Judicial Activism Bill Introduced
by Steve Jordahl
SUMMARY: Congress considers legislation to alter constitutional balance of power.

Congress is considering a bill that would give the legislative branch the power to overturn federal court decisions it considers unconstitutional. The Congressional Accountability for Judicial Activism Act of 2004 would require a two-thirds majority in each chamber in order to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court. Rep. Ron Lewis, R-Ky., said his bill could prevent some of the social upheaval caused by past decisions. "We have seen a very activist court that really has had a tremendous impact on our values, on our culture," he said. "There needs to be a check."


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Kentucky same-sex amendment revived
FRANKFORT, Ky., March 25 (UPI) -- Democrats in the Kentucky House have revived a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage they blocked earlier this week.
The bill, which calls for a statewide referendum to decide whether same-sex marriage and civil unions should be constitutionally prohibited in Kentucky, was given a second life by the same House committee that blocked it 24 hours earlier. Supporters of the bill prayed and sang "God Bless America" outside the hearing room as the House Elections Committee met Wednesday night, the Lexington Herald-Leader said.