Thanks Boehner and McConnell for “leading the opposition during the first two dark years of the Obama presidency.”

November 3rd, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today thanked the American people for “doing their parts in the midterm elections to begin the process of rolling back the big spending of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s Congress.”

“The American people have spoken, and because of their efforts, House Republicans and a growing number of Senate Republicans have been offered a second chance to bring the nation’s fiscal house into order,” Wilson said.

“But the work is not over with a mere election,” Wilson added. “Now, the American people must hold the new Congress accountable for their pledges to pay down the debt, repeal ObamaCare, create jobs, and end the bailouts once and for all.”

Wilson urged tea parties and other citizen activists “to continue their patriotic efforts rein in what has been an unaccountable government, and to hold them responsible for what happens next.”

Wilson said the early indications are “favorable,” praising House Republican Leader John Boehner’s statement today, “Our pledge is to listen to the American people, and to focus on their priorities, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Boehner, in a joint press conference with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour outlined what he viewed as “the people’s priorities: creating jobs, cutting spending, and reforming the way Congress does its business.”

“It’s not just what the American people are demanding, it’s what they are expecting from us,” Boehner added. “The real question now is this: Are we going to listen to the American people?”

McConnell said that Democrats “may have missed the message” of the elections. “I get the impression that they’re thinking — their view is that [Republicans] have not cooperated enough. I think what the American people were saying yesterday that they appreciated us saying ‘no’ to the things that the American people indicated they were not in favor of.”

McConnell put the pressure back on Democrats and the White House: “So, I think the group that should, hopefully, get the message out of yesterday’s elections is our friends on the other side of the aisle. We hope that they will pivot in a different direction.”

Wilson said he thought Boehner and McConnell “struck the right tone.” In an oped published this morning, Wilson wrote that the two Republican leaders “deserve praise for leading the opposition during the first two dark years of the Obama presidency.”

Wilson oped continues, “It was not a foregone conclusion that Republicans would unite against the $812 billion ‘stimulus’, ObamaCare, the Dodd-Frank financial takeover, and the Waxman-Markey cap-and-tax. But they did, and it gave the American people confidence that they had representation — that they had a voice.”

Wilson urged Republicans to “continue their principled opposition to the Obama statist agenda.” He said that a key battle would be the budget: “House Republicans have an opportunity to present their budget to the American people, and to the Congress for consideration. They should balance it and set the stage for fulfilling their pledge to pay down the debt.”

Wilson said the new Congress would “need the American people’s help,” concluding, “Although the election is over, the work has just begun for the American people, to hold this new Congress accountable to the highest possible standard. They want Congress to rein in government from its excesses, and now their voices must be louder than ever.”

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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November 3rd, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement condemning the Federal Reserve’s planned purchase of $600 billion of treasuries over the next eight months:

“The Federal Reserve’s reckless program to purchase $600 billion of treasuries over the next eight months is taking the U.S. into uncharted waters, where the nation’s central bank will be the largest holder of the national debt in the entire world next year. The Fed already holds $834 billion of treasuries, and was already on pace to have over $1 trillion in treasuries by August, 2011, more than China, Japan, or any other foreign creditor.

“With another $600 billion on top of the Fed’s expected trillion-dollar stake in the debt, the signal we are sending to the world is that to pay for our obligations is to print a ton of new money. In the next three years alone, $5.2 trillion of debt will be coming due. In addition, the Obama Administration plans on increasing the debt another $3.6 trillion over that same period. That means that the Treasury has to sell $8.8 trillion of debt over three years, or $2.93 trillion every year.

“$2.93 trillion a year is more than the Treasury has ever had to sell. Approximately $630 billion more than it has ever sold. So it is little surprise that now the Fed is coming out saying it is buying another $600 billion of treasuries. This action by the Fed has nothing to do with ‘a stronger pace of economic recovery,’ as the central bank claims. It has everything to do with the fact that we are broke, and we’re printing money to pay the bills.

