Oct. 27, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement blasting the two-year budget deal that suspends the debt ceiling until after the November 2016 elections:

“It is absurd that Republicans in the House have allowed a lame duck speaker to negotiate a debt ceiling that locks in increased spending for not one, but two years, weakening their power of the purse.

“The irony is that Boehner’s only major achievement as Speaker was budget sequestration that slowed down the growth of the debt for three years. Sadly that achievement is wiped away by this parting shot. It is rare that an outgoing Speaker would take an eraser to his own legacy.

“Speaker Boehner resigned his post due to concerns over his autocratic rule of the House. As a final going away gift, he is using the manufactured debt ceiling crisis to run over the next Speaker’s fiscal prerogatives, negating any real reforms that might have been implemented. Let us hope the House stops him by opposing the rule to bring this measure to the floor. A vote for the rule can only be viewed as a vote for the bill.”

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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Oct. 23, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising U.S. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) for noting the hypocrisy of renaming the J. Edgar Hoover FBI building while failing to rename other federal institutions named after Democrat Party racists such the Richard Russell Senate Office Building, the Robert Byrd correctional facility, and others:

“Ken Buck’s challenge to the politically correct police who would smash every statue in their revolution against history is refreshing. It sets a bold example on how to deal with these bullies. Renaming the J. Edgar Hoover FBI building while failing to rename other federal institutions named after Democrat Party racists such the Richard Russell Senate Office Building, the Robert Byrd correctional facility, and many more is a testament to the Left’s hypocrisy and selective revisionism. Considering such legislation is beneath Congress, and it is time to follow Ken Buck’s lead in confronting this divisive gotcha censorship.”

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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Oct. 23, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in opposition to so-called socially responsible investing being included in 401(k)s by the U.S. Labor Department:

“The only criteria fiduciaries should use for 401(k) and pension funds is the suitability and profitability of an investment.  The goal of these funds is to provide retirement security for workers, and the Labor Department’s newly issued interpretation that allows so-called socially responsible investing, to be a factor in these investment decisions is nothing less than playing politics with retirement funds.  Look no further than the inclusion of the SEIU’s CFO in Secretary Perez’ media announcement and it is clear that this is a political play and not a financially sound one.  If Perez was honest, he would have confronted the SEIU about their failure to protect union member pensions, as two of their local pension funds are one and two on the Labor Department’s Critical Status Notices, and are at risk of failing.

“The Obama Administration’s attempt to turn retirement dollars into a slush fund for whatever the liberal cause of the moment is, sets a dangerous course for every American who wants assurance that the options they are provided are based upon likelihood of success, and not a veiled attempt to funnel money to far left or politically favored companies.

“Prior to the announced changes, so-called socially responsible investments were allowed if they were equal to other investment options in terms of potential return. Now, Perez is turning this on its head with language suggesting that fiduciaries are to consider this, not just as collateral factors, but as the ‘proper components of the fiduciary’s primary analysis.’ Americans for Limited Government will use every lever at our disposal to overturn this disastrous and dangerous decision.”

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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Oct. 21, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) demands that he will only run for House Speaker if he is anointed without opposition before a single vote is cast:

“It is almost obscene that in response to demands that the power of the Speaker be limited, that Paul Ryan is demanding a scepter, crown and throne to take the job. Talk about a guy who just doesn’t get what’s wrong in Washington, D.C.”

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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Oct. 14, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement responding to potential Federal Communications Commission (FCC) consideration of broadcast exclusivity rules at an upcoming Oct. 22 meeting:

“Consumers have more visual entertainment options at their disposal right now than at any time in history.  Given this diversity of options, it makes absolutely zero sense for the FCC to even consider making changes to the exclusivity rules that ensures local broadcasters are able to operate in a fair, open and competitive marketplace under unique regulatory requirements.

“Let’s be clear, there is no legitimate free market argument for the FCC to once again overstep its authority and throw local, over the air broadcasters, into a legal limbo by arbitrarily changing the exclusivity rule.  This is particularly obvious when one remembers that local broadcasters are required to provide their product free of charge for public services as a requirement of their FCC issued broadcasting license.

“Americans for Limited Government strongly urges the FCC to take no action related to the broadcast exclusivity rules tomorrow or at any time in the future as it would be both another egregious legislative power grab by an administrative agency designed to pick winners and losers, and would harm the least affluent consumers who can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars a year for television, and depend on free over the air broadcasting for news, weather and local happenings.”

