Vote NO on the rule, stop Obamatrade

June 16, 2015, Fairfax, Va.–Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging a no vote on the rule to extend debate of trade authority legislation to July 31:

“House leadership set up the rules for considering fast track trade authority for Obama over the objections of 34 of their Republican members. Now House leaders want to move the goal posts and change those rules that fought so hard to get just days ago.

“Should the House move the timeline for consideration all the way to July 31, when the votes are not there today for passage, it would affirm America’s darkest suspicions that the game is rigged in the house’s favor. An extension will allow cynical horse trading to alter votes to occur, resulting in a bad deal for taxpayers.

“Americans for Limited Government urges the House to reject any extension of consideration of the trade bill. The leadership has had every advantage and still cannot win. It’s time to put an end to this debate and move on to things that unite Republicans in the House.”

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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NTIA FOIA documents fail to show legal authority for Internet governance transfer

June 16, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement regarding the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s latest response to an Americans for Limited Government Freedom of Information Act request for “All records relating to legal and policy analysis developed by or provided to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that support its decision to ‘transition key internet domain name functions,’ including any analysis showing whether the NTIA has the legal authority to perform the transition”:

“Americans for Limited Government asked the Commerce Department a simple question: What was the legal basis for relinquishing control of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions to ICANN? Now, more than a year later, it is clear based on the documents we have received that there was no such legal analysis performed prior to the announcement. Nor has the Department claimed any privileged exemption for such analysis under the Freedom of Information Act. And so, it is clear it doesn’t exist. What should have been a routine request has turned out to be a wild goose chase. The failure of NTIA to establish a firm legal basis for the IANA functions transfer underscores this administration’s complete disregard for congressional prerogatives to dispose of property under the Constitution.

“This failure by the Obama administration affirms Congress’ decision to defund the Internet transfer this fiscal year, and the House’s further action this month to do the same beyond September 30.”

Attachments:

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), March 27, 2014 at http://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/DOC-NTIA-FOIA-re-ICANN-03-27-14.pdf

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) interim response by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), June 30, 2014 at http://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DOC-NTIA_FOIA-Responsive-Docs-Set1.pdf

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) further response by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, June 15, 2015 at http://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/DOC-NTIA_FOIA-Responsive-Docs-Set2.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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86 House Republicans who voted to increase taxes to pay for Obamatrade

June 12, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement blasting 86 House Republicans who voted for trade adjustment assistance, legislation that will increase taxes to make payments to unions affected by the Trans-Pacific Partnership:

“It is almost incomprehensible that 86 House Republicans were so desperate to make an Obamatrade deal that they voted to increase taxes to pay off big labor — all to make Obamatrade more palatable to Democrats. No deal was better than a bad deal, and yet these 86 Republicans decided the trade bill was more important than increasing their constituents’ taxes to make payments to labor unions. Any member considering voting for trade adjustment assistance next week should well consider the political consequences of voting to increase taxes to pay off big labor to grant Obama more power to regulate the global economy.”

Attachments:

86 House Republicans who voted for trade adjustment assistance, June 12, 2015 at http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll361.xml

Robert Aderholt (Ala.-CD4)

Louis Barletta (Pa.-CD11)

Andy Barr (Ky.-CD6)

Joe Barton (Texas-CD6)

Dan Benishek (Mich.-CD1)

Mike Bishop (Mich.-CD8)

Rod Blum (Iowa-CD1)

Mike Bost (Ill.-CD12)

Charles Boustany (La.-CD3)

Kevin Brady (Texas-CD8)

Susan Brooks (Ind.-CD5)

Ken Calvert (Calif.-CD42)

Mike Coffman (Colo.-CD6)

Tom Cole (Okla.-CD4)

Barbara Comstock (Va.-CD10)

Ryan Costello (Pa.-CD6)

Ander Crenshaw (Fla.-CD4)

Carlos Curbelo (Fla.-CD26)

Rodney L. Davis (Ill.-CD13)

Charlie Dent (Pa.-CD15)

Robert Dold (Ill.-CD10)

