For Serious Constitutionalists, Only
Posted July 21st, 2008 by IMissLiberty
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Trust Congress to find a parade to get in front of. Note below that Ron Paul was among the very few when it started. Drip, drip, drip and we'll wear them down.
By my rough calculation, the House bill started with about 4-5% support in March 2007. A year and a quarter later, the Senate started out with 22% support.
Downsize DC wasn't the only organization hounding Congress on this in the meantime. A certain candidate mentioned the Constution a few times, too, and a few of his supporters stood on street corners with signs and banners defending the Constitution. There were even songs about it.
Maybe the Constitution is becoming popular.
See endorsers below:
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Subject: Great News on the Enumerated Powers Act
Date: Mon, Jul 21, 2008 10:38 am
D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h
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Change the political environment. Recruit more DC Downsizers. Share this message with others.
Quote of the Day: "Ideas and images in men’s minds are the invisible powers that govern them."
-- Hans Sennholz
Subject: Great news on the "Enumerated Powers Act"
The "Enumerated Powers Act" (H.R. 1359) would compel Congress to identify their Constitutional authority for every law they pass. It wouldn't stop them from passing bad laws, but it sure would highlight the fact that most of what they do has no Constitutional authority at all.
We pretty much know what they would do. They would have to invoke the so-called "general welfare clause," which is really just the preamble to the Constitution, or the "commerce clause," which was really intended to foster free trade between the states. It would become very embarrassing very quickly, and we could pound them about it constantly.
When we last reported to you the "Enumerated Powers Act" had 47 co-sponsors in the House. Well, now it has 52. But there's even better news . . .
Senator Tom Coburn introduced a Senate version (S. 3159) on June 19th, and 22 out of 100 Senators have already signed-on as co-sponsors. This is an incredible level of support that has come about very quickly.
Why are so many politicians sponsoring legislation that would serve to cast Congress in a poor light?
One possibility is that lots of them really would like to stick closer to the Constitution, but feel constrained by the Congressional leadership and the perverse incentives by which Congress operates. We're not saying this excuses their un-constitutional votes, but it could explain some of them.
That's why we've crafted proposals such as the "Read the Bills Act," the "One Subject at a Time Act," and the "Write the Laws Act." If we could just change the incentives by which Congress operates, we could also change the outcome. The "Enumerated Powers Act" could be a small but important part of this.
Another possibility might be because you've been asking them to do so! So here's what we need to do now . . .
* If your Rep. or one or more of your Senators is a co-sponsor, please thank them (we've provided a list of co-sponsors below my signature).
* If one or more of your elected representatives is not on the list, ask them to please become a co-sponsor
You can send your message here. http://www.downsizedc.org...
Please also make a contribution to help DownsizeDC.org make budget for July. All brand new contributors receive a copy of our groundbreaking, 16-page, color, glossy report titled, "The Downsize DC Vision." You can contribute here. http://www.downsizedc.org...
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Jim Babka
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DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
Here's the list of co-sponsors in the Senate . . .
Sen Allard, Wayne - 6/19/2008
Sen Barrasso, John - 6/19/2008
Sen Brownback, Sam - 6/19/2008
Sen Burr, Richard - 6/19/2008
Sen Chambliss, Saxby - 6/19/2008
Sen Cornyn, John - 6/19/2008
Sen Crapo, Mike 52478 - 6/19/2008
Sen DeMint, Jim - 6/19/2008
Sen Dole, Elizabeth - 6/19/2008
Sen Ensign, John - 6/19/2008
Sen Enzi, Michael B. - 6/19/2008
Sen Graham, Lindsey - 6/19/2008
Sen Grassley, Chuck - 6/19/2008
Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey - 6/19/2008
Sen Inhofe, James M. - 6/19/2008
Sen Kyl, Jon - 6/19/2008
Sen McCain, John - 6/19/2008
Sen Sessions, Jeff - 6/19/2008
Sen Sununu, John E. - 6/19/2008
Sen Thune, John - 6/19/2008
Sen Vitter, David - 6/19/2008
Sen Wicker, Roger F. - 6/19/2008
Here's the list of co-sponsors in the House . . .
Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 3/6/2007
Rep Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3] - 12/5/2007
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 3/6/2007
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] - 3/5/2008
Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 3/6/2007
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 4/24/2007
Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] - 2/13/2008
Rep Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26] - 6/9/2008
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 3/6/2007
Rep Cannon, Chris [UT-3] - 2/25/2008
Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] - 3/6/2007
Rep Cubin, Barbara - 3/5/2008
Rep Davis, David [TN-1] - 3/27/2007
Rep Doolittle, John T. [CA-4] - 3/5/2008
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 3/7/2007
Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] - 4/24/2007
Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] - 3/6/2007
Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] - 3/6/2007
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 3/14/2007
Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 3/6/2007
Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] - 3/6/2007
Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] - 3/6/2007
Rep Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] - 9/7/2007
Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] - 8/1/2007
Rep Hensarling, Jeb [TX-5] - 12/12/2007
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 3/6/2007
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] - 12/4/2007
Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] - 12/4/2007
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 3/31/2008
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 12/12/2007
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] - 3/6/2007
Rep Mack, Connie [FL-14] - 12/12/2007
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] - 3/6/2007
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 3/6/2007
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] - 3/6/2007
Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 12/12/2007
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 3/6/2007
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 3/6/2007
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 10/25/2007
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] - 3/12/2007
Rep Price, Tom [GA-6] - 3/5/2008
Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] - 6/3/2008
Rep Sali, Bill [ID-1] - 12/5/2007
Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] - 5/15/2008
Rep Smith, Lamar [TX-21] - 4/23/2008
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 4/9/2008
Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] - 5/23/2007
Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] - 4/24/2008
Rep Walberg, Timothy [MI-7] - 3/9/2007
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 4/4/2008
Rep Weldon, Dave [FL-15] - 5/1/2007
Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] - 3/6/2007
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Hmm seems to be progress...
I hope congressmen actually take this seriously...Mccain is on the list? This better not turn into a charade...
I just forwarded this to my Meetup Groups
and also sent messages to BOTH of my FL Senators and House Rep. who are NOT on the list, but that isn't too surprising at this point, sadly.
I asked them to please co-sponsor the bill and told them I was very disappointed that I didn't see their names already on the list. I also let them know I am aware of their votes on the UNConsititutional FISA bill!
I'm going to follow up with a phone call in a day or two! Hope they've had a change of heart by then.
I had emailed one of my senators
about cosponsoring this, and he said he wouldn't be, and then I emailed him back and asked if he took the Constitution seriously, and he emailed me back assuring me that he did. And LO and Behold, His name is on this list!!!! Ahhh , maybe persistence will pay off. Keep on trying folks.
McCain is on the list
so now what is this supposed to mean?
McCain says..."Oops.....I
McCain says..."Oops.....I thought that was the other one, you know the telecom immunity amnesty thing"
Neither of my Senators, nor my Rep.
...is on the list. I have written them before about all 4 downsize dc bills listed above....guess I'll have to try again....
Surprised to see Sen. John McCain on the list....
Currying Favor?
McCain campaign manager: How can we win back the Ron Paul supporters?
IMissLiberty
funny
Rep Doolittle, John T. [CA-4] - 3/5/2008 is part of the Down Size DC organization.
(chuckle)
Bump Bump Bump Bump
I was excited about this and then I ruined my excitement when I remembered the FISA vote earlier this month.
Do you suppose that many
senators and reps actually want to vote with the Constitution, and don't because of pressure from others of their peers, and that's why so many are for this, despite voting against the Constitution? Nah, I am probably wrong. I just usually trust people too much my husband says. Well, it is interesting that so many who voted for FISA are cosponsoring this, anyway.
I'm Cautiously Optimistic, But Becoming More Cynical All the
time when I see how my Senators and Congressman vote. None of them were on the list above! The big problem with Congress is that they have these back room meetings and agree to vote on bills that they don't really want to vote in favor for, in exchange for some favor in return. That is NOT the way our laws should be made!
But who knows, I never expected to see some of those names on the list either, so maybe we can be cautiously optimistic! I noticed that our fine Patriot Leader Ron Paul signed on way back in March, no surprise there!
I wrote to Senator Grassley
I wrote to Senator Grassley a while back asking him to support HR1359. In his reply he stated , "I am a firm believer in the Constitution and support efforts to ensure that government is transparent and open. This legislation would provide a disincentive for members of Congress who fail to adequately state what section of the Constitution specifically authorizes such action."
I also wrote to him on July 9th of my great disappointment in his vote in favor of FISA. In fact, it may have been my best effort at writing to any member of Congress yet. I wish I would have saved it.
I can't wait to see how Senator Grassley explains "what section of the Constitution specifically authorizes" his FISA vote. I really doubt that he will try.
As far as peer pressure, you are probably right. I say they need to get a backbone. We need to start fresh. Only congressional candidates with a spine need apply.