“It is up to the newly electedCongress to rein in Washington’s unsustainable fiscal trajectory so that the possibility is eliminated of further Fed purchases of the debt. Otherwise, they will be signing up to have the U.S. triple-A credit rating downgraded, and will preside over the decline of the nation as an economic superpower. Spending must be cut, and the Fed has to be reined in and audited. The very solvency of the Treasury is in danger, and only Congress can reverse course and begin to pay down the debt, before it is too late.”

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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October 29th, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement demanding a special prosecutor be appointed to investigate whether $32 million of loans given by Bank of America to the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee were illegal campaign contributions, as reported by Pajamas Media:

“It appears next to no collateral was put up by the Democrat committees that received $32 million in loans from the Bank of America, calling into question whether these ‘loans’ were actually illegal campaign contributions from a bank that has benefited from Democrat rule of government. The collateral offered by the DNC was a donor list, which are tough to appraise on their own, but if the $15 million credit line to that committee was not based on an independent appraisal of the list, it was an illegal contribution from a bank holding company. As for the DCCC $17 million loan, the collateral is unspecified.

“Thus far, the Bank of America has not confirmed there were any independent evaluations of the collateral submitted by the Democrat committees, despite responding to the Pajamas Media story at length.

“Particularly, given the recent pressure placed on the Bank of America over proper foreclosure documentation, it is perfectly reasonable to ask if these were actually pay-to-play loans to call off a potential government moratorium on all foreclosures?

“It is now up to a special prosecutor to be appointed to subpoena all of the relevant records, call witnesses to testify, and prosecute any infractions of campaign finance law. Bank holding companies have too cozy a relationship with the nation’s central bank to be allowed to turn around multi-million dollar sweetheart loans to incumbent political party committees. This is above all heinous since the Bank of America has been on the receiving end of tens of billions of dollars of bailouts from taxpayers and the Federal Reserve.”

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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October 29th, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement in response to the latest 2 percent GDP growth estimate by the Bureau of Economic Analysis:

“If the trillion-dollar stimulus plan passed, the Obama Administration promised there would be 3 percent growth in 2010, and unemployment would not rise above 8 percent. Instead, growth is only an anemic 2 percent and joblessness remains persistently high at 9.6 percent, marking the worst period of high sustained unemployment since the Great Depression. Now, the Administration’s only apparent plan is to print another $2 trillion in 2011 to finance unsustainable government spending and help roll over the $13.67 trillion national debt which nobody wants to buy. This, too, they call ‘stimulus,’ but really, it’s the destruction of the U.S. dollar.

“The fact is, if spending is not reined in now, and we continue running trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see, the Treasury will have to sell $2.93 trillion of treasuries every year for the next three years, more than it has ever had to sell. That represents $2.93 trillion that could be invested in the economy, but is instead going to finance government spending and debt service. Government largesse is crowding out potential private sector investment in a useless paper trade that misallocates resources away from the real economy.

“Meanwhile, the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts are set to expire at year’s end, which will mean a $300 billion automatic, annual tax increase on all Americans, particularly job creators, who are desperately needed at this critical juncture. Moreover, there is over a $1 trillion in private capital sitting overseas that will not be repatriated because the Obama Administration all but eliminated the foreign income tax credit this year. Instead, there should be no tax on profits earned overseas; we should be encouraging businesses to reinvest here.

“Right now, the Obama Administration through its fiscal and monetary policies is doing everything in its power to discourage private sector investment. Coupled with the vast tax increases and regulatory regimes imposed by ObamaCare and the Dodd-Frank financial takeover bill, is it any wonder the economy is still stuck in the mud? Government needs to get out of the way.”

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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October 26th, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement in response to news reports that voters in Boulder City, NV found that Harry Reid’s name was automatically checked off on the ballot:

“It is positively outrageous that in Clark County, Nevada, the SEIU Local 1107, which supports Harry Reid, controls the ballot boxes by contract through their representation of the voting machine technicians. It is not surprising that Senator Harry Reid’s name was automatically checked off on the ballot when individuals went to vote.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Nevada State Attorney General, and the U.S Marshalls need to act now to ensure that the SEIU does not continue to compromise the integrity of ballots in Nevada, and anywhere else in the country. The democratic process is too precious to be tampered with and abused.”

