Q: The injury of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) raises a question on the laws governing the ability of a member of Congress to perform their duties. Do any legal provisions require an elected official to resign when they are unable to perform their duties for either physical or mental reasons? Can Congress or the state they represent remove them from office?
—P.N. Mercer, Hoschton
A: A member of Congress can remain in office as long as they are alive, according to the Constitution. They cannot be replaced unless they resign, and there are no rules in the House that could require someone to resign for health reasons, according to media reports. Giffords' staff, who cannot vote for Giffords, told Tucson, Ariz., TV station KVOA that other members of Congress are introducing bills on her behalf and she does not plan to resign.
Q: Why have all the trees been cut down on the east side of Peachtree Road in the Lenox Square area?
—Claude Paquin, Atlanta
A: The Georgia Department of Transportation began removing trees in February on the northbound side of Peachtree as part of Phase II of the Buckhead Community Improvement District's Peachtree transformation project, Jim Durrett, Buckhead CID executive director, told Q&A on the News. The trees needed to be removed to accommodate the wider right-of-way and a new stormwater drainage system, he wrote in an e-mail. The trees will be replaced by 96 oak shade trees, which will provide a canopy for a new sidewalk and grow up to 35 feet tall. Those trees will be next to the road as opposed to set back behind the sidewalk, as they are now, he said.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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