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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Oct. 9, 2015, Fairfax, Va.–Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement blasting 218 members of the House of Representatives who discharged reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States:

“Without any new loans from the Export-Import Bank, U.S. exporters managed to sell $188.8 billion of goods and services in July, and $185 billion in August. The reason almost nobody noticed the Ex-Im Bank’s expiration on June 30 is simple. It only accounts for 1 percent of the nation’s $2.344 trillion of annual exports. In other words, its expiration hardly matters at all when companies can just secure financing elsewhere in a global marketplace.

“Yet 218 members of the House, including more than 40 House Republicans, have seen fit to give yet another bailout to companies like Boeing and General Electric, all so their customers can get guaranteed loans at a slightly lower interest rate. This blatant corporatism on display is just one more reason why the American people want to throw House leaders out on their ears.

“This proves once again that the true majority of the House are Democrats and handful of Republicans. There isn’t a major piece of legislation that has not depended on Democrats to pass, and this is no more apparent than in this extension of the very corporate cronyism that has thoroughly corrupted Washington, D.C.

“Perhaps, the rest of the House Republican Conference will finally wake up and discover that their problem isn’t those who are pushing them to stand up for conservative principles, but instead it is the handful of their Republican colleagues who regularly vote with the Democrats creating a center-left majority that feeds the corporate state.”

Attachments:

218 House members who signed the discharge petition for H.Res. 450, Oct. 9, 2015 at http://clerk.house.gov/114/lrc/pd/petitions/DisPet0002.xml

