Um, Sid?
Tuesday, Feb 3, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is such an “effective” tool that Sid Blumental apparently doesn’t even realize that the Illinois General Assembly has been doing this very thing for years…
The Democrats hold in their hands constitutional means yet unused to check the Trump regime’s ruthless attempt to impose a police state. That the Democrats thus far have failed to create this oppositional political center of gravity may be because the method has been lost to history, not wielded effectively for 113 years. Focused on the ICE outrages, however, this political instrument can be revived in the 16 states where the Democrats control the governorships and both chambers of the state legislatures, as well as introduced in states with mixed power.
Before the enactment of the 17th amendment in 1913, state legislators and not the voters selected US senators and regarded them frequently as their agents. It was a common practice for legislatures to send what were called “orders of instruction” urging senators and sometimes members of the House of Representatives to take a particular stand on important issues. The orders were not binding, but had significant force given the power of legislatures and political parties to decide who would hold Senate seats. These resolutions were variously called instructions, petitions and memorials. […]
Today, state legislative resolutions would have far more political weight than any poll, provide a galvanizing mechanism to drive public opinion, and solidify the states as defenders of basic American rights seeking to safeguard constitutional freedoms and the safety of electoral processes. State resolutions would expose the brazen hypocrisy of the Trump administration as it tramples on the formerly sanctified principles of states’ rights and free speech, and as Trump poses a clear and present danger to free and fair elections in 2026 and 2028.
The 17th Amendment did pass, however, and now these resolutions are purely symbolic. I cannot remember one resolution that had a demonstrable impact of federal decision-making.
Discuss.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Feb 3, 26 @ 2:00 pm:
Nothing to discuss Rich. You nailed it. I couldn’t help but laugh reading the post.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Feb 3, 26 @ 2:04 pm:
For a guy who is an ultimate insider, you would think such status might inform his writing, but alas.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 3, 26 @ 2:07 pm:
Can you imagine Senate President James “Pate” Philip and House Speaker Lee Daniels trying to persuade Paul Simon and Carol Moseley Braun to vote in sync with the (brief) Republican state legislative majority?
I might have to ask John Amdor to look into whether that ever happened. It was only possible between 1995 and 1996.
To Blumenthal’s point, whatever it was, Democrats only control 18 state legislatures. Not sure that is the powerful Democratic weapon he thinks it is.
- Think again - Tuesday, Feb 3, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
=Before the enactment of the 17th Amendment in 1913=
The 17th Amendment ushered in the era of big national money pouring into what used to be local Senate races. No better example than the huge amounts of outside money spent in the 2022 Georgia Senate races.
https://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary?cycle=2022&id=GAS2&spec=N
- Alton Sinkhole - Tuesday, Feb 3, 26 @ 2:30 pm:
Be nice to Sid his former bosses are having a rough week /s
- Steve - Tuesday, Feb 3, 26 @ 2:46 pm:
It’s symbolic politics . Both Illinois Senators aren’t happy with the ICE performance. Anyway, there is the 17th Amendment it’s here and alive . No longer are Senators controlled by the state legislatures. The old system had flaws: a divided legislature often couldn’t agree on who to send to the Senate so long periods of time some states have no representation. Also, the seats would often viewed as being purchased by the highest bidder. I think the old system had a lot of benefits, the notion that states would have a more direct say in the federal government and guard their states’ rights.