An Open Letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Only Authoritarians Write Their Edicts in Secret

Dear Speaker Pelosi,

If what I hear is true, and your purpose behind the refusal to convene the House is to write a recovery proposal that would be presented to the full House for an up or down vote, you are violating the very intent of the Constitution. The United States is a representative republic, where legislators, executive, and judges work in the open, and not behind closed doors. By drafting a piece of legislation while under the cover of a quarantine you deprive us, the citizens of the United States, of the right to participate, through our elected representatives, a voice in that legislation. Desist from drafting legislation under the excuse of quarantine.

No Proxy Voting

One of the foundational rights the American citizen has is the right to representation, whether that is exercised in court or in our legislature. Democrats harp on “one voice, one vote,” yet you would strip me, and my one voice, of expressing to my representative my considered opinion of pending legislation by way of proxy voting. Proxy voting destroys the representative foundation of this republic by predetermining votes of representatives who might otherwise be swayed by their constituents. This becomes especially valid when proposed legislation is drafted under the cover of quarantine with no give-and-take of committee interaction. Foul!

Reconvene the House of Representatives

Much of the American citizenry is attempting to resume somewhat normal lives in the aftermath of this medical crisis. Returning to work is an example of risk-reward ratios. I am certain that physical distancing could be practiced even as the House reconvenes–of course, that might mean that representatives might have to answer the phones themselves with reduced staffs, until the threat of this communicable disease diminishes further. Reconvening the House of Representatives does not necessarily entail bringing all the staffers physically back to work at the same time. Have you ever heard of telecommuting?

Bring the House back in session.

Nagirroc Hrongwaa