Category → Legislation We Support
New Conference Tuesday in Montgomery Regarding Alabama Legislative Response to National Health Care Plan
Alabama Senator Scott Beason has proposed a constitutional amendment (SB-233) which, if enacted, will prohibit any person, employer, or health care provider from being compelled to participate in any health care system. Three similar bills have been proposed in the Alabama House. Democrats in both chambers have blocked the progress of these bills.
Over fifty organizations and thousands of individuals have signed on to a coalition letter urging legislators to move one of these bills “through both houses and to the people for a vote.”
On Tuesday, March 30, Senator Beason, Eagle Forum of Alabama Executive Director Brooklyn Burgess and Alabama Republican Liberty Caucus Media Director Stephen Gordon will be conducting a news conference on the State House stairs in Montgomery at 11:30 a.m. Candidates for public office, representatives of state organizations, local and regional Tea Party leaders and members of the state legislature will also be on hand to field questions from the media immediately following the news conference.
Let’s urge Senator Shelby to support a Federal Reserve audit
Thanks to you, we’ve been pretty successful in getting House members to support The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 (HR 1207). The bill currently has 222 cosponsors, which is a majority in the House of Representatives. The bill “directs the Comptroller General to complete, before the end of 2010, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and of the federal reserve banks, followed by a detailed report to Congress.”
Because of national and local online and telephone efforts, we were able to persuade Congressman Jo Bonner to sign up as one of the bill’s cosponsors. Currently, all of Alabama’s Republican representatives support the bill.
We are now starting to work on S 604, which is the Senate companion bill to HR 1207. Again, we’ve got some national assistance.
As before, there are two quick and simple tasks:
- If you have a Twitter account, help us get out the word. It just takes a few seconds. If you don’t have a Twitter account, it just takes a few seconds to sign up and help us out. Once you get there, please retweet the following message: New S 604 Call-A-Thon Target: Richard Shelby 202.224.5744 – demand FULL audit, see: http://bit.ly/yllqR #tlot #tcot #alpolitics
- Give Senator Shelby a call at (202) 224-5744 and ask him to support a full audit of the Federal Reserve by cosponsoring S 604.
It might be helpful to inform Senator Shelby that all of the Republicans in Alabama’s House delegation have cosponsored the House version of the bill and that none of the Democrats have.
Alabama’s Republican Congressmen Support the Audit the Fed Bill
(Birmingham, AL) The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 (HR 1207) was introduced by Texas Congressman and former Republican Liberty Caucus Honorary Chairman Dr. Ron Paul on February 26, 2009. The bill currently enjoys 200 cosponsors. It “directs the Comptroller General to complete, before the end of 2010, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and of the federal reserve banks, followed by a detailed report to Congress.”
This morning, the Alabama Republican Liberty Caucus, working in concert with other online activists, used Twitter to promote a campaign to call Representative Jo Bonner to urge his support of HR 1207. A couple of hours after the campaign was launched, we received word that Bonnor was now cosponsoring the bill.
“We’d like to thank Jo Bonnor for adding his name to the list,” said ALRLC Secretary and Alabama Republican Assembly President Shana Kluck. “Currently, all of Alabama’s Republican representatives have put their names on the bill. Unfortunately, it seems that Alabama’s Democratic delegation to Congress isn’t as interested in transparency and open government.”
Activists have been trying to contact Alabama Democrats to urge their support of the legislation. By our count, fifty Democrats currently cosponsor the bill, but none from Alabama. One activist received a written response from Representative Bobby Bright.
“Currently, H.R. 1207 is before the House Committee on Financial Services.” responded Bright. “Please be assured I will monitor this legislation and keep your views in mind if it comes to the House floor for a vote.”
Noting that Bright had failed to directly answer the request, “Will you, or will you not, cosponsor HR1207?” was the response on the ALRLC’s blog.
The Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009 (S 604) is the Senate companion legislation and it has been referred to the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, where Alabama Senator Richard Shelby serves as the ranking member. Shelby has already supported an amendment which provides limited oversight of the Federal Reserve regarding Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) spending.
“Federal Reserve policy impacts every citizen of the United States on a daily basis,” said ALRLC Media Director Stephen Gordon. “Unfortunately, the Fed doesn’t receive the level of scrutiny we expect and deserve. It’s imperative that we learn more about how the Federal Reserve operates. Hopefully, the rest of Alabama’s congressional delegation will side with us regarding openness and transparency.”
The Alabama Republican Liberty Caucus is committed to advancing the cause of liberty by advancing pro-freedom legislation and electing pro-freedom candidates to public office. Additional information about the ALRLC may be found at www.ALRLC.org.
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Congressman Bobby Bright’s response to HR1207 request
At this moment, each Alabama Republican congressman is now listed as a cosponsor of HR1207, commonly known as the “Audit the Fed” bill. To date, not a single Alabama Democrat wants an open and transparent Federal Reserve process. Long-time Alabama conservative leader John Killian wrote a blog entry entitled “Will Alabama’s Shelby Kill Plan to Audit the Fed?” This article prompted activist Don Seibold to send a letter to his representative, Congressman Bobby Bright.
“I urged Bright to sign on as a co-sponsor of Congressman Ron Paul’s HR 1207 which would require that the Federal Reserve, a private institution that has more power over our nation’s economy than any other institution, be audited,” wrote Seibold in an e-mail to me.
Here is Bright’s response:
“Thank you for contacting me with your views on the Federal Reserve Transparency Act. I appreciate your comments and I welcome this opportunity to share my thoughts.
I believe that our federal government has a responsibility to be transparent and accountable, especially during a time where so many are concerned about the spending deficit. Unfortunately, Congress has recently passed legislation that ignores budget deficits and lacks sufficient fiscal responsibility. For example, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the President’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget took important steps to jumpstart the economy and fund neglected programs, but ultimately incorporated excessive and unnecessary spending. I voted against these bills because I am committed to developing a comprehensive plan that addresses our troubled economy while maintaining vital mandatory and discretionary programs at appropriate levels.
I feel strongly that it should be a priority for Congress to exercise fiscal responsibility. The first thing I did when I came to Congress was join the Blue Dog Coalition because they support measures to implement pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules. PAYGO is a provision that would require spending for new government programs to include offsetting cuts in other programs. While I realize many expenditures provide valuable resources to worthwhile endeavors, some spending authorized by Congress could be prioritized more appropriately.
Though I opposed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget, I truly believe Congress must demand transparency and accountability within the federal government to ensure that these funds are spent wisely. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas has introduced several bills that would require the federal government to operate openly and with more oversight. Specifically, he introduced the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, H.R. 1207, on February 26, 2009. This legislation would change the way the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is audited by the Comptroller General of the United States. It also directs the Comptroller General to complete, before the end of 2010, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and of the Federal Reserve banks, followed by a detailed report to Congress. This legislation would change the way audits are reported by requiring a copy to be provided to any Member of Congress before the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date when the report is finished. I believe these are steps in the right direction to provide more accountability and transparency to the American people.
Currently, H.R. 1207 is before the House Committee on Financial Services. Please be assured I will monitor this legislation and keep your views in mind if it comes to the House floor for a vote.
Again, thank you for contacting me. I appreciate your thoughts and value your input. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my office regarding this or any other matter that is important to you. If you would like to learn more about my positions on the issues or receive regular updates on what we are working on in Congress, please visit my website at www.bright.house.gov and sign up for my e-Newsletter.
Sincerely,
Bobby Bright
Member of Congress
We’d like to know why Bright didn’t directly address Seibold’s direct question. It was a simple request for him to cosponsor a bill which 200 other congressman already have. Our question for the Congressman is quite simple: Will you, or will you not, cosponsor HR1217?
