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October 5th, 2009
Dear Liberty Activist, Today, ALG President Bill Wilson called upon members of the Senate Finance Committee to reject the mark-up done on the Senate version of "ObamaCare," saying that "it is a wolf in sheep's clothing that will devour America's health-care industry." "The Baucus bill would create the equivalent of a public-private partnership like Fannie Mae, Amtrak, or the post office," said Wilson. "Invariably, just like every other public-private partnership started by the federal government, it will not sustain itself and the final bill will belong with American taxpayers." "This is just 'Fannie Med," said Wilson, quoting Senator Jim DeMint. Americans for Limited Government estimates that the Senate bill would cost around $122 billion a year once fully implemented, or $1.2 trillion over ten years, with 26 million receiving government-subsidized health care. "The Baucus bill would not be implemented until 2013, which is supposed to keep the bill under the $1 trillion mark. But the American people are not stupid," said Wilson, adding, "They know this is government-run socialized medicine. They know it creates an unsustainable entitlement." Proponents of the Senate Finance Committee version of the bill tout that the so-called "public option" has been removed, which is still a part of the House plan for which 45 million additional Americans would qualify. According to ALG's Wilson that tout is an "artless deception." "It doesn't really matter much that Baucus has slightly watered down the bill," said Wilson. "Baucus advocates establishing government-run 'co-ops' in the place of private health options. It still contains a rationing board. It still sets up mandatory health care for individuals. It still does nothing to allow Americans to purchase insurance across state lines. It still cuts Medicare to pay for everyone else, increases taxes, and has no tort reform. "And it is still does nothing to bring the ballooning national debt—nearly at $12 trillion—under control. Making matters worse, it will still result in a government-run health system," Wilson added. According to Rasmussen Reports a full 50 percent of voters oppose the Barack Obama's plans to reorganize the health system. "The groundswell of opposition to both the House and Senate versions of this bill tell us one thing: Congress can call this whatever they want, but the American people are not biting," Wilson concluded. The Finance Committee is expected to vote
tomorrow! You know what to do: Keep the pressure on! Congress plans on adding some 26 to 45 million individuals to the government-run health care rolls at a cost of anywhere from $1.2 to $2.1 trillion over ten years. Let's get on CapWiz and tell them, "Hell no!" Enter your zip code and follow the steps. And we can keep calling out to the House and to the Senate. Of course, you can also reach them via the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. And,
here's the
Target 92 list on the House side to all vulnerable and Blue Dog
Democrats. (You can really use this on any issue, whether
ObamaCare, defunding ACORN, etc.) Blue Dogs are in blue. Here's the .xls.pdf
versions. Of note, the first 40 on the list are the Blue Dogs
that signed the "deficit-neutral" letter mentioned above.
Everything you need to email their staff, write letters, make phone
calls and send faxes, both to their district and Capitol Hill offices. In today's Liberty Action Report, Chicago wasn't the Olympics' "kind of town," Capitol South returns with the Senator playing Monday morning quarterback, and 72 hours is the least Congress can offer to review all legislation once it is written. Plus, Congressman John Carter lays it on ACORN and Charlie Rangel. Please send your letters to the editor at Robert@getliberty.org. We publish all points of view! Today, Rich Renevier writes, "How is ACORN getting the money to sue Hannah, James, and Andrew? Are they using our tax dollars? I would be out raged if they were." Most likely. The money they receive is fungible, so the 40 percent that does come from taxpayers does wind up in their general accounts. So, yeah, you're paying, I'm paying, and even Hannah is paying. Don't forget to show your support at DefendHannah.com. For Liberty, Robert Romano P.S. Want to help us keep fighting? Help us out with a small donation today! Or mail it to: Americans for Limited Government, 9900 Main Street, Suite 303, Fairfax, VA 22031.
Open Source & Copyright Free Not
Their "Kind of Town" Capitol
South 72
Hours Too
Hot Not To Note: Congressman John Carter on ACORN and Charlie Rangel Not Their "Kind of Town"By Carter Clews The world has clearly gone nuts. How in the name of all that is good and just is Barack Obama supposed to bring lasting peace, true prosperity, and White House beer busts to the entire world if they won't even let him get in a little playtime in sweet home Chicago? With just the sound of his mellifluous voice, Dear Leader has already ended a recession (well, all right, not quite – but what's a few million unemployed?), cured the ills of all ailing Americans (well, he would have if those redneck Tea Partiers out in mid-America hadn't turned on him), and ended green house gases once and for all (stay with me, I'm doing a little future viewing here). And yet, even after all of that, those idiots over in Copenhagen refused to show their appreciation by giving Dear Leader a chance to get in a little record-setting pole vaulting, long-distance shot-putting, and breaking the three-minute mile – without even breaking a sweat. Did you see the announcement? I'm asking you, did you see the actual announcement? Those stupid dunceheads in Copenhagen didn't even have the decency to make it a close finish. Voted out Barry, Michelle, and Oprah on the very first ballot! And after Michelle had even got all touchy-feely and shared her horrifying childhood in oppressive America with them. Can't they even appreciate a good sob story? And Barry … well, Barry even promised that all those foreigners would be allowed to visit our shores again. And that he would personally welcome their "tired, poor huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Oh, wait a minute, that was the Statue of Liberty, wasn't it? All right, all right, so I got the two mixed up. But, in Dear Leader's case, at least he really meant it. He told us so at the UN. So, now, what do we do? Where do we turn after the whole wide world tells us in no uncertain terms that -- unlike Barry, Mich, and the Big O – they really don't consider Chicago "that toddlin' town"? It is decidedly not their "kind of town"? And they don't give a hoot in Hades whether Billy Sunday couldn't shut it down, or not. It may be "one place that won't let you down" – but the IOC sure as heck let it down. And