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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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February 28th, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today urged passage of a bill by South Carolina State Representatives Bill Sandifer and Dwight Loftis that would allow the manufacture and purchase of incandescent light bulbs in South Carolina that are subject to a federal ban that begins to take effect in Jan. 2012.

“State Representatives Sandifer and Loftis are taking the lead in protecting the rights of South Carolina consumers, who don’t want the federal government telling them which light bulbs they must use,” Wilson said.

“The basic concept of the bill is to allow the citizens of South Carolina to be able to continue to buy incandescent light bulbs,” said State Representative Bill Sandifer, Chairman of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.

“It is my strong belief that the feds have overstepped the Tenth Amendment, and now are venturing into telling us what kinds of lighting we can have in our homes,” Sandifer added.

But how can the federal government ban light bulbs? “They are trying to use again as they have so often done, the Commerce Clause. But I have a real problem with Big Brother intruding in how I live in my home,” Sandifer declared.

Explaining what the bill does, Representative Loftis said “it provides for the option of an entity manufacturing these bulbs in South Carolina to be sold in South Carolina”.

Wilson explained, “since the bulbs would be made entirely in South Carolina and sold in South Carolina, the federal government has no power to regulate it under the Interstate Commerce Clause.”

Sandifer said that there would be more hearings at the subcommittee level before it comes up for a final vote in his committee. He is hopeful for full House approval for the bill.

Loftis blasted the federal ban on incandescent light bulbs, saying, “On the one hand, the feds say we need to do something about cleaning up the environment, and on the other hand, they impose requirements that we use this particular light bulb that has hazards with the disposal of it.” The new fluorescent bulbs are laced with mercury, raising concerns over the costs of proper disposal and over mercury seepage back into the environment.

“All in all, it’s just something that the feds really I think have no business in regulating,” Loftis said, saying that the supposed cost savings from using the bulbs simply will not be there for consumers.

Loftis said that passage of the bill may depend on how environmental groups respond to it. “What side are they going to take?” Loftis asked. “Are they going to take the side of clean disposal? Or are they going to take the side of potentially putting some of the hazardous materials in the landfill or back out into the environment?”

Wilson said the issue came down to protecting the rights of consumers to be free to make their own choices, saying, “The government is attempting to micromanage our decisions as consumers. The federal government has no power to tell South Carolinians, or any citizen, what types of lighting they are allowed to use. Representatives Sandifer and Loftis deserve the support of their constituents to help overturn this tyrannical dictate by the federal government to use unsafe, mercury-laced bulbs.”

Wilson concluded, “Thomas Edison would be turning over in his grave if he knew that his invention, one of the greatest in human history, was being banned.”

The federal legislation effectively banning incandescent light bulbs, the “Energy Independence and Security Act,” was enacted in 2007.

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

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February 24th, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement praising committee passage of HR 1593 in Oklahoma that would bring an end to a state mandate that municipalities that have more than a 35,000 population must engage in collective bargaining with public employees:

“Rep. Steve Martin is taking a reasonable step, offering legislation that gives municipalities the option of whether or not they wish to engage in collective bargaining with public employees. There is no reason the state of Oklahoma or any government should be requiring as a matter of law that such arrangements take place. That should be up to the municipalities, not politicians in Oklahoma City.

“We praise the General Government Committee for moving the bill to the floor of the House by a vote of 9-7. Now the full body can determine whether they ought to be forcing municipalities into collective bargaining arrangements that have resulted in unsustainable public pension and health-care liabilities across the country. The time for action is now to rein in the excessive costs of government.”

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

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February 23rd, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement condemning 14 Wisconsin State Senators for fleeing the state to avoid a vote on Governor Scott Walker’s proposal to end collective bargaining for public pension and health care benefits:

“The 14 Senate Democrats have engaged in a gutless move to flee their state rather than vote up or down on Governor Walker’s proposals to balance the budget. At a bare minimum, they shouldn’t be paid. But if a quorum cannot be reached to work on budget matters, which requires 20 members be present, then Senate Republicans will have to consider other options.

“The Wisconsin Senate, of course, could move forward with a quorum of 17 to pursue legislation minus any budget items. They should put a straight right-to-work law on the table, which would give all workers in the state the option of whether they want to join a union or not. They could move it to the floor and have it on the calendar, and then adjourn for a day. The delinquent 14 Senate Democrats would probably come scurrying back rather quickly to try to defeat the measure.

“But if they did not, Senate Republicans could be even more aggressive with more legislation: lower Medicaid eligibility requirements, saving the state tens of millions of dollars, roll back authorizations for entire departments, enact a sunset rule on all regulations issued by the state government, and require that all regulations that affect more than 50 people be approved by the state legislature. These are all items Senate Democrat would want to be there to try to stop.

