Blog Archives
Yet Another Reason to Defund NPR
After the firing of Juan Williams from NPR, I felt that there should have been some changes in the NPR leadership and for Congress to remove funding from this agency immediately. Now, the time has come to end the gravy train for NPR, especially after this video, and the remarks by the senior executive in this video only goes to show the liberal bias of this organization.
Since the release of the video, there have been some changes over at NPR. Ron Schiller, an NPR Senior Executive, and Vivian Schiller, CEO of NPR have been fired from their positions.
While this news is overdue, it is imperative that the Federal government eliminate funding to NPR. NPR and any other form of public broadcasting is not something that should be funded by the government. At least, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and other legislators are recognizing that it is not the government’s role to be funding television or radio programming. I am certain that the taxpayers don’t want to be funding entertainment, rather receiving their money back and allowing them to spend it accordingly.
Where the Candidates Stand: George Allen on Earmarks
This is the first part in a series that CCC will be running for the 2012 Republican U.S. Senate Primary. Yes, I know 2012 is some time away, but it never hurts to use this as a reference throughout the year to ponder. The first part in this series focuses on earmarks, and it does not count as an endorsement of any candidate featured.
When George Allen was serving in the U.S. Senate, he was voted against legislation that included government waste and would abuse the taxpayer dollars. When it came to the Senate voting on funding the “Bridge to Nowhere,” Allen was one of fifteen Senators at the time who voted in favor of shifting funding to help New Orleans and surrounding region recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Allen has been criticized in the past for supporting earmarks. However, Allen voted in favor of earmark reform in the Senate, as he supported legislation that would create a 60-vote point of order against earmarks added in conference to appropriations or authorization bill (the earmark would be killed if point of order was upheld). Allen also voted in favor of expanding the definition of earmarks and to increase transparency. In terms of transparency, Allen was co-sponsor of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, which passed the Senate. Additionally, Allen has spoken out in support of the work that Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has been doing in terms of eliminating earmarks. In his blog entry, Allen said:
“The people have spoken. Travelling around Virginia the past few months, one thing is clear
to me: Virginians and Americans are tired of wasteful Bridges to Nowhere, orchid gardens
in Pittsburgh, and indoor rainforests in Iowa. These wasteful projects have tainted their view
of all earmarks. And, the Republicans should forego earmarks and cut much more spending
than just earmarks. I am proud of the leadership that Eric Cantor, Jim DeMint and others
showed on this issue.”
During the 2012 elections, there will be no doubt that the economy will still be one of the most important issues in the U.S. Senate race in Virginia. Government spending reforms need to be addressed by every candidate.
Is the Health Care Bill Repealable?
Yes, Virginia, the Senate Democrats are simply out of control. I know this is not exactly the news that puts you in the Christmas spirit, but the Senate health care bill continues to prove their reckless behavior. With one more procedural vote, the Senate will be voting on their version of the health care bill on Christmas Eve and compromising the very liberties and freedoms we have when it comes to selecting the right health coverage for our needs.
However, what happens if it passes? Can certain aspects of the bill be repealed? It will be difficult, but there is one provision that will not be able to repealed by future Congresses. Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) indicated that on page 1020 of the Senate health care bill, there is a provision that says, “it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that would repeal or otherwise change this subsection.” This would make the Independent Medicare Advisory Board permanent.
Basically, this would compromise everything our Founding Fathers had envisioned for our country and for the legislative bodies. If a legislative body can not go in and modify previously passed legislation, then what good is it? Not very good or serviceable.
Michael McPadden, who is running for the Republican nomination in the 5th District of Virginia released this statement.
“No Congress has the right to tell future Congresses what to do. Un-repealable, just watch us Harry.”
I agree with McPadden. Perhaps, it is time to throw Harry Reid and the corrupt Democrats out come November 2010 and start with a clean slate of patriots willing to do the work for the people.
A Transparent Federal Reserve is a Start
This morning, I was reading the Wall Street Journal, when I came across an op-ed written by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) that I found particularly interesting. You see, I have been quite outspoken about my desire to see the Federal Reserve eliminated (hopefully, in my lifetime, I will see this agency gone), because the agency was supposed to protect the value of our currency, yet the dollar has lost nearly 95% of its value. Full transparency is needed at the Federal Reserve level (and I believe transparency is needed with all branches of government, with the exception being anything that compromises our national security), and both Paul and DeMint argue this point eloquently in their op-ed.
Another good point that this op-ed brings up is how the Federal Reserve Chairman, when testifying before Congress often provides vague answers, instead of addressing the questions about how Federal Reserve is complying with mandates of prices and employment. Both Paul and DeMint call for an audit of the Federal Reserve by saying that there is a need to find out where the money is going, the numbers and types of securities purchased, and the amount paid for those securities.
In coming weeks we plan to offer companion amendments to legislation already before the House and Senate that will open the Fed up to a complete audit. The amendments set a six-month time lag on the publication of previously unreleased audit data to address the Fed’s concerns that actions undertaken in support of monetary policy would immediately be politicized. The transcripts and minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meetings would continue to be made public at the Fed’s discretion, with unpublicized details of meetings not subject to any additional scrutiny. Finally, the amendments make clear that the purpose of the audits is not to interfere with or dictate monetary policy.
As strong opponents of government intervention into the economy, we do not want to see Congress directly dictate monetary policy. But while the Fed is involved so heavily in monetary policy and its actions so heavily influence the future of our economy, it is necessary that it be fully transparent. Interventions into the economy on the order of trillions of dollars cannot continue to escape public scrutiny. American taxpayers deserve better.
Exactly, both Paul and DeMint hit it on the nail. American taxpayers deserve better, and we deserve to see exactly what is happening with our currency. This is the type of transparency that is needed at the Federal level, and it is one step closer to an open, more efficient government.
Sen. Jim DeMint at the Defending the American Dream Summit
“It’s freedom that works in America.”-Sen. Jim DeMint
At the Americans for Prosperity Defending the American Dream Summit, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) was awarded the Washington Award. Speaking before a standing room only audience, DeMint spoke about the values our country was founded on: limited government, Judeo-Christian values, and limited taxation. He mentioned that the grassroots activists were instrumental in preventing the health care reform bills from being passed in Congress before the August recess. DeMint also mentioned that there is a greater need for principled and passionate leaders. DeMint reminded those attending the rally that we need to share the principles that our country was founded upon with others to continue shaping the paths of prosperity.
