Archives for March 2011

March 10th, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement on the Senate rejection of competing continuing resolutions to keep the government operational for the remainder of the fiscal year:

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is finally conceding to cut spending after being embarrassed on the floor of the Senate by getting less votes for his proposal to only cut $6.2 billion than Senate Republicans got for theirs to cut $57 billion.

“The result was ironic because to date, Harry Reid and his Senate Democrat colleagues have been missing in action, not unlike their Wisconsin comrades who had holed up in Rockford, Illinois, to avoid a vote balancing that state’s budget. Our nation’s budget deficit crisis demands adult leadership, something that has been sorely lacking as the Reid-Pelosi Congress of last year never even tried to pass a budget, creating the current government shutdown threat.

“Harry Reid’s failure to do his job has led to the current stalemate and the potential government shutdown, a scenario he apparently favors considering his failure to also deliver enough votes for his preferred continuing resolution. It looks increasingly that Democrats are attempting to orchestrate a government shutdown, hoping to lay blame at the feet of Republicans, not unlike the 1995-96 shutdown.

“The fact is, however, that the House led by Republicans has done its job and passed legislation that avoids a shutdown. Now, it is time for the Senate to do its job, and cut spending. Failure to do so will leave both the blame for being fiscally irresponsible and shutting down the government at the feet of none other than Harry Reid.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

###

March 10th, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement on the Wisconsin State Assembly vote to protect taxpayers by eliminating many public sector union collective bargaining powers:

“The courage of the Wisconsin state legislators to stand up to the threats and thuggery and protect Wisconsin’s taxpaying private sector workers from the avaricious demands of their public sector unions is a model for the rest of America. Wisconsin is leading the nation in responsible fiscal leadership. Governor Walker, Republican Senators and State Assembly members who have stood firm in spite of vicious personal attacks and even death threats are truly 21st century patriots.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

###

###

March 9th, 2011, Fairfax, VA— Americans for Limited Government Bill Wilson issued the following statement regarding the Obama administration asking the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to expedite a ruling on federal judge Roger Vinson’s decision declaring ObamaCare unconstitutional:

“Today is a major victory for Judge Vinson and the American people. Judge Vinson’s recent ruling in Florida declaring ObamaCare unconstitutional has forced the Administration to fast track the decision on the legality of the law, instead of playing their planned stall game. Judge Vinson should be praised for forcing the Obama administration to recognize the legitimacy of his ruling.”

“We look forward to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding Judge Vinson’s decision that declared ObamaCare unconstitutional.”

See Vinson’s Ruling, Obama’s Decision for more on the ruling that forced the Obama Administration’s hand.

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

###

March 8th, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today in a letter urged members of the Senate to support the year-long House continuing resolution that defunds the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the parent company of National Public Radio (NPR).

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and National Public Radio, could get along just fine without at taxpayer funding,” Wilson wrote in a letter to Senate members, pointing to a newly released undercover video report by James O’Keefe, NPR’s Senior VP for Development, Ron Schiller said, “It’s very clear that we would be better off in the long run without federal funding.”

Schiller explained why NPR would be better off without taxpayer funding: “I think for independence, number one. Number two, is that our job would be a lot easier if people weren’t confused about—because we get federal funding, a lot of Americans, a lot of philanthropists, actually think we get most of our money from the federal government, even though NPR, as you know, gets 1 percent and the station economy as a whole gets 10 percent.”

Wilson said Congress needed to get its budget priorities straight: “With a $1.65 trillion budget deficit projected by the Office of Management and Budget this year, and a $14.1 trillion national debt that cannot be paid back, taxpayers no longer can afford to fund luxuries like public broadcasting.”

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting currently receives $420 million in taxpayer funding.

In an exclusive interview with Americans for Limited Government, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), the original House sponsor of CPB-defunding legislation, has called the Corporation “low-hanging fruit” that can be cut.

Lamborn explained, “Why should taxpayers spend $420 million a year to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is the parent of NPR, when it could survive on its own? It could be out there in the private marketplace, and compete along with everyone else. Why should government be in the broadcasting business at all?”

Senator Jim DeMint, who has introduced similar legislation in the Senate, has agreed, noting that PBS’ brand, Sesame Street, is a commercially viable entity that needs no public funding. “Shows like Sesame Street are thriving, multimillion-dollar enterprises,” he wrote. “According to the 990 tax form all nonprofits are required to file, Sesame Workshop President and CEO Gary Knell received $956,513 — nearly a million dollars — in compensation in 2008. And, from 2003 to 2006, Sesame Street made more than $211 million from toy and consumer product sales. Big Bird will be just fine without his federal subsidies.”

“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting only gets about 13 percent of its total budget from federal taxpayers, which the corporation itself is quick to point out. They can finance themselves via donations, or move toward a profit model if they choose, but taxpayers should not be obligated to pay for programming,” Wilson concluded.

ALG last year launched a national petition drive defund public broadcasting in the wake of National Public Radio’s firing of Juan Williams. The petition is at: www.defundpublicbroadcasting.org.

Background:

“It is Time for Big Bird to Fly on His Own” by Rebekah Rast, ALG News Contributing Editor, March 8th, 2011.

Letter to the Senate, March 8th, 2011.

“Defund Public Broadcasting Once and For All,” by ALG President Bill Wilson, October 25th, 2010.

ALG Praises Boehner’s Call to Defund Public Broadcasting, October 22nd, 2010

“Where to cut, you ask?” Video by Frank McCaffrey on Doug Lamborn’s legislation, October 19th, 2010.