“Ultimately, these 14 faithless senators need to get back to work on the budget. If Senate Republicans move aggressively, the ‘Delinquent 14’ can be made to meet their obligations.”

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

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February 18th, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today praised Alaska Governor Sean Parnell for joining with Florida Governor Rick Scott and Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to follow the ruling by Federal Judge Roger Vinson striking down ObamaCare as unconstitutional.

Governor Parnell yesterday announced that “We will not proceed down an unlawful course to implement this law. The court’s declaratory judgment that the federal health-care law is unconstitutional is the law of the land as it applies to Alaska.” Parnell said implementing the voided law would violate his oath.

On February 16th, ALG had sent a letter to Governor Parnell and 27 other state governors a party to the Florida and Virginia suits, plus New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, urging them to take immediate action against the implementation of new regulatory processes forbidden by Judge Vinson’s ruling. Wilson thanked Governor Parnell for “doing the right thing.”

“This is the correct response by the states, which have no power in any event to follow a law declared unconstitutional by the courts,” Wilson said of Governor Parnell’s action. “It is the Obama Administration that has lawlessly implemented this law in spite of the Judge Vinson’s ruling. They have not taken the basic step of seeking an appeal or a stay. They are pretending they cannot comprehend what Judge Vinson meant when he declared the law unconstitutional.”

Wilson said that without a ruling specifically overturning Judge Vinson’s ruling, it “was the law of the land that both the states and Obama must follow.”

According to Bloomberg News, Alaska’s move allowed it to “skip a deadline to apply for a grant that federal officials say is needed to develop exchanges where residents would be able to buy medical insurance under the new health-care law.”

By withholding their cooperation, Wilson credited the states with prompting the Obama Justice Department to yesterday return to court to ask Judge Vinson to clarify his ruling. According to the Wall Street Journal, Department spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler said the agency filed the court motion “to confirm that the court did not intend to disrupt the many programs currently in effect, including small business tax credits, the millions of dollars in federal grants awarded to states to help with health care costs and other ongoing consumer protections while this case is on appeal.”

Wilson called the Justice Department’s move a “diversion,” saying the Justice Department was stalling for time. “They did not file a motion for a stay because that would be admitting that they knew Judge Vinson’s ruling was binding in the first place. Now it’s up to Judge Vinson to clarify that his ruling strikes down every single regulation being implemented pertaining to the law.”

According to ALG counsel Nathan Mehrens, the states have 14 days to file an opposition to the Justice Department motion.

ALG Research Director Don Todd explained the states’ options, “The Plaintiffs can file an opposing motion but they are not required to. They were asked to join this motion but did not. Whether there is enough cohesion among them to ask Judge Vinson to hold against all ObamaCare regulations is open to question.”

Wilson agreed, saying, “There has been a level of dissension between the various states about the best way to proceed in light of Judge Vinson’s ruling. Luckily, the Obama Administration flinched and went to court first. Now, it is very clear that the states will argue that the initial ruling strikes down all ObamaCare regulations.”

According to the Associated Press, “A spokeswoman for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said Vinson’s ruling indeed does mean the states need not move forward with the health overhaul. Vinson ‘clearly stated’ that the order equaled an injunction, Jennifer Meale said in an e-mailed statement.”

Wilson praised Bondi’s “dedication to ensuring Administration compliance with Judge Vinson’s ruling.”

In Wilson’s Wednesday letter to the governors, he had urged the states to return to court. “I urge you to ask Judge Vinson to find the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in contempt for violating his ruling and seek an order to desist from any further actions relating to the unconstitutional act,” he wrote.

Wilson had cited a new ObamaCare regulation published in the Federal Register affecting student health plans as evidence that the Obama Administration was continuing with implementation of the voided law, demanding action by the states to seek further relief from the courts.

“Now, the states have no other choice,” Wilson said, concluding, “They must ask Judge Vinson to clarify his ruling, which was already as plain as day, and argue that the new regulatory processes must not continue. We thank Governor Parnell and others for taking the lead to oppose Obama’s unlawful action to proceed with implementing the voided law.”

Attachments:

ALG Letter to 29 Governors, February 15th, 2011 at www.getliberty.org/files/ObamaCareImplementationLettertoStates2-15-11.pdf.

“New ObamaCare Regulations Defy Court, ALG Urges States to Take Immediate Action,” February 11th, 2011.

“Obama Defies Judge, Implementation Continues,” February 7th, 2011, ALG President Bill Wilson.

“The Week Ahead Analyzes Judge Vinson’s Ruling,” Video News Segment, February 1st, 2011.

“Judge Stops ObamaCare, but Who Will Stop Obama?” February 2nd, 2011, by Robert Romano, Senior Editor, Americans for Limited Government.

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

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