Boyle proposes mental health exams for presidential candidates
WASHINGTON » Within 72 hours of President Donald Trump taking to Twitter to declare himself a “stable genius,” an area congressman introduced legislation that would have put that claim to the test during the campaign.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-13th Dist., a vocal critic of Trump, on Jan. 9 introduced legislation that would require presidential candidates who receive a political party’s nomination to undergo physical and mental fitness exams by the Navy medical office and make the results public through the Federal Elections Commission.
The proposed legislation is called the “Stable Genius Act,” a direct reference to Trump’s claim.
It is an acronym for — “Standardizing Testing and Accountability Before Large Elections Giving Electors Necessary Information for Unobstructed Selection,” according to Boyle’s office.
Sean Tobin, Boyle’s communications director, indicated in an email to Digital First Media Jan. 9 that “the legislation was drafted Thursday” (before Trump’s now-infamous Tweet) “and (Boyle) had every intention of introducing it Tuesday. The acronym came to him after the President’s tweet over the weekend,” Tobin wrote.
Reacting strongly to the picture of his administration painted in Michael Wolff’s new book, “Fire and Fury,” — including passages that have administration officials painting the president as unintelligent and disinterested in his job — Trump and members of his administration have gone on the offensive in recent days, attacking the book, its author and its contents.
On Jan. 13, Trump Tweeted: “Throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius ... and a very stable genius at that!”
Boyle, who represents parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County, including Lansdale and Norristown, took to Twitter himself to announce his proposal.
“The President believes he is a ‘stable genius.’ I do not,” Boyle posted on Twitter.
“President Trump’s reckless, erratic behavior has exposed a critical flaw in our existing election process. Before voting for the highest office in the land, Americans have a right to know whether an individual has the physical and mental fitness to serve as President of the United States,” Boyle said in a press release announcing the legislation’s introduction.
While it is clearly aimed at the current very public discussion of the President’s mental health, it would not apply to Trump unless he seeks reelection.
Tobin confirmed that in the event that the legislation is adopted, it would apply only to future candidates and not to the present President.
“While it is necessary to take the current President’s concerning behavior seriously and I support legislation to address these ongoing concerns, I believe we must also be proactive and do all we can to ensure a situation like this does not arise again,” Boyle said.
The legislation sets no standard for physical or mental health benchmarks, Tobin wrote, because “Congressman Boyle believes legislators should not dictate the specifics of a medical professional’s standard examination. Rather, the American public has a right to know this important information in a standardized way in regards to all major presidential candidates, in the judgment of a trusted medical professional at the Navy. There is precedent to follow and existing professional standards. The Navy provides medical care and evaluation to the President, Vice President, Supreme Court, etc.,” he wrote.
Whether or not Boyle’s legislation makes any progress remains an open question.
Tobin said because the legislation was just introduced Jan. 9, it has not been assigned to a committee for consideration and does not yet have any co-sponsors, adding Boyle is “open to working with anyone who would like to join.”
Fellow southeastern Pennsylvania delegation member U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6th Dist., seems unlikely to be one of those to join.
Asked for comment, Costello’s Communications Director Natalie Gillam McLaughlin, wrote: “This is the first that Congressman Costello has heard of this legislation, and therefore does not have a comment. Congressman Costello is currently focused on generating bipartisan support for his bill to lower health insurance premiums and working to make it a part of the government funding bill that must pass by Jan. 19.”
A spokesperson for Rep. Pat Meehan, R-7th Dist., issued the following statement when asked to comment on Boyle’s proposed legislation: “Congressman Meehan would tell you he’s more focused on work that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of the families he represents, like extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program which provides critical health care coverage for 181,000 Pennsylvania children. Political gamesmanship may be good social media fodder but does little to help hardworking Pennsylvanians.”
Trump will have his first medical exam since taking office on Jan. 5, but there is little to indicate the checkup will provide much clarity about the state of the President’s mind, CNN reported Jan. 5. “A review of the past five presidents’ physical exams shows only brief mentions of mental health, and none provide a readout of mental health tests.”
“The President believes he is a ‘stable genius.’ I do not.” U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-13th dist.