Daniel Donovan (N.Y.-CD11)

Tom Emmer (Minn.-CD6)

Mike Fitzpatrick (Pa.-CD8)

Jeff Fortenberry (Neb.-CD1)

Rodney Frelinghuysen (N.J.-CD11)

Sam Graves (Mo.-CD6)

Glenn Grothman (Wis.-CD6)

Frank Guinta (N.H.-CD1)

Brett Guthrie (Ky.-CD2)

Richard Hanna (N.Y.-CD22)

Jaime Herrera Beutler (Wash.-CD3)

Bill Huizenga (Mich.-CD2)

Robert Hurt (Va.-CD5)

Darrell Issa (Calif.-CD49)

Bill Johnson (Ohio-CD6)

David Jolly (Fla.-CD13)

John Katko (N.Y.-CD24)

Mike Kelly (Pa.-CD3)

Peter King (N.Y.-CD2)

Adam Kinzinger (Ill.-CD16)

John Kline (Minn.-CD2)

Blaine Luetkemeyer (Mo.-CD3)

Tom Marino (Pa.-CD10)

Kevin McCarthy (Calif.-CD23)

Patrick McHenry (N.C.-CD10)

David McKinley (W.Va.-CD1)

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.-CD5)

Patrick Meehan (Pa.-CD7)

Luke Messer (Ind.-CD6)

John Mica (Fla.-CD7)

Candice Miller (Mich.-CD10)

John Moolenaar (Mich.-CD4)

Tim Murphy (Pa.-CD18)

Devin Nunes (Calif.-CD22)

Erik Paulsen (Minn.-CD3)

Joe Pitts (Pa.-CD16)

Tom Reed (N.Y.-CD23)

Dave Reichert (Wash.-CD8)

Scott Rigell (Va.-CD2)

Mike Rogers (Ala.-CD3)

Hal Rogers (Ky.-CD5)

Todd Rokita (Ind.-CD4)

Peter Roskam (Ill.-CD6)

Ed Royce (Calif.-CD39)

Paul Ryan (Wis.-CD1)

Steve Scalise (La.-CD1)

John Shimkus (Ill.-CD15)

Bill Shuster (Pa.-CD9)

Mike Simpson (Idaho-CD2)

Elise Stefanik (N.Y.-CD21)

Steve Stivers (Ohio-CD15)

Glenn Thompson (Pa.-CD5)

Mac Thornberry (Texas-CD13)

Pat Tiberi (Ohio-CD12)

Dave Trott (Mich.-CD11)

Michael Turner (Ohio-CD10)

Fred Upton (Mich.-CD6)

David Valadao (Calif.-CD21)

Ann Wagner (Mo.-CD2)

Tim Walberg (Mich.-CD7)

Greg Walden (Oreg.-CD2)

Mimi Walters (Calif.-CD45)

Ed Whitfield (Ky.-CD1)

Joe Wilson (S.C.-CD2)

David Young (Iowa-CD3)

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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Correction: Obamtrade not dead yet

June 12, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement blasting the House of Representatives for approving fast track trade authority for Obama :

“It would appear that reports of Obamtrade’s demise were premature. We remain confident that at the end of the day, fast track trade authority will never be granted to this president.”

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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ALG’s Manning: ‘Obamatrade is dead’

June 12, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising the House of Representatives for defeating fast track trade authority for Obama :

“Today 302 members courageously stood with the American people against granting trade authority to President Obama. All too often in our culture we don’t thank and recognize courage. Americans for Limited Government would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to those members who stood against granting Obama more power to in his words rewrite the rules of the world economy. This legislation was so deeply flawed a majority of Republicans and Democrats opposed it.

“No pundit in Washington predicted such a rout would occur. For once, members of Congress of both parties listened to their constituents, and now, Obamatrade is dead. Let’s keep it that way.

“Now Republicans should unify around common principles limiting the size and scope of government through the appropriations process. After this heated battle, now is the time to focus on those issues that bring the conference together. It’s time to move forward, and leave Obamatrade behind us. The people have spoken.”

