House Republican Introduces Bill to Repeal 17th Amendment

Representative Keith Self, a Texas Republican and House Freedom Caucus member, introduced a bill to repeal the 17th Amendment, which established direct popular election of U.S. senators. Newsweek reported the measure would return selection of senators to state legislatures.

As of Monday afternoon the bill had eight cosponsors. The cosponsors are Eric Burlison of Missouri’s 7th District, Andrew Clyde of Georgia’s 9th District, Paul Gosar of Arizona’s 9th District, Andy Harris of Maryland’s 1st District, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania’s 10th District, Clay Higgins of Louisiana’s 3rd District, Sheri Biggs of South Carolina’s 3rd District, and Michael Cloud of Texas’s 27th District.

Self stated that direct election has produced “six-year politicians more focused on national ambitions” and that repeal would restore the Senate’s role representing states as sovereign entities.

The 17th Amendment was ratified April 8, 1913. Only the 18th Amendment has ever been repealed. The introduction occurs against House Republican frustration with the Senate over the SAVE Act, which passed the House earlier this year mostly along party lines but lacks the 60 votes needed in the Senate.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority there. No Democrats have indicated support. President Donald Trump canceled a planned signing of a bipartisan housing bill last week, conditioning his signature on SAVE Act passage.

Republicans control 28 state legislatures, Democrats control 18, three are divided, and Nebraska’s is nonpartisan. Repeal of any amendment requires two-thirds support in both chambers of Congress followed by approval from three-fourths of the states. In 2004 Senator Zell Miller, a Georgia Democrat, introduced a similar resolution that failed.