Please give Rep. Bonner a call and ask him to support HR1207
UPDATE: Thanks for the help and apparently our telephone calls worked. We’ve just received word that Jo Bonner is now a co-sponsor of HR 1207. Please go ahead and give his office a call anyway in order to thank him for his support of an open and transparent monetary policy.
On Friday, we asked Congressman Jo Bonner whether he’ll be siding with the rest of Alabama’s Republican congressional delegation or siding with the Democrats on HR 1207, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009.
Today, we have some national assistance in trying to persuade Congressman Bonner to become the 191st cosponsor of the bill. Right now, folks are getting the word out on Twitter to give Congressman Bonner a call.
I’d like to ask you to do two things:
- If you have a Twitter account, help us get out the word. It just takes a few seconds. If you don’t have a Twitter account, it just takes a few seconds to sign up and help us out. Once you get there, please retweet the following message: Today’s HR 1207 Call-A-Thon Target: Jo Bonner 202-225-4931 Details: http://bit.ly/LtSuF #tlot #tcot #alpolitics
- Give Congressman Bonner a call at 202-225-4931 and ask him to co-sponsor HR 1207.
These calls are already making a difference and we only need 28 more co-sponsors for a solid majority.
Congressman Bonner, on which side of the fence will you sit?
All of the Republican members of Alabama’s House delegation have co-sponsored the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 (H.R. 1207) except one: Jo Bonner.
Members of the Republican Liberty Caucus would like to know whether Congressman Bonner prefers transparency and accountability or business as usual in DC. We’d like to know if his political ideology is more in line with Artur Davis, Bobby Bright and Parker Griffith or more in line with Spencer Bachus, Mike Rogers and Robert Aderholt.
We’ll know that Congressman Bonner has rejected the Nancy Pelosi side of the aisle when he signs onto H.R. 1207 as a cosponsor of the bill.
Related posts:
Senator Shelby caught in the act
ALRLC encourages Alabama’s congressional delegation to support Federal Reserve Transparency Act
Resolution regarding HB1207
ALRLC encourages Alabama’s congressional delegation to support Federal Reserve Transparency Act
(Birmingham, AL) On Tuesday night, the Alabama Republican Liberty Caucus unanimously adopted a resolution encouraging Alabama’s congressional delegation to support H.R. 1207, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009. Wikipedia describes H.R. 1207 as follows:
According to its short title, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009 amends Title 31 of the United States Code “to reform the manner in which the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is audited by the Comptroller General of the United States and the manner in which such audits are reported”. It strikes exceptions to the audit protocol in 31 U.S.C. § 714 for the Federal Reserve System, the central bank of the United States, and replaces an indefinite deadline with a deadline of December 2010.
“All Americans should support this important legislation regardless of their political views,” said Alabama Republican Liberty Caucus Chair Scott Boykin. “Transparency in public institutions is a fundamental value in a free society.”
The bill currently has 179 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, including Congressmen Robert Aderholt, Mike Rogers and Spencer Bachus from Alabama.
“We like to thank the three members of our congressional delegation who have signed onto the bill,” said ALRLC Media Director Stephen Gordon. “This should be an incredibly easy bill for any Republican to support and we’ve already got 35 cosponsors from the Democratic side of the aisle. We’d like to encourage Joe Bonner, Artur Davis, Bobby Bright and Parker Griffith to jump on board before the train leaves the station.”
The Alabama Republican Liberty caucus is committed to advancing the cause of liberty by advancing pro-freedom legislation and electing pro-freedom candidates to public office.
The hops are finally free
It’s been reported that Governor Riley has signed HB373, the Gourmet Beer Bill, into law this morning. We’d like to thank the Governor for supporting this basic freedom for beer enthusiasts across the state.
This has been one of the best run positive grassroots campaign I’ve ever seen. It serves as a perfect example of what to do when trying to effect political change.
