Quote of the Day: “When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things bought and sold are legislators.” — P. J. O’Rourke
Congress is about to adjourn for recess. That’s always a dangerous time. Congressional leaders like to push through mounds of legislation just before they adjourn. Harry Reid has said that he will attempt to do exactly that with the DISCLOSE Act in the Senate.
Remember, the DISCLOSE Act is an incumbent protection law that violates the First Amendment. Please send Congress a letter opposing the DISCLOSE Act.
THIS IS URGENT! Reid says he wants to hold a vote TONIGHT!
After you send your letter, please also call your Senators and tell them to vote NO on the DISCLOSE Act. Their phone numbers are right there on the page as you write your letter.
You may copy or borrow from my sample letter . . .
I’m angry that the House passed the DISCLOSE Act. I want my Senators to reject this bill, and my House Rep to vote against it if it returns to that chamber for final consideration.
Basically, I want my congressional representatives to honor their oaths of office. The DISCLOSE Act violates my freedoms of speech, press, and association. Remember . . .
* The First Amendment says that Congress shall make NO law restricting any of these rights — NO LAW!
* And the 9th Amendment creates an overall presumption in favor of individual liberty, and against State coercion, a.k.a., enumerated powers
I understand that many people view campaign contributions as bribes. But limiting contributions hasn’t improved anything. Instead, the legislative process seems more corrupt than ever. There are many reasons for this, all of which argue against campaign finance laws in general, and the DISCLOSE Act in particular . . .
* Campaign finance laws have made it nearly impossible for challengers to raise sufficient funds to compete with incumbents
* This immunity from competition has empowered incumbent office holders to pursue their own narrow self-interest, building cozy relationships with special interests
* Many incumbent office holders then convert their years of “saying yes to special interests” into lucrative positions on corporate boards, and as lobbyists
These factors combine to create a perverse outcome. Campaign finance laws corrupt our system. In fact, campaign contributions are one of the few ways that citizens can actually control who represents them in this democracy.
But really, this should have been obvious beforehand . . .
If incumbent office holders are behaving improperly, then THEIR freedom should be curtailed, NOT the freedom of the people. Politicians should regulate yourselves, NOT US! The DISCLOSE Act regulates US, and not YOU! This means that the DISCLOSE Act is a fraud!
Please be aware that I am not fooled. The DISCLOSE Act is the exact opposite of what it pretends to be. Show me that you really are a public servant by voting NO on the DISCLOSE Act.
END LETTER
You can send your letter to Congress, and get the phone numbers for your Senators, using DownsizeDC.org’s Educate the Powerful System:
This is super urgent. Please take action immediately. The Senate may vote tonight! And remember, phone calls are extra important in this deadline situation.
Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.