Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Letters

Each week I return to my roots on the old farm near Bluff City. As I pass through Prescott I purchase a copy of the Picayune to keep abreast of the local news. I found the article of Senator Mike Ross attacking Congressman Jay Dickey on October 6 to be most informative. In that article you quote Mr. Ross as saying, "I'm not surprised that he (Jay Dickey) would vote himself a pay raise....." In making this statement Senator Ross is either revealing his lack of knowledge of the U.S. Constitution or is conceding the election to Congressman Dickey.

Any senior at Prescott High School could explain the 27th amendment to Senator Ross. That amendment reads, "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened." Therefore it is impossible for Mr. Dickey to vote himself a pay raise.

It is further noted that Senator Ross did not criticize Congressman Dickey's vote to increase the President's pay to $400,000.

To better inform the electorate, Senator Ross should answer the follow:

1. If elected, will he accept the pay raise?
2. Had he been in Congress would he have voted to impeach the President?
3. Will he read the U.S. Constitution before the election in November 2000?
4. Mr. Ross' attack on Congressman Dickey makes Judy Smith a more attractive Democratic nominee for Congress.

Bluff City