1. Stephen Lee Fincher Tennessee            08
2. Frank D. Lucas            Oklahoma                 03
3. Markwayne Mullin Oklahoma                 02
4. E. Scott Rigell            Virginia                     02
5. Raúl M. Grijalva            Arizona                     03
6. Billy Long                        Missouri                    07
7. Thomas MacArthur New Jersey              03
8. Chris Collins            New York                  27
9. Richard L. Hanna            New York                  22
10. Gregg Harper            Mississippi               03
11. Mike Bost            Illinois                        12
12. David W. Jolly            Florida                       13
13. Carlos Curbelo            Florida                       26
14. Larry Bucshon            Indiana                     08
15. Charles W. Boustany Louisiana                 03
16. James B. Renacci Ohio                          16
17. Mark E. Amodei Nevada                     02
18. Bill Johnson             Ohio                          06
19. Renee L. Ellmers North Carolina          02
20. Ryan A. Costello Pennsylvania                      06
21. Dan Newhouse Washington             04
22. James E. Clyburn South Carolina         06
23. Michael K. Simpson Idaho                         02
24. Mike Quigley            Illinois                        05
25. Denny Heck            Washington             10
26. Tom Reed            New York                  23
27. Adam Kinzinger Illinois                        16
28. John R. Moolenaar Michigan                  04
29. Lou Barletta            Pennsylvania                      11
30. Tom Marino            Pennsylvania                      10
31. Mike Kelly            Pennsylvania                      03
32. David G. Reichert Washington             08
33. Elise M. Stefanik New York                  21
34. Robert J. Dold            Illinois                        10
35. Duncan Hunter California                 50
36. John L. Mica            Florida                       07
37. Stephen Knight California                 25
38. Charles W. Dent Pennsylvania           15
39. André Carson            Indiana                     07
40. Steve Stivers            Ohio                          15
41. Glenn Thompson Pennsylvania                      05
42. Joyce Beatty            Ohio                          03
43. Bill Foster            Illinois                        11
44. Keith Ellison            Minnesota                05
45. Gene Green            Texas                        29
46. David Scott            Georgia                     13
47. Zoe Lofgren            California                 19
48. Nita M. Lowey            New York                  17
49. Mark Takai            Hawaii                       01
50. John Lewis            Georgia                     05
51. Nancy Pelosi            California                 12
52. Steny H. Hoyer            Maryland                  05
53. José E. Serrano New York                  15
54. Sheila Jackson Lee Texas                        18
55. John K. Delaney Maryland                  06
56. Timothy J. Walz Minnesota                01
57. Mike Rogers            Alabama                   03
58. Carolyn B. Maloney New York                  12
59. Patrick J. Tiberi            Ohio                          12
60. Jerry McNerney California                 09
61. Suzan K. DelBene Washington             01
62. Kurt Schrader            Oregon                      05
63. Anna G. Eshoo            California                 18
64. Brad Ashford            Nebraska                  02
65. Derek Kilmer            Washington             06
66. Ron Kind             Wisconsin                03
67. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter Georgia                     01
68. Kevin Cramer            North Dakota            At Large
69. Lois Frankel            Florida                       22
70. John C. Carney Delaware                  At Large
71. Mark Pocan            Wisconsin                02
72. Gwen Moore            Wisconsin                04
73. John Katko            New York                  24
74. Karen Bass            California                 37
75. Joaquin Castro            Texas                        20
76. Ann Kirkpatrick            Arizona                     01
77. Julia Brownley            California                 26
78. David Loebsack Iowa                           02
79. Steve Israel            New York                  03
80. Brian Higgins            New York                  26
81. Kathleen M. Rice New York                  04
82. Eric Swalwell            California                 15
83. Janice Hahn            California                 44
84. Joseph Crowley New York                  14
85. Tony Cárdenas            California                 29
86. Louise McIntosh Slaughter New York      25
87. Eddie Bernice Johnson Texas            30
88. Brendan F. Boyle Pennsylvania                      13
89. Frank Pallone            New Jersey              06
90. Bonnie Watson Coleman New Jersey  12
91. Michael F. Doyle Pennsylvania          14
92. Michael E. Capuano Massachusetts        07
93. Doris O. Matsui            California                 06
94. Beto O’Rourke            Texas                        16
95. Joe Courtney            Connecticut             02
96. Rubén Hinojosa            Texas                        15
97. Paul Tonko            New York                  20
98. Robin L. Kelly            Illinois                        02
99. Linda T. Sánchez California                 38
100. Jim Cooper            Tennessee               05
101. Michelle Lujan Grisham New Mexico            01
102. Sean Patrick Maloney            New York                  18
103. Jared Polis            Colorado                   02
104. Ben Ray Luján New Mexico             03
105. Alma S. Adams North Carolina                     12
106. Pete Aguilar            California                 31
107. Barbara Lee            California                 13
108. Henry Cuellar            Texas                        28
109. Marcia L. Fudge Ohio                          11
110. Brenda L. Lawrence Michigan                  14
111. Mike Thompson California                 05
112. Lois Capps            California                 24
113. Hakeem S. Jeffries New York                  08
114. David E. Price            North Carolina          04
115. Albio Sires            New Jersey              08
116. Kathy Castor            Florida                       14
117. Jim McDermott Washington             07
118. Bill Pascrell            New Jersey              09
119. Tim Ryan            Ohio                          13
120. Debbie Dingell Michigan                  12
121. David N. Cicilline Rhode Island                       01
122. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott Virginia         03
123. Rosa L. DeLauro            Connecticut  03
124. Janice D. Schakowsky Illinois           09
125. G. K. Butterfield            North Carolina          01
126. Theodore E. Deutch            Florida                       21
127. Ted Lieu            California                 33
128. Raul Ruiz            California                 36
129. Ann M. Kuster            New Hampshire       02
130. Terri A. Sewell Alabama                   07
131. Ed Perlmutter            Colorado                   07
132. Patrick Murphy Florida                       18
133. C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger            Maryland       02
134. Jim Costa            California                 16
135. Elijah E. Cummings Maryland                  07
136. Suzanne Bonamici Oregon                      01
137. Richard M. Nolan Minnesota                08
138. Collin C. Peterson Minnesota                07
139. John Garamendi California                 03
140. Jared Huffman California                 02
141. Scott H. Peters California                 52
142. Sam Farr            California                 20
143. Earl Blumenauer Oregon                      03
144. Lucille Roybal-Allard California                 40
145. Gwen Graham Florida                       02
146. Katherine M. Clark Massachusetts         05
147. Jerrold Nadler            New York                  10
148. Rick Larsen            Washington             02
149. Matt Cartwright Pennsylvania            17
150. Robert A. Brady Pennsylvania                       01
151. John B. Larson            Connecticut             01
152. Bobby L. Rush Illinois                        01
153. James A. Himes Connecticut             04
154. Susan A. Davis California                 53
155. Sanford D. Bishop Georgia                    02
156. Marc A. Veasey            Texas            33
157. Henry C. “Hank” Johnson            Georgia          04
158. Ed Whitfield            Kentucky                  01
159. Elizabeth H. Esty Connecticut             05
160. Daniel T. Kildee Michigan                  05
161. Emanuel Cleaver Missouri                    05
162. John P. Sarbanes Maryland                  03
163. Donna F. Edwards Maryland                  04
164. Yvette D. Clarke New York                  09
165. Nydia M. Velázquez New York                  07
166. Joseph P. Kennedy Massachusetts                    04
167. John A. Yarmuth Kentucky                  03
168. Betty McCollum Minnesota                04
169. William R. Keating Massachusetts                    09
170. Cedric L. Richmond Louisiana                 02
171. Jackie Speier            California                 14
172. Mark Takano            California                 41
173. Sander M. Levin Michigan                  09
174. Daniel Lipinski Illinois            03
175. James P. McGovern Massachusetts         02
176. Stephen F. Lynch Massachusetts         08
177. Adam B. Schiff California                 28
178. Judy Chu            California                 27
179. Steve Cohen            Tennessee               09
180. Ruben Gallego            Arizona                     07
181. John Conyers            Michigan                  13
182. Adam Smith            Washington             09
183. Danny K. Davis Illinois                        07
184. Chellie Pingree Maine                        01
185. Juan Vargas            California                 51
186. Diana DeGette Colorado                   01
187. Wm. Lacy Clay Missouri                    01
188. Mark DeSaulnier California                 11
189. Grace Meng            New York                  06
190. Bennie G. Thompson Mississippi            02
191. Alan S. Lowenthal California                 47
192. Norma J. Torres California                 35
193. Niki Tsongas            Massachusetts         03
194. Seth Moulton            Massachusetts         06
195. Charles B. Rangel New York                  13
196. Donald Norcross New Jersey              01
197. Chaka Fattah            Pennsylvania                      02
198. Eliot L. Engel            New York                  16
199. Ami Bera            California                 07
200. Donald S. Beyer Virginia                    08
201. Gregory W. Meeks New York                 05
202. Cheri Bustos            Illinois                        17
203. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Florida            23
204. Richard E. Neal Massachusetts        01
205. Filemon Vela            Texas                        34
206. Gerald E. Connolly Virginia                     11
207. Tammy Duckworth Illinois                        08
208. Alcee L. Hastings Florida                       20
209. Corrine Brown Florida                       05
210. Lloyd Doggett            Texas                        35
211. Chris Van Hollen Maryland                  08
212. Xavier Becerra California                 34
213. Grace F. Napolitano California                 32
214. Luis V. Gutiérrez Illinois                        04
215. Tulsi Gabbard            Hawaii                       02
216. Loretta Sanchez California                 46
217. Dina Titus            Nevada                     01
218. Maxine Waters California                 43

