Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced a constitutional amendment this week that would ensure that all government officials are held to the same standards under U.S. laws as all American citizens.
“This amendment should not be necessary, but we continue to see instances where the administration, members of Congress or other groups have been able to carve out special treatment under U.S. law,” Jenkins said. “Those who make the laws, should have to live by those laws. It is not fair that those in a position of power are treated differently than every other hardworking American.”
The amendment says that Congress shall make no law that is applicable to the citizen of the U.S. that is not also equally applicable to all members of Congress, judges of the Supreme Court of the United States or the executive branch, including the president and the vice president.
Jenkins’ introduced the bill, H.J. Res 97, in the House, while Paul introduced S.J. Res. 25 in the Senate.
“When I became a United States senator, I made it my job to look out for the people of Kentucky and Americans at large,” Paul said. “Under this amendment, Congress, federal judges and the White House will no longer be able to exempt themselves from the laws they create and implement. This amendment requires politicians to publicly acknowledge that Washington will not be exempt from the laws it makes for the rest of us.”