SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SJR 8226

      AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

                        FEBRUARY 4, 994

Brief Description:  Ratifying the 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

SPONSORS: Senators Cantu, Hochstatter, Winsley, West and Oke

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, McCaslin, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

Hearing Dates: February 3, 1994; February 4, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Article V of the United States Constitution states (in part) that whenever two-thirds of both houses of Congress shall propose an amendment to the Constitution, the amendment shall become part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.

Amendment XXVII, proposed by the 1st Congress of the United States, states that "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

On May 7, 1992, the state of Michigan became the 38th state to ratify the constitutional amendment in question; on May 20, both houses of Congress adopted resolutions concluding that the proposal had become Amendment XXVII to the United States Constitution.

Since the amendment was ratified, four additional states have post-ratified the amendment.

SUMMARY:

The state of Washington post-ratifies Amendment XXVII to the United States Constitution.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The state of Washington should show its support for a constitutional amendment first proposed back in 1789.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Senator Cantu, prime sponsor