Feb. 3, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising the House of Representatives for taking up legislation that will wholly repeal the health care law, including the individual mandate to purchase insurance:

“Today the House of Representatives will affirm that the Affordable Care Act is neither affordable, nor does is provide the kind of health care Americans want. In the weeks ahead, low income Americans who chose not to bow to the federal government’s demand that they buy health care will receive a punitive tax bill known as the individual mandate.

“Now is the time for our nation to have a substantive discussion about how to rebuild our nation’s health care system around a market based approach. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, who is renowned as a health care expert, has put forward one comprehensive proposal that could well serve as a launch point for this conversation over the months ahead.

“In the meantime, Americans for Limited Government strongly commends the House and Speaker Boehner for making it clear that federal government run health care is not the answer, in fact, it is the problem.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.

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Feb. 2, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to the latest White House budget proposal for FY 2016:

“It is indeed mindless to be lectured on the need to end austerity by a President who has seen the national debt increase by more than $8 trillion since he became President.  It is equally ironic that while the President pointed to a budget deficit that has dropped to under $500 billion from in excess of $1.4 trillion during the early years of his presidency, he fails to recognize that in the same fiscal year, the national debt skyrocketed by justshy of $1.1 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury.  He also fails to acknowledge that if over the past four years Congress had followed his path, the federal government would have continued to increase spending without regard for the long-term damage being done to our nation’s fiscal solvency.

“Now, President Obama pushes forward a $4 trillion budget proposal that makes no pretense of ever reaching balance, and is an extension of his stated desire to fundamentally transform America by further expanding the size and scope of the federal government.  While Obama’s budget is a meaningless document, and all of the real budget battles will be fought over the appropriations bills, it is truly a shame that the President has waved the white flag in the fight to restore fiscal sanity to the federal government, and in doing so, has ensured that those who depend upon social safety net programs will face a dire future as more and more of the budget is eaten up by unavoidable interest payments on the debt.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.

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Jan. 29, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement responding to comments by Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Lawrence Strickling on January 27 to the State of the Net conference’s session, “Internet Functions in Transition: Is the US and the World Ready?” where he said, “we will not use appropriated funds to terminate the IANA functions contract with ICANN prior to the contract’s current expiration date of September 30, 2015” and “If the community needs more time, we have the ability to extend the IANA functions contract for up to four years”:

“We applaud Assistant Secretary Strickling for acknowledging Congress’ explicit prohibition in the omnibus on transferring Internet governance to ICANN this fiscal year. And we urge him to extend the contract by four years to allow sufficient time to allay any concerns over the potential transfer and not jeopardize the free and open Internet. It is clear that the transfer is not ready for primetime lacking both Congressional approval and certainty over the multistakeholder process.

“Extending the contract is not only the easiest thing to do, but given Congress’ clear prohibition on performing the transition prior the contract’s expiration, is the only thing to do.

“Americans for Limited Government urges the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which Strickling heads, not to attempt to find a cute way of getting around the Congressional prohibition. It is not, as Strickling said, ‘up to the community to determine a timeline that works best for stakeholders.’ The omnibus requires the agency to inform Congress by August 17 what its decision regarding the IANA functions contract will be. After Strickling’s statement, there had better not be a head-fake, for example, by simply allowing the contract to expire and transferring ownership of the IANA functions completely to ICANN without prior notice or Congress’ assent. That would be deceptive, unwise, and unconstitutional, since only Congress can transfer government property.”

Attachments:

“NTIA cannot perform Internet governance transfer without Congress,” By Americans for Limited Government senior editor Robert Romano, January 29, 2015 at http://netrightdaily.com/2015/01/john-thunes-education-free-open-internet/

IANA Functions Contract, October 1, 2012 at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/sf_26_pg_1-2-final_award_and_sacs.pdf

I.70 1352.270-70 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (APR 2010)

(a) The base period of performance of this contract is from

October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2015. If an option is exercised, the period of performance shall be extended through the end of that option period.

(b) The option periods that may be exercised are as follows:

Period             Start Date                    End Date
Option I           October 1, 2015          September 30, 2017
Option II          October 1, 2017          September 30, 2019

(c) The notice requirements for unilateral exercise of option periods are set out in FAR 52.217-9 (see Paragraph I.59 above).

I.59 52.217-9 OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT (MAR 2000)

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within 15 calendar days before the expiration of the contract; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 30 calendar days before the contract expires. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

(b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

(c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed seven years.

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.

