULDER WEEKLY