It also serves as a perfect example of an effective online campaign. Not only the website, but social networking made a lot of difference.
Finally, the Hops could have never been freed if not for the work of thousands of people across Alabama. Congratulations to each and every one of you for a job very well done.
Tweet the Hops
We’re in the final stretch to pass the Free the Hops bill. The legislation has made it through both chambers at the State House and now it needs Governor Riley’s signature before Monday. Please contact Governor Riley to urge his support of Alabama’s Gourmet Beer Bill.
Rocket City Brewfest draws thousands
ALRLC members were busy working to Free the Hops over the weekend. While AL-RLC Secretary Shana Kluck and member Austin Wilkes were working the Free The Hops booth, media director Stephen Gordon was tweeting event updates to the cell phones of event participants and others around the state who couldn’t attend the event. He was also interviewed by Huntsville’s WAFF 48 News. Video on the news coverage is located here and at the sidebar.
Congressman Mike Rogers turns his back on Alabama voters
If any recent House vote could be considered a simple test of a congressman’s commitment to fiscal conservatism, it was the amendment to the Democrat’s budget proposed by Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. According to the Birmingham News, the amendment would “have set government spending at 20.7 percent of gross domestic product, made the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent and suspended the capital gains tax through 2010. Supporters said the amendment offered ‘lower deficits, lower spending, lower taxes, lower debt and a lot more jobs’ than the budget proposed by President Barack Obama and would put people on the path to prosperity.”
Here’s how the Alabama delegation voted:
| Aye | AL-1 | Bonner, Jo [R] |
| No | AL-2 | Bright, Bobby [D] |
| No | AL-3 | Rogers, Michael [R] |
| Aye | AL-4 | Aderholt, Robert [R] |
| No | AL-5 | Griffith, Parker [D] |
| Aye | AL-6 | Bachus, Spencer [R] |
| No | AL-7 | Davis, Artur [D] |
In other words, Mike Rogers prefered to side with Obama, Pelosi, Bright, Griffith and Davis — as opposed to siding with tens of thousands of Alabamians who showed up for tea parties on April 15th.
Just in case Congressman Rogers isn’t aware of how angry his constituents are over support of bailouts and deficit spending, we thought we’d provide this video of South Carolina voters turning their backs on and booing South Carolina Congressman Gresham Barrett at one of the April 15 tea parties.
It’s to be noted that both Rogers and Barrett support bailouts.
H/T to Alabama’s premier political website.
The Enumerated Powers Act
H.R. 450, introduced by Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., requires that all bills coming before Congress “shall contain a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act. The failure to comply with this section shall give rise to a point of order in either House of Congress. …”
Shadegg said the act would perform three important functions:
- It would encourage members of Congress to consider whether their proposed legislation belongs in the federal level in the allocation of powers or whether it belongs with the states or the people.
- It would force lawmakers to include statements explaining by what authority they are acting.
- It would give the U.S. Supreme Court the ability to scrutinize constitutional justification for every piece of legislation. If the justification does not hold up, the courts and the people could hold Congress accountable and eliminate acts that reach beyond the scope of the Constitution.
He said the Founding Fathers granted specific, limited powers to the national government to protect the people’s freedom.
“As a result, the Constitution gives the Federal Government only 18 specific enumerated powers, just 18 powers,” Shadegg noted.
Beginning with President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, he said, Congress has ignored the 10th Amendment and greatly expanded federal government.
“Let me be clear,” he said. “Virtually all the measures which go beyond the scope of the powers granted to the Federal Government by the 10th amendment are well-intentioned. But unfortunately, many of them are not authorized by the Constitution. The Federal Government has ignored the Constitution and expanded its authority into every aspect of human conduct, and quite sadly, it is not doing many of those things very well.”
While many believe government “can do anything,” that is not what the Founding Fathers intended for the nation, Shadegg contends.
At this time, the bill has 19 cosponsors, all Republicans.