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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Vote NO on trade adjustment tax increase to pay for union bailout

June 12, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging the House of Representatives to refuse granting trade adjustment assistance in a vote today that includes a new tax increase, according to Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.), who said, “The Democrats that were upset about the sequester on Medicare in order to pay for Trade Adjustment Authority…they were able to get the Republicans to change the revenue—so now the revenue comes from some better way of collecting taxes”:

“Americans for Limited Government urges a no vote on trade adjustment assistance. It is just another big government program that needs to end. To make matters worse, trade adjustment assistance is paid for with a tax increase under a new deal struck. It is absurd to raise taxes to pay for a program to benefit unions that big labor is lobbying against. Congress must stop the trade adjustment tax increase, and block this union handout.”

Attachments:

Bridenstine: Trade adjust assistance includes tax increase, by Alex Swoyer, June 11, 2015 at http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/06/11/exclusive-jim-bridenstine-stands-up-for-oklahoma-no-need-to-cede-negotiating-authority-to-obama/

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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ALG praises 34 House Republicans who said no to fast track rule

June 11, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising 34 House Republicans who voted against a rule to bring trade authority legislation to the floor of the House:

“Today 34 House Republicans displayed an extraordinary amount of political courage by voting to deny Speaker Boehner the ability to bring fast track trade authority to the floor of the House. If Boehner had not succeeded in lobbying 8 Democrats to pull his bacon out of the fire, fast track would now be dead. Tomorrow, there will be significantly more Republicans voting against fast track as concerns about President Obama’s surrender of U.S. sovereignty through the Trans-Pacific Partnership becomes fully evident. For those 34 Republicans who took a stand, today’s action deserves universal praise from freedom loving Americans nationwide. They listened to their constituents.”

Attachments:

34 House Republicans who voted no to bring fast track to the floor, June 11, 2015 at http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll359.xml

Justin Amash (Mich.-CD3)
Rod Blum (Iowa-CD1)
Dave Brat (Va.-CD7)
Jim Bridenstine (Okla.-CD1)
Mo Brooks (Ala.-CD5)
Ken Buck (Colo.-CD4)
Jeff Duncan (S.C.-CD3)
John Fleming (La.-CD4)
Trent Franks (Ariz.-CD8)
Scott Garrett (N.J.-CD5)
Chris Gibson (N.Y.-CD19)
Louie Gohmert (Texas-CD1)
Paul Gosar (Ariz.-CD4)
Morgan Griffith (Va.-CD9)
Andy Harris (Md.-CD1)
Jody Hice (Ga.-CD10)
Walter Jones (N.C.-CD3)
Jim Jordan (Ohio-CD4)
Raul Labrador (Idaho-CD1)
Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.-At Large)
Thomas Massie (Ky.-CD4)
Mark Meadows (N.C.-CD11)
Alex Mooney (W.Va.-CD2)
Mick Mulvaney (S.C.-CD5)
Gary Palmer (Ala.-CD6)
Steve Pearce (N.M.-CD2)
Scott Perry (Pa.-CD4)
Bill Posey (Fla.-CD8)
Keith Rothfus (Pa.-CD12)
Matt Salmon (Ariz.-CD5)
David Schweikert (Ariz.-CD6)
Marlin Stutzman (Ind.-CD3)
Daniel Webster (Fla.-CD10)
Ted Yoho (Fla.-CD3)

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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Ryan’s desperate deal making on fast track

June 10, 2015, Fairfax, Va.–Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to a proposal Rep. Paul Ryan to amend the customs bill to supposedly “ensure that trade agreements do not require changes to U.S. law or obligate the United States with respect to global warming or climate change”:

“Paul Ryan is treating the customs bill as his own personal fast track favor factory by including deals on anti-steel dumping legislation, climate change, immigration, as well as allowing human slave trafficker Malaysia to be a part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This is a desperate attempt to attract votes to the flawed trade authority bill. Even if the customs bill were to pass and be signed by the President, none of the provisions would compel President Obama to comply with them in any treaty that he should submit to Congress. Congress has a constitutional prerogative to provide the President advice on treaties. But the President has the choice to accept that advice or not. Any Republican who is delusional enough to believe that President Obama cares what they think at all has not been paying any attention for the past six years.