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Jan. 28, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement opposing passage of an amendment offered by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) that would extend the Wind Production Tax Credit for another five years:

“Americans for Limited Government strongly opposes Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s amendment to the Keystone XL pipeline bill that would extend the Wind Production Tax Credit for another five years.  The Wind Production Tax Credit is just another example of the crony capitalism that runs rampant in Washington, D.C. distorting our nation’s energy markets while encouraging the non-economically sustainable wind farming of America.  After decades of being propped up by taxpayers, it is time for the mature wind energy industry to fairly compete in the marketplace rather than serving as a tax dodge for the wealthy.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.

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 Jan. 27, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to testimony by the U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal:

“The Senate Finance Committee inadvertently exposed the best reason why Congress should reject Trade Promotion Authority. The vast nature of the Trans-Pacific Partnership covering every aspect of the U.S. economy and life cries out for Congress to engage in thorough and complete consideration prior to ratification. Fast track by its nature puts time limits on Congressional consideration and eliminates Congressional capacity to amend portions of the signed Treaty to better reflect American interests.

“The answers provided by the U.S. Trade Representative were largely nothing more than reassuring generalities, however, an actual treaty is very specific and has the effect of overriding existing U.S. law. It would be a grievous error for Congress to give President Obama Trade Promotion Authority based upon a series of ‘trust us’ promises. President Obama has proven himself time and again to not have earned that trust, and it would be a slap in the face to Americans of all political stripes to not hold any treaty he negotiates to the exact 2/3 vote ratification process that the Constitution sets forth.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick manning.

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Jan. 22, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging passage of the Blunt-Inhofe amendment against the China climate deal:

“President Obama’s China climate change deal puts the United States economy and our workers at a competitive disadvantage and the Senate is urged to pass a sense of the Senate resolution opposing its implementation without having gone through the full ratification process.

“American workers continue to be hurt by President Obama’s extremist environmental policies with stagnant wages and lost job growth opportunities. Obama’s China deal would further escalate the cost of electricity stunting the rebuilding our nation’s manufacturing base.The Senate must stand up for America’s workforce by making it clear that the President’s China climate deal should not be implemented.”

Attachments:

Blunt-Inhofe amendment, Jan. 22, 2015 at http://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/BluntInhofeAmdt1-22-15.pdf

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick manning.

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Jan. 15, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and House Speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) for naming Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) to be the Chairman of the House Science Environment Subcommittee:

“We are pleased by the decision to name Rep. Jim Bridenstine the Chairman of the House Science Environment Subcommittee. Bridenstine is uniquely qualified to hold the Environmental Protection Agency accountable for its unilateral regulations against American energy producers. We look forward to work of this subcommittee, and the House more generally to rein in this rogue agency.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.

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Media Advisory

ALG attends South Carolina Tea Party Convention to oppose fast track
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
January 17-18

Americans for Limited Government will be attending the South Carolina Tea Party Convention with a table display opposingthe passage of Trade Promotion Authority and the ceding of further Congressional authority to the Executive Branch.

Attendees will have the opportunity to directly communicate with Congress opposing the fast track trade legislation, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) concedes: “It’s an enormous grant of power, obviously, from a Republican Congress to a Democratic president.”

Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning will available for interviews Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18. For availability call 202-744-4427.

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Jan. 15, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising House Resources Chairman Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and House Speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) for naming Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) to be the Chairman of the House Resources Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee:

“The decision to name Representative Louie Gohmert as the Chairman of the newly constituted House Resources Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee is welcome news for the country. Not only will the position allow Gohmert to utilize his immense talent to hold bureaucracies like the Bureau of Land Management accountable, but it demonstrates a coming together of the Republican Conference in the 114th Congress around a new, more limited government agenda. Speaker John Boehner and Chairman Rob Bishop are to be commended for choosing Rep. Gohmert to lead the Committee’s oversight efforts.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.

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Jan. 15, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging members of Congress to join with conservative leaders in endorsing the Citizens’ Mandate, a policy statement defining what the 2014 election was all about:

“America did not vote for this Congress to enable President Obama to accomplish his agenda; they elected this Congress to stop it, and for anyone in Washington to pretend otherwise is either disingenuous or outright delusional. Obama will be striving to cement his legacy of transformation, and this Congress will either be complicit in his plan or they will follow the citizens’ mandate of November 2014 and they will stop him.”

Attachments:

“Stop the Fundamental Transformation of America: Citizens’ Mandate from November 2014 Election,” Jan. 15, 2015 at http://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/CitizensMandate1-14-15.pdf

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (703) 383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick manning.

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