Dear Leader along with it. All right, now, let's step back, take a deep breath, and see if we can collect ourselves here. After all, we don't want to look like CNN's stunned on-air Obamatons who were rendered so speechless by the announcement that they had to cut to a commercial while they changed their undergarments. Let's put it all into perspective here. Sure, it was a massive, international public humiliation for the man who only days earlier had told the world that he, alone, had redirected the course of history, and had become beloved among all men. Who could forget the standing ovation he received from our closest allies, Khadafy, Chavez, and good old Mahmoud? Why, Chris Matthews' legs are still tingling. And, sure, it probably cost the bankrupt U.S. government five or six million dollars to send Barry, Michelle, Oprah, Air Jordan, and whoever else peopled Dear Leader's entourage over to sweep the Copenhagenians off their feet. But, what's a few million dollars here and there when you consider the "sacrifice" Michelle told the world she, Barry, Oprah, and Air had to make to wine and dine among the elite "for the sake of the children"? No, let's set the record straight right here and now: this was an unmitigated slap in the face by a bunch of bigoted, international xenophobes who don't know quality whey they see it and may have just blown the last chance they will ever have for peace in our time, a chicken in every pot, and the biggest beer bust this side of a Teamsters Union board meeting. Why … why – all right, I'll say it: these are the kind of people who would probably boo the Second Coming of Christ. In fact, it is very likely that from Dear Leader's vantage point, they just did. Carter Clews is the Executive Editor of ALG News. http://blog.getliberty.org/default.asp?Display=1624 Capitol South
ALG Editor's Note: William Warren's award-winning cartoons published at GetLiberty.org are a free service of ALG News Bureau. They may be reused and redistributed free of charge. http://blog.getliberty.org/default.asp?Display=1623 72 HoursBy Robert Romano If a growing number of House members that signed a discharge petition for H. Res. 554 have their way, every single bill in Congress will be held for least 72 business hours Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) prior to passage for a mandatory review by each house. The discharge petition was initiated by Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR2) and has obtained 182 signatures, including the bill's sponsor, Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA3). Walden did so on the same day the Senate Finance Committee explicitly voted against allowing 72 hours to review ObamaCare once it was finally written. Really, 72 hours is the least Congress can offer the nation to review bills. This year, it has passed legislation with shocking efficiency. The speed has been so rapid that it may wind up costing taxpayers more than $4 trillion when the chugging spending locomotive finally comes to a stop. It's bad politics, and adds to the public's negative perception of Capitol Hill. In total, 83 percent of voters believe bills legislation should be posted online in final form and available for everyone to read before Congress votes on it, according to Rasmussen Reports. That is why Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson has signed a coalition letter with 22 other limited government and free market organizations, urging Congress to adopt H. Res. 554 and the 72-hour mandatory waiting period. The fact is, two of the most critical pieces of legislation passed this session, the trillion-dollar debt-riddled "stimulus" and economy-killing cap-and tax of carbon emissions, were passed after an average of 14.25 hours allowed for review. The trillion dollar "stimulus" and industrial emission reduction of 83 percent by 2050 were passed after only being allowed 12 hours and 16.5 hours to see it, respectively. The trouble is that both bills averaged 1250.5 pages, meaning a member of the House would have had to read at least 87 pages an hour, a daunting task except for speed-readers, who would also have had to understand the legalese that federal laws are written in. To date, no member has claimed that they understood either of these bills' provisions entirely prior to passage. Not even the Congressional Budget Office can keep up with the lightning pace of legislation's passage this year. The Waxman-Markey cap-and-tax 's CBO cost estimate on the final language of the bill passed on June 24th was not available until July 9th. The final cost-analysis of the "stimulus" was not revealed until a full day after the Senate had already voted on it. A general rule requiring 72 hours prior to voting would give representatives an opportunity to understand bills. Critically, it would give foundations, organizations, and the American people an opportunity to then advise their representatives on how best to vote—with a fuller understanding of the contents of the bill. It will also make it more likely that legislation will be defeated, and enable better long-term cost analyses of large bills to best examine the full impact on the nation's startling debt, now almost $12 trillion and projected to double by 2020. Come 2010, with controversial votes on ObamaCare and the cap-and-tax in the Senate, opposition Republicans are being handed a golden issue against majority Democrats. The fact is, Congress is spending money so fast neither they nor the American people cannot even keep track of it. What remains to be seen is if Republicans can take advantage of it. Public opposition to the rapid spend-a-thon may be high, but unless members of the majority fear that their jobs are on the line, it will not stop. Which means that the American people will have to demand that H. Res 554 be passed. Then, members would be forced to scrutinize bills, and have an appropriate amount of time to hear their constituents. Every American has the right to read, analyze, and engage in informed debate on every single bill that comes through Congress. There should be no new laws, no new spending, in short, no taxation without information. 72 hours is the least Congress can offer itself so that the American people know what is being voted on by their nation's representatives. Robert Romano is the ALG Senior News Editor. http://blog.getliberty.org/default.asp?Display=1622
ALG Editor's Note: In the following featured interview by the Washington News Observer, Congressman John Carter (R-TX) talks about defunding ACORN and upholding the rule of law against Congressman Charlie Rangel and removing him as Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee:
Congressman John Carter on ACORN and Charlie Rangel
http://blog.getliberty.org/default.asp?Display=1621 Americans for Limited Government |
