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Currents
October 2019
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incumbent president was a Democrat (Bill Clinton);
the next four occasions (2001, 2003, 2005, and
again in 2007), were after the election of a Republi-
can (George W. Bush). Rep. Serrano’s 2013 bill is
the third time he has proposed that same legislation
to Congress since the election of Barack Obama, fol-
lowing similar efforts in 2009 and 2011.
Likewise, another Democrat, Rep. Steny Hoyer of
Maryland, introduced a similar proposal six times in
recent years, also regardless of which party was cur-
rently occupying the White House. Hoyer introduced
such proposals in 1995, 1997, and 1999 (all during
the presidency of Bill Clinton), and again in 2001,
2003, and 2005 (all during the presidency of George
W. Bush).
Other members of Congress who have
offered similar proposals in the last twenty years
include the following: Rep. Barney Frank of Massa-
chusetts (Democrat), Rep. David Dreier of California
(Republican), Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York
(Democrat), Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
(Republican), Rep. Guy Vander Jagt of Michigan
(Republican), Rep. Martin Sabo of Minnesota
(Democratic-Farmer-Labor).
According to Snopes.com, not a single one of
these proposals was ever so much as brought to a
vote before Congress (they were all referred to com-
mittee and languished there), much less passed and
sent to the states for ratification.
Gene Suppell
Editor & Publisher
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