Monthly Archives: July 2006

The Downsize DC Conference Call is sponsored by Gun Owners of America, the Marijuana Policy Project, and DownsizeDC.org. ::::::Today’s Guest: Jon Rowe, Professor at Mercer Community College in Trenton, NJ and host of jonrowe.blogspot.com. I read Jon’s blog for the historical information about the religious views and intentions of the Founding Fathers because I find Jon to accurate, thorough, and most importantly, fair. ::::::To listen, click on the “attachment” link below which allows you to download the mp3 version of the program. ::::::As promised during the broadcast, additional links mentioned during the show include… :::

Click on the “attachment” link below to download this show.

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

In this message… :::

1) Sunday Arizona radio interview:::2) Interesting topic for Jim Babka’s Sunday radio show:::3) Free Market News interview online:::4) Harry Browne Memorial Service:::

Last Week in Congress

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

I have an emergency to tell you about today. It’s more garbage from Congress and it affects the future of DownsizeDC.org. I hope you’ll read this message closely. :::

Congress is trying to stifle you — again! Frankly, I’m getting sick of this nonsense.:::

No warrant? No search.

Harry Browne Memorial & Radio Show Topics

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

The urgent action item on warrant-less searches we warned you about yesterday is still pending. Stay on the watch for it. You may even get the message telling you the campaign is ready as soon as this afternoon, though it will more likely come tomorrow. Meanwhile . . .:::

James Wilson has prepared a summary of all the bills Congress passed last week. 86 pages of them, probably all them unread by any member of Congress. James’s excellent summary tells you about each bill passed, what the bill does, and how many pages long it was. You can see the summary at our blog, here.:::

This is a service we’ll try to provide on a weekly basis when Congress is in session. It will also give us ammunition to use for the “Read the Bills Act” and the “Write the Laws Act.” And the “Single Subject Act” too when we get to that point. :::

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.:::

Perry Willis:::Communications Director:::DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

On Thursday, July 13, the Senate unanimously passed H.R. 5441, a “bill making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.” The House had passed a version in June; what’s left is the Conference Committee in which differences in the bills are fixed and agreed upon, and then a final vote in both Houses. As of this writing, the latest version of this bill available from the Government Printing Office runs 224 pages, of which 64 are lined out signifying deletion. Expect the final version, then, to run about 160 pages. And expect no one who will vote for it to actually read it.::::::There is, however, some good news and one piece of great news. The good news is that several Amendments to increase funding for various aspects of the bill were rejected. Even better news is Senator Vitter’s Amendment to “prohibit the United States Customs and Border Protection from preventing an individual not in the business of importing a prescription drug from importing an FDA-approved prescription drug.” In other words, individuals are free to carry FDA-approved drugs into the country. This piece of common sense passed the Senate 68-32.::::::Senator Vitter also deserves credit for the great news. He proposed an Amendment to “prohibit the confiscation of a firearm during an emergency or major disaster if the possession of such firearm is not prohibited under Federal or State law.” This was in reaction to last year’s disgraceful attempted gun-grab in New Orleans in the days after Hurrican Katrina. This Amendment passed overwhelmingly, 84-16. With this level of support, we should expect this Amendment to remain in the final, passed bill.

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

Two problems . . .:::

First, Senator Specter and Vice President Cheney are negotiating behind closed doors to draft a new surveillance bill. This bill will be rushed to a vote with little debate or consideration or public scrutiny. The wording of the bill posted on the web is NOT the wording of the bill that will be brought to a vote. It is a Trojan Horse. Word has it that the real bill will be VERY BAD. We’re watching closely and may need you to act on a moment’s notice. :::

YUCK!:::

This is why we need the “Read the Bills Act.” Please stay tuned. Pay attention. Be ready to act. :::

Second, we’re gasping for breath here in terms of funding. Summer is always like this. Thanksgiving to Christmas too. That’s why we’re trying to secure our VERY SMALL BASIC EXPENSES with large numbers of micro-pledges and major donor gifts. Then we can launch a Single Subject Act and Operation Everywhere with confidence. Then we can become a perpetual growth machine. But first we have to survive this summer.:::

YUCK!:::

We hate this fundraising grind. You probably hate it too. But we have no choice. We know we will reach critical mass at some point and it will be smooth sailing. But until then, the waters are choppy and we have to paddle hard. Please help us survive the summer! Please make a contribution or start a monthly credit card pledge. You can do so here.:::

We need all hands on deck — micro-pledges, macro-pledges, big contributions, small contributions — whatever you’ve got. Bring it on. And thank you for being a DC Downsizer.:::

Jim Babka:::President:::DownsizeDC.org, Inc. :::