“The Bare Minimum,” by Rick Manning, ALG Communications Director, October 20th, 2010.

“Time to Stop Funding Luxuries, Like Public Broadcasting,” by Rebekah Rast, ALG News Contributing Editor, June 14th, 2010.

“Is Public Broadcasting Hurting the Arts?” by Robert Romano, ALG News Senior Editor, June 15th, 2010.

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

###

March 3rd, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement on the enactment of a two-week continuing resolution containing $4 billion in spending cuts:

“Because the House did its job to keep the government funded and yet reining in spending, even modestly by $4 billion over two weeks, it has bought the Senate time to do their job. Now Senate Democrats need to join House Republicans, who have already demonstrated their commitment to avoid a government shutdown by passing the continuing resolution for the remainder of the fiscal year with $61 billion of spending cuts.

“Senate Democrats now face a choice: Accept the cuts, or shut down the government. If it shuts down, it will be wholly the responsibility of Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats. The fact is, Congress will need to cut at least that much to help rein in the nation’s fiscal house and reduce the $1.65 trillion budget deficit.”

Attachments:

Bill Wilson sound bite 1: www.getliberty.org/files/Bill Wilson sound bite1.mp3

Bill Wilson sound bite 2: www.getliberty.org/files/Bill Wilson sound bite2.mp3

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

###

March 3nd, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement on federal Judge Roger Vinson’s decision giving the Obama Administration seven days to appeal his ruling finding ObamaCare unconstitutional:

“The headlines on Judge Roger Vinson’s ruling on ObamaCare read that he has stayed his own decision for 7 days to allow the Administration time to appeal his ruling that the law is unconstitutional. While this is true, it does not reflect the overall ruling, which clearly reaffirms that Vinson’s ruling is binding and that ObamaCare is unconstitutional, and that without a stay it cannot be implemented.

“Vinson’s decision to give the Administration seven days to produce an appropriate appeal is an act of judicial charity forcing the Administration to follow federal appellate procedures, or cease implementation.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

###

March 2nd, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today urged members of the Senate to cosponsor legislation by Senator Jim DeMint that would defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) after Fiscal Year 2013, the parent company of National Public Radio.

“Senate members who profess to be fiscally responsible need to show the courage of their convictions, and cosponsor Senator DeMint’s bill to completely defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” Wilson said

“If Congress can’t cut the small things, like public broadcasting, it will never be able to deal with entitlements or significantly reducing the deficit, let alone paying off the $14 trillion debt,” Wilson explained.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting currently receives $420 million in taxpayer funding.

“Signing on to the DeMint bill is just building momentum to completely defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the continuing resolution process,” Wilson said, noting that the Continuing Resolution passed by the House for the remainder of the fiscal year will defund the CPB, too.

In an exclusive interview with Americans for Limited Government, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), the original House sponsor of CPB-defunding legislation, has called the Corporation “low-hanging fruit” that can be cut.

Lamborn explained, “Why should taxpayers spend $420 million a year to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is the parent of NPR, when it could survive on its own? It could be out there in the private marketplace, and compete along with everyone else. Why should government be in the broadcasting business at all?”

Senator DeMint has agreed, noting that PBS’ brand, Sesame Street, is a commercially viable entity that needs no public funding. “Shows like Sesame Street are thriving, multimillion-dollar enterprises,” he wrote. “According to the 990 tax form all nonprofits are required to file, Sesame Workshop President and CEO Gary Knell received $956,513 — nearly a million dollars — in compensation in 2008. And, from 2003 to 2006, Sesame Street made more than $211 million from toy and consumer product sales. Big Bird will be just fine without his federal subsidies.”

Wilson agreed, saying, “The Corporation for Public Broadcasting only gets about 13 percent of its total budget from federal taxpayers, which the corporation itself is quick to point out. They can finance themselves via donations, or move toward a profit model if they choose, but taxpayers should not be obligated to pay for programming.”

Last year, ALG launched a national petition drive to defund public broadcasting in the wake of National Public Radio’s firing of Juan Williams. The petition is at: www.defundpublicbroadcasting.org.

Background:

“Defund Public Broadcasting Once and For All,” by ALG President Bill Wilson, October 25th, 2010.

ALG Praises Boehner’s Call to Defund Public Broadcasting, October 22nd, 2010

“Where to cut, you ask?” Video by Frank McCaffrey on Doug Lamborn’s legislation, October 19th, 2010.

“The Bare Minimum,” by Rick Manning, ALG Communications Director, October 20th, 2010.

“Time to Stop Funding Luxuries, Like Public Broadcasting,” by Rebekah Rast, ALG News Contributing Editor, June 14th, 2010.

“Is Public Broadcasting Hurting the Arts?” by Robert Romano, ALG News Senior Editor, June 15th, 2010.

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

###

March 1st, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today endorsed the findings of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) showing at least $100 billion of taxpayer savings if duplicative and costly government programs are eliminated:

“Thanks to Senator Tom Coburn, who offered the amendment to last year’s debt ceiling increase that created the GAO report, taxpayers for the first time have an in depth look at just how redundant and wasteful the federal government is.Senator Coburn estimates that there could be at least $100 billion in annual savings just by eliminating duplicate, wasteful government programs outlined in the report. With a $1.65 trillion expected budget deficit this year, it is time for Congress to immediately enact recommendations that will help bring the nation’s fiscal house back into order.”

Attachments:

GAO Report Summary, March 1st, 2011.

GAO Report Full, March 1st, 2011.

Dr. Coburn Says GAO Report Exposes Widespread Waste and Duplication in Federal Budget, March 1st, 2011.

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

###