Attachments:

The SEIU, Harry Reid, And Voting Problems, by Adam Bitely, NetRightDaily.com Editor-in-Chief, October 26th, 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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October 25th, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today renewed his call for members of Congress to cosponsor legislation by Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO) that would defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the parent company of National Public Radio.

So far, only 19 House members out of 435 have signed on as cosponsors for HR 5538, all House Republicans. “19 cosponsors is not nearly enough,” said Wilson. “The budget will never be balanced, and the $13.6 trillion debt never paid down, if members cannot cut unnecessary spending from the budget like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.”

“House members need to show the courage of their convictions, and cosponsor Representative Lamborn’s bill to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” Wilson added.

In an exclusive interview with Americans for Limited Government, Lamborn said he needs the help of the American people to persuade members to sign on. “People need to contact their congressmen and say ‘Cosponsor HR 5538 to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’,” Lamborn said.

Lamborn blasted NPR over the firing of Juan Williams: “We see now with the Juan Williams fiasco that they’re not a neutral news organization. They have a left-leaning bias.”

Lamborn continued, “But even more than that, even if they were neutral, 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?”

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 which does not treat all sides fairly.”

ALG launched a national petition drive last week 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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October 22nd, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government today praised House Republican Leader John Boehner for calling for an end to taxpayer funding of public broadcasting in the wake of National Public Radio (NPR) firing news analyst Juan Williams.

In an interview with National Review Online, Boehner said, “Washington is borrowing 37 cents of every dollar it spends from our kids and grandkids. Given that, I think it’s reasonable to ask why Congress is spending taxpayers’ money to support a left-wing radio network — and in the wake of Juan Williams’ firing, it’s clearer than ever that’s what NPR is.”

“We need to face facts — our government is broke,” Boehner added.

With a $13.6 trillion national debt, and the Obama Administration proposing to raise it by approximately $1.06 trillion every year for the next ten years, ALG’s Wilson is emphatic about getting the nation’s balance sheet in order. He believes public broadcasting is the right place to start.

“If Congress cannot cut public broadcasting when we must balance the budget, it cannot cut anything,” Wilson said, adding, “John Boehner is right. We are broke. The real reason behind QE2 is that the Treasury could be facing approximately a $630 billion shortfall in treasuries auctions every year for the next three years. If we can barely pay the bills as is, why are we borrowing and printing money to pay for luxuries like public broadcasting?”

Wilson called for “an immediate end to funding for public broadcasting that has not already been disbursed” and renewed his call for members of Congress to cosponsor legislation by Representative Doug Lamborn that would defund it permanently. Currently, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting receives about $420 million annually from taxpayers in the federal budget.

Wilson said that the Juan Williams firing “reveals the real, radical agenda behind public broadcasting,” adding, “Williams’ discriminatory firing is a perfect, perhaps prime reason why there shouldn’t even be public broadcasting. The government has demonstrated time and again that it is an intolerant force with no ability nor willingness to respect alternative viewpoints.” Wilson noted that Williams was fired “merely for expressing his opinions.”

In an interview with FOX News’ Bill O’Reilly, Williams said “when I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they’re identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.”

Wilson noted that Williams “is entitled to his honest opinion. In the same interview, his broader point was that you had to distinguish between Muslims of faith and terrorists killing in the name of religion. He was explaining in an honest way his own personal struggle to overcome fear in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to make that point. For that, he was fired.”

“Williams was not even on NPR when he said it. How could he violate their so-called ‘editorial guidelines’?” Wilson added. Writing for FOXNews.com, Williams called it “a chilling assault on free speech. The critical importance of honest journalism and a free flowing, respectful national conversation needs to be had in our country. But it is being buried as collateral damage in a war whose battles include political correctness and ideological orthodoxy.”