“Voting to give Obama fast track trade authority based on the slim hope he will follow a non-binding suggestion–when he doesn’t even follow the law as written–is both irresponsible and foolish.”

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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House defunds HUD local zoning usurpation

June 9, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising the House of Representatives for adopting by a 229-193 vote an amendment to the Transportation and HUD appropriations bill by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) defunding implementation of the “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” rule and the “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool,” which when finalized will empower the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to condition eligibility for community development block grants on redrawing zoning maps to achieve racial and income integration:

“House passage of Rep. Paul Gosar’s amendment to the HUD appropriation bill has now defunded Obama administration regulations that usurp local zoning authority. It serves as proof that the power of the purse can be alive and well when Congress chooses to use it. Rep. Gosar showed his commitment to federalism and the people of this nation through his courageous leadership on this issue. We anticipate a vigorous debate in the Senate as the discussion of our nation’s housing policies moves forward.”

Attachments:

Amendment to Transportation and HUD appropriations bill, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), June 3, 2015 at http://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/GOSAR_090_xml.pdf

AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2577, AS REPORTED

OFFERED BY MR. GOSAR OF ARIZONA

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following:

SEC. ll. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the rule entitled ‘‘Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing’’, published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Federal Register on July 19, 2013 (78 Fed. Reg. 43710; Docket No. FR-5173-P-01) or the notice entitled ‘‘Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool’’, published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Federal Register on September 26, 2014 (79 Fed. Reg. 57949; Docket No. FR-5173-N-02).

“‘Fundamentally transforming America’ one neighborhood at a time,’ By Robert Romano November 20, 2014 at http://netrightdaily.com/2014/11/fundamentally-transforming-america-one-neighborhood-time/

“Racial quotas for local zoning decisions?” By Robert Romano, June 6, 2014 at http://netrightdaily.com/2014/06/racial-quotas-local-zoning-decisions/

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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Stop Obama’s assault on the suburbs, vote YES on Gosar Amendment #1

June 9, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging the House of Representatives to adopt an amendment to the Transportation and HUD appropriations bill Rep. Paul Gosar plans to offer (R-Ariz.) defunding implementation of the “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” rule and the “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool,” which when finalized will empower the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to condition eligibility for community development block grants on redrawing zoning maps to achieve racial and income integration:

“Rep. Paul Gosar’s amendment to the Transportation HUD appropriations bill would end an unwarranted intrusion into the local zoning process by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Obama’s America, taking a community development block grant puts a city’s long thought out zoning plan at risk. Those governments that take any portion of those grants must redraw neighborhoods along federal racial and income standards, while residents remain unaware and disenfranchised.

“This is not about low-income housing, it is about federalism and an attempt by the social engineers in Washington, D.C. to impose their will upon over the voice of those most impacted by their arbitrary decisions. Rep. Gosar’s stand for local communities against the tide of Obama’s federal know-it-allism is a refreshing cool breeze in an otherwise stagnant Congress.”

Attachments:

Draft Amendment to Transportation and HUD appropriations bill, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), June 3, 2015 at http://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/GOSAR_090_xml.pdf

AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2577, AS REPORTED

OFFERED BY MR. GOSAR OF ARIZONA

At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following:

SEC. ll. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the rule entitled ‘‘Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing’’, published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Federal Register on July 19, 2013 (78 Fed. Reg. 43710; Docket No. FR-5173-P-01) or the notice entitled ‘‘Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool’’, published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Federal Register on September 26, 2014 (79 Fed. Reg. 57949; Docket No. FR-5173-N-02).

“‘Fundamentally transforming America’ one neighborhood at a time,’ By Robert Romano November 20, 2014 at http://netrightdaily.com/2014/11/fundamentally-transforming-america-one-neighborhood-time/

“Racial quotas for local zoning decisions?” By Robert Romano, June 6, 2014 at http://netrightdaily.com/2014/06/racial-quotas-local-zoning-decisions/

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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