Monthly Archives: May 2007

This is our Read the Bills Act petition to Congress. Notice what I’ve put in bold::::

Congress needs to start reading the laws it passes. Please introduce DownsizeDC.org’s “Read the Bills Act.” I know you have the power to introduce this legislation on your own, without waiting for anyone else. I urge you to do so. This is a much-needed, common sense reform. I can see no justification for not introducing it. I’m telling my friends about it, and I look forward to hearing that you’ve introduced it. You can find the text of the legislation here:::: http://www.downsizedc.org/rtba_legislation.shtml

::::::Now here is the response from Rep. Ron Klein to a Downsizer. Something is wrong here,

The good news that Congress passed very few bills last week: the House just four, the Senate none. The bad news is that these four bills total 276 pages, making it unlikely their supporters actually read them. (Tell Congress to read the bills they pass by clicking here.) Moreover, the titles of the bills tell us what is wrong with them

The biggest threat to government, business, and household budgets is waste: money that dribbles away with nothing to show for it. ::::::The biggest threat to the environment is waste: goods disposed of prematurely, and energy consumed with nothing to show for it. ::::::But goods cost money, and energy costs money. Wasted energy is wasted money. We could say, then, that environmental waste is a cause of economic waste.

Comedian and former “Man Show” (final season) co-host Doug Stanhope has abandoned his Libertarian Presidential campaign. His reason?

They say “politics make strange bedfellows.” This is certainly the case when the First Amendment comes under attack. Downsize DC, along with at least 36 other grassroots groups from across the political spectrum, has signed a letter sent to all members of the House of Representatives telling them to oppose grassroots lobbying regulation. (Note: DownsizeDC.org did not write the letter, but we are a signatory.) Here’s an excerpt:::::::

Dear Representative:::::::The undersigned organizations urge you to reject efforts to regulate paid attempts to encourage citizens to contact their elected representatives. The Senate wisely rejected such an effort, and we urge you to do likewise. In a representative democracy, citizens not only have the inviolable right but also should be encouraged to contact their elected representatives. Erecting reporting barriers, particularly when coupled with civil penalties for failure to report, raises the stakes for inadvertent compliance failure and discourages such communication.

Today’s Downsizer Dispatch . . .::::::Subject: Will you be the snowflake that starts an avalanche?::::::Quote of the Day:::::::“No snowflake in an avalanche feels itself responsible.”:::– C.P. Snow::::::“Read the Bills Act” makes the grade::::::It’s possible the Republican presidential candidates will be asked about the “Read the Bills Act” in tomorrow night’s nationally televised debate. ::::::Your votes moved the RTBA question from page 7 to page 1. ::::::Jim Forsythe, who posted the question, received an email from Politico.com saying his question may be asked.

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::Please share with concerned friends . . .::::::Subject: Take the revolt against the REAL ID Act to a whole new level::::::There are two urgent action items today . . .::::::* Bombard the Department of Homeland Security with comments opposing the REAL ID Act:::* Bombard the national media with requests to cover the REAL ID Revolt

Congress passed the following bills last week: