Open Letter to House Republicans
Congressmen,
It is more than a bit distressing that I feel the need to communicate on this topic barely two months into the 112th Congress, but it would seem that Congress is not yet terribly serious about deficit reduction. One would think the message sent in November couldn’t have been more clear, but it would appear it has either already been forgotten, or has somehow become garbled since the election.
I fully understand that the Republicans only hold a majority in the House and as such getting budget cuts through the Senate and the Oval Office represent a significant challenge. In my opinion, President Obama has shown zero leadership in this regard, with his proposed $6.5 billion in cuts against a seriously inflated baseline. It would appear that once again he has abdicated his leadership role to the House.
However, now that the Republican party is in control of the House there is an opportunity to demonstrate that you are serious about reducing spending and the deficit, about reducing the size and intrusiveness of the Federal government. This was a major part of the Republican platform in 2010 and was a major reason for the historic turnover in the House of Representatives, in many cases with freshman members intent on executing on that platform. Yet now I find that execution to be sorely lacking, not because those freshmen have lost interest or become less vocal, but because House leadership apparently doesn’t have a willingness to make the more difficult political decisions. $61 billion is barely a down payment on the level of spending reductions we need to see at the Federal level and doesn’t even touch the entitlements that nearly everyone acknowledges are the biggest fiscal challenge we face as a country. The GAO report issued last week provided a map to $100-200 billion of low hanging fruit. The Deficit Recution Commission report was barely acknowledged by the President and both houses of Congress, despite bipartisan support but with a pathetic shortage of votes. Our federal deficit in the month of February alone was more than four times the House proposal. I expect a stronger commitment from the party that wants to lay claim to fiscal responsibility.
There is little doubt that neither the House proposal nor that of the President will get through the Senate, and I do understand that ultimately a resolution or bill needs to be negotiated that will receive more than lip service from President Obama. But in my view, if the President and the Democrats in Congress aren’t serious about getting our fiscal house in order, the Republicans need to at least demonstrate that they are. If that message continues to be sent, it will be up to the Democrats to join you in the effort or shut down Washington. I urge you to support stronger budget proposals for both the balance of this fiscal year and the 2012 year, as well as bills that will deal, once and for all, with the mess that is Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and, now, Obamacare. I would hope the fiscal future of our country is worth the potential cost in political capital.
State Sovereignty Letter
The following template was designed for use in communicating with members of state government regarding state sovereignty bills. A copy of the document can be downloaded by clicking on the link provided to the right under Links. You can use the Tenth Amendment Center link provided in the BlogRoll to determine whether such a bill has been sponsored in your state and the status thereof.
I would like to appeal for your assistance in reasserting the sovereign rights of the states, including our beloved state of _____________, over the unconstitutional expansion of the federal government.
Amendment X to the United States Constitution states that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Yet as early as 1803 the federal government took upon itself to start interpreting the Constitution through establishment of the doctrine of judicial review in Marbury vs. Madison, thereby recognizing the authority of the courts to declare statutes unconstitutional.
Since that time there has been an ongoing effort at the federal level to interpret the Constitution in a manner contrary to that intended by our Founding Fathers, usurping the rights of the states. We now find ourselves in a time where there are efforts in Washington to expand the role of the federal government to unprecedented levels, including expanded authority over education, health care and energy. We now have federal ownership and management of the U.S. automobile industry and major financial institutions. We are mortgaging the future of this country under the guise of solving an economic problem that “only the federal government can solve”, when in reality the federal government played a significant role in its creation. Where does it stop?
The federal government is a creation of the states and is therefore restricted to those roles and rules as laid down by the states in the Constitution. The states have the right to ignore and to nullify regulations laid down by the federal government which are contrary to what is expressly permitted by the Constitution. Now is the time for state governments to exercise their constitutional authority over Washington, to take back the powers which belong to them. An increasing number of states are reasserting their individual states’ rights to sovereignty as guaranteed under Amendment X, and it is time for ____________ to join this list (OR and I am proud to hear that my beloved state of _____________ has joined that list). I respectfully request that you sponsor a state sovereignty bill (support the state sovereignty bill) and send a clear message to Washington on behalf of the people of ______________ that the era of federal irresponsibility must come to an end.
“Our country is too large to have all its affairs directed by a single government. Public servants at such a distance, and from under the eye of their constituents, must, from the circumstance of distance, be unable to administer and overlook all the details necessary for the good government of the citizens; and the same circumstance, by rendering detection impossible to their constituents, will invite public agents to corruption, plunder and waste.” –Thomas Jefferson to Gideon Granger, 1800. ME 10:167
Thank you for your service.
This post is for information only and as such comments have been turned off.
A Presidential Proclamation
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor–and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be–That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
[A]nd also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions–to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
G Washington
Anysoldier
The tragic loss of lives at Fort Hood on Thursday, November 5, should bring to the forefront of everyone’s mind that our troops put their lives on the line for the safety and security of our nation. Personal views regarding the wars and politics aside, we Americans need to show our support of our brave men and women in uniform.
The holidays are upon us, and so many of our troops are far from their loved ones. If you know someone who is deployed, send them a card or care package to let him or her know your support. (more…)
Letter to Reps on Proposed Carbon Tax
Here’s an excellent letter that was actually sent to several members of Congress. I plan to use it myself …
I am extremely concerned over legislation currently being considered by Congress, and I am absolutely terrified over HR 2454, and its potential impact on our economy and our way of life.
As you know, in recent years, alarmism has grown over perceived global warming, and people, both here in the US and around the world, have jumped to the conclusion that the cause is largely anthropogenic (i.e., man made). (more…)