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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Oct. 8, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s decision to drop out of the running for Speaker of the House of Representatives:

“The shocking decision by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to leave the race for Speaker opens up the process to a full and complete discussion of the proper role of the House of Representatives. Whoever steps into the running and ultimately becomes the new Speaker must move to restore the separation of powers between the branches of government. An effective Speaker will unite House Republicans through a revival of the House’s constitutional prerogatives, including the Article I  power of the purse, to stop President Obama’s regulatory onslaught against the U.S. economy and freedom.”

Attachments:

“GOP leadership election brings power of purse to forefront,” By Rick Manning, Americans for Limited Government, The Hill, Oct. 1, 2015 at http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/255629-gop-leadership-election-brings-power-of-purse-to-forefront

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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Oct. 7, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama calling globalization a challenge at the White House Summit on Worker Voice:

“President Obama calling globalization a challenge just three days after releasing an executive summary of the Trans-Pacific Partnership is jaw dropping in its audacity. Once again, the President proves that he cannot see the destructive impact of the very policies that he promotes. We invite Obama to join Americans for Limited Government in opposing his own Trans-Pacific Partnership because of its devastating impact on the U.S. economy and worker. If Obama wants to stop jobs  from going overseas, then perhaps he should stop shipping them there.”

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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Oct. 5, 2015, Fairfax, Va.–Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to the executive summary of the Trans-Pacific Partnership released by the U.S. Trade Representative:

“The release of the Trans-Pacific Partnership summary is interesting propaganda, but the key issues of governance and enforcement mechanisms under the deal remain shrouded in mystery pending release of the full agreement.

“Additionally, the deal’s failure to address to basic currency manipulation concerns makes it a non-starter as it puts the U.S. heavy manufacturing sector at a competitive disadvantage that will never be rectified. It is foolish for anyone embrace this agreement without full public disclosure of all its provisions.

“Of course, that didn’t stop Congress when fast tracking the deal was being decided. Let’s hope that Congress keeps its powder dry until the Pacific trade deal receives a full and thorough public vetting.”

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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