Bachmann: Keep your Kenyan Shillings out of my country

Crossposted at my new regular gig at Congress Matters.

This one is not really news. Instead this nugget of hilarity has flown well under the radar where it belongs.

Noted birther Michele Bachmann (R-Outer Xenophobia) introduced a House Resolution back in March to get the gears in motion to amend the U.S. Constitution. This one is a beaut.

HJ Res 41 proposes an amendment to the Constitution that would:

prohibit the President from entering into a treaty or other international agreement that would provide for the United States to adopt as legal tender in the United States a currency issued by an entity other than the United States.

I don't know what is going through Rep. Bachmann's mind that would convince her that this is a pressing issue (I'm guessing oxygen). The only logical conclusion to draw is that Rep. Bachmann is concerned that a United States ruled by Barack Obama will force the country to adopt the Kenyan Shilling. I know the economy is in rough shape, but this is stretching the bounds of reality a bit far even for the winggers.

The fact that Bachmann felt the need introduce this legislation is bad enough, but she has 37 co-sponsors or 8.5 percent of the House of Representatives. Here they are along with the date they signed on.

Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 3/25/2009
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 3/30/2009
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 3/25/2009
Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] - 4/21/2009
Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] - 3/25/2009
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] - 3/25/2009
Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] - 3/25/2009
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] - 3/25/2009
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 3/25/2009
Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] - 3/25/2009
Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] - 3/25/2009
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 7/29/2009
Rep Fallin, Mary [OK-5] - 3/25/2009
Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] - 3/25/2009
Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] - 3/25/2009
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 4/1/2009
Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] - 3/25/2009
Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] - 3/25/2009
Rep Hensarling, Jeb [TX-5] - 3/25/2009
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] - 4/2/2009
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 3/25/2009
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 3/25/2009
Rep King, Steve [IA-5] - 3/25/2009
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 3/25/2009
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] - 3/25/2009
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] - 4/2/2009
Rep McClintock, Tom [CA-4] - 3/25/2009
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 3/30/2009
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 3/25/2009
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 3/25/2009
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 4/27/2009
Rep Posey, Bill [FL-15] - 3/25/2009
Rep Price, Tom [GA-6] - 3/25/2009
Rep Roe, David P. [TN-1] - 3/25/2009
Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] - 3/25/2009
Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] - 3/25/2009
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 3/25/2009

HJ Res 41 was sent to the House Judiciary Committee and later sent to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, which handles proposed constitutional amendments, where it will almost certainly die unless chairman Jerrold Nadler goes suddenly and irreversibly insane. On the other hand, three of the co-sponsors are also Republican members of the subcommittee. This is why control of the committees is important.

So, yea. Have at it....

Note: This is the first of an occasional series that I am considering that would highlight the more ludicrous bills that are introduced in Congress. This is why thousands of bills are introduced each Congress, but only a few hundred ever pass and most of these are bills to name the post office in Nowheresville, Minnesota for Ronald Reagan. It's also why Legislative Counsel has one of the least enviable jobs in Washington. This idea was inspired by Magnifico.