Williams added, “I say an ideological battle because my comments on ‘The O’Reilly Factor’ are being distorted by the self-righteous ideological, left-wing leadership at NPR.”

“NPR has engaged in blatant viewpoint discrimination,” Wilson explained. “They are more like a limited public forum than an agency with strict communications guidelines for who can speak for the agency, because they are a public broadcaster. They are obligated under the First Amendment to allow and tolerate alternative viewpoints. They cannot fire somebody simply over a matter of personal opinion.”

Wilson said that Williams “could sue under the First Amendment for discriminating on the basis of his viewpoint, but that may be besides the point.”

Wilson concluded, “This is censorship of the first order by a public agency. Given their track record, I’m not even going to pretend that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting could ever be reformed to be viewpoint neutral. They are a radical, ideological propaganda unit, and Congress has a responsibility to cut off their funding. They are discriminating against honest journalists, and taxpayers should not be compelled to finance its ideological, one-sided political agenda. Besides, we cannot afford it.”

Background:

“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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October 19th, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today urged members of Congress to “reject a $1 trillion omnibus spending package planned for the lame duck session, and to instead return spending levels to 2008, pre-bailout, pre-‘stimulus’ levels.”

“While members of Congress keep saying ‘yes’ to more unsustainable spending, ‘yes’ to more earmarks, and ‘yes’ to more special favors for special interests, the American people are saying enough is enough,” Wilson said.

Wilson demanded that members of Congress and candidates “tell voters what their position on this $1 trillion spending bill is — before the election takes place. The American people have a right to know if candidates support bankrupting the nation further, because the final vote will not be until after the election.”

Congress has failed to pass a budget for the 2011 fiscal year, and the federal government instead is operating on a continuing resolution that expires December 3rd. The lame duck session begins on November 15th.

“After the election, Congress will have about a week to force another trillion dollar spending bill down the throats of the American people. It’s up to members to stand in the way, and demand a real budget that finally downsizes this bloated, indefensible budget,” Wilson noted.

“This Congress couldn’t do a budget in one year, now they want to do it in one week. The American people need a real budget process that carefully examines the nation’s priorities, cognizant that there are finite resources to go around. Printing and borrowing another trillion dollars to finance Congress’ spending addiction is not an option,” Wilson said.

For 2010, the budget deficit was over $1.3 trillion, and the national debt has now risen to over $13.6 trillion. The annual budget currently stands at over $3.5 trillion.

“No more trillion dollar spending bills,” Wilson declared. “This is one of the things that has the American people infuriated with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid’s Congress.”

House Republicans have proposed a return to 2008 spending levels in their “Pledge to America.” Wilson said that the GOP proposal is “a good start. We need to return to a regular budget that eliminates TARP, ends the GM, Chrysler, Fannie, and Freddie bailouts, and puts the failed ‘stimulus’ out of its misery.”

“At a bare minimum, that is where we must start, but we harbor no illusions. It’s not nearly enough,” Wilson warned, saying the nation was risking defaulting on its debts.

“It is time for Congress to restore fiscal sanity to Washington, before it’s too late. We are facing a likely downgrade of our credit rating, and may ultimately default on our obligations. Congress needs to take a pair of scissors to the budget and finally cut things out that we don’t need,” Wilson explained.

“Barack Obama wants to grow the national debt by $1.06 trillion every year for the next ten years according to his own proposed budget. Only Congress can stop him from bankrupting our great nation,” he added.

Wilson concluded, “The American people cannot afford to find out what happens if Barack Obama is handed another blank check by this Congress.”

Background:

“U.S. Credit Rating Deserves to Be Downgraded,” ALG President Bill Wilson, August 30th, 2010.

“The Futility of Printing Money,” ALG President Bill Wilson, October 7th, 2010.

“The $15 Trillion Debt Cap,” ALG President Bill Wilson, September 19th, 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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