Time for Congress to eliminate U.S. Institute of Peace

Sept. 3, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging the elimination of the United States Institute of Peace as part of Americans for Limited Government’s program to identify wasteful federal spending:

“The U.S. Institute of Peace is a failed, Cold War Era idea. Since its founding, we’ve repeatedly been at war and lost the lives of thousands of U.S. service members. There are dozens of foreign policy think tanks in the United States, and it is doubtful that the closing of the Institute would make any notable difference in U.S. policy. Eliminating funding for the Institute would save $38.6 million next year alone. To get our fiscal house in order, tough budget cuts will likely be needed; but this cut is not a difficult one — and it should be made immediately. Finally, closing the Institute would free up its Washington, D.C. headquarters – which cost taxpayers over $180 million — so that the trophy office building could be sold off to allow for further deficit reduction.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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Brazil, Japan agreements to purchase more corn, ethanol offset China

Sept. 3, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising a new trade agreement with Brazil to purchase more corn and ethanol:

“President Trump’s agriculture trade deal with Brazil to buy more corn and ethanol is a prime example of this President’s ability to offset attacks on our economy by China. Between the corn and ethanol sales to Japan and Brazil, the President is creating new markets for domestic farmers while exempting smaller oil refineries from the devastating impacts of the arbitrary renewable fuel standards. There is no better salesperson for American goods than President Trump.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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As few Americans unemployed in July 2019 as in July 1999 this Labor Day

Aug. 30, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising the historically low levels of unemployment this Labor Day weekend:

“As we head into this Labor Day weekend, Americans should count their blessings at the nation’s unprecedented levels of low unemployment near 50-year lows. In fact, about as few Americans were unemployed in July 2019 as in July 1999, even though there are almost 24 million more people in the workforce today. Happy Labor Day, America.