Daily Times

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Donald Trump’s chief rival in Congress, proposed a commission Friday to assess a president’s capacity for carrying out his duties — a move that highlights concerns about Trump’s health weeks before the election.

Despite the conspicuous timing of the unveiling, Pelosi insisted that “this is not about President Trump,” who has been treated for Covid-19 for the past week and is desperate to return to campaigning.

“He will face the judgment of the voters,” the top Democrat said. “But he shows the need to create a process for future presidents.” Pelosi introduced legislation that would create what she called a commission on presidential capacity to discharge the powers and duties of the office.

The bill would establish a 16-member bipartisan panel of medical experts and former executive branch officials.

But with Republicans controlling the Senate, it is highly unlikely that the bill will become law.

The panel would fulfill a process established under the US Constitution’s 25th Amendment that was ratified in 1967, after John F Kennedy’s assassination. Pelosi said the move would preserve “stability if a president suffers a crippling physical or mental problem,” and provide guidance for the transfer of power to the vice president if needed.