Yearly Archives: 2006

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. :::

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

He who makes the rules, rules. Congress has taught us this lesson. Through gerrymandering and campaign finance laws they’ve turned the House and Senate into private clubs for incumbents. These rules have effectively closed the ballot box as a viable means for controlling government. Rules matter.:::

This is why DownsizeDC.org has now crafted two bills that would change the rules by which Congress operates — the “Read the Bills Act” (RTBA) and the “Write the Laws Act” (WTLA). Change the rules, and you can change everything. :::

By proposing rules changes that most people can support, we can recruit an army large enough to compell Congress to adopt our proposals. The right rules can give you tremendous leverage. Congress taught us this when they passed the “Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act” (McCain-Feingold). We learned. And we intend to use what we’ve learned.:::

RTBA and WTLA will not be the last rules we propose. They are but two parts of what will become a comprehensive Downsize DC legislative agenda. We aim to become America’s shadow legislature. If Congress refuses to do its job, they shouldn’t be surprised if others decide to do it for them. We intend to do just that.:::

Next on our agenda is a single subject rule. :::

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::

Forward this to friends who care . . .:::

Quick. You need help. Desperately. Get out the yellow pages, or do a web search. Look under “people to tell you what to think.”:::

Don’t find it? Maybe it’s in the government pages?:::

Oops. Sorry for the bother. You’ve already hired someone to tell you what to think. He’s called the Drug Czar. His job, paid for with your tax dollars, is to tell you what to think about national drug policy. :::

That’s it. That’s all. That’s what the Drug Czar does. He tells you what to think. :::

Aren’t you relieved? :::

As you go about your labors today put a smile on your face. You’re working, in part, to pay for that guy you hired to tell you what to think about our nation’s narcotics laws. Isn’t it comforting? Just think how confused you’d be without that Drug Czar guy to do the heavy mental lifting for you. :::

What’s that you say? You didn’t know you hired someone to do that? You don’t need it? You don’t like the name “Czar?” You won’t have a smile on your face as you labor to pay his salary?:::

Well, perhaps you just need more information. Don’t you know that this guy lobbies state legislatures to keep them from passing drug laws the federal government doesn’t like? And don’t you know that this guy works hard to defeat medical marijuana initiatives, and keep voters from voting the wrong way? Isn’t that worth something to you?:::

No?:::

Well, then perhaps you’ll want to know that there are some in Congress who want to fire the guy and close his office. In fact, his job is up for renewal right now, and there’s legislation that would send the Czar packing. You might want to let your representatives know that you don’t need no stinking Drug Czar. If you feel so moved, you can send your message here.:::

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer.:::

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

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch…:::We’re really excited about Jim Babka’s radio show yesterday. He’s going to replay it again in August. And then, probably again at some other point in the future. Why?

Conference Call for July 16, 2006.

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch… :::On today’s Downsize DC Conference Call, a call-in radio show sponsored by DownsizeDC.org, Gun Owners of America, and the Marijuana Policy Project, I’m going to pick up where I left off last week. Or should I say, I’m going to skip ahead?

An mp3 of my radio show on “the failure of political parties” is attached to this post. ::::::The show set a record with six callers. I also had five emails before or during the show and couldn’t get to any of them. Several more messages have come since. Several agreed with me, but had specific modifications. Only one seemed tense or upset with me. I was reluctant, as you’ll be able to tell by listening to my voice, because I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I understand the attraction of partisanship, and I think most of the partisans I know are good people, who believe they’re doing the right thing. ::::::I didn’t have time to fully elaborate my position. We have roughly 42 minutes on air each week. After callers, there just wasn’t time to expand on several points. However, I’m not interested in returning to the issue for a second episode at this time, so I’ll share more of the points I wanted to make below.

Downsize DC Conference Call – June 25/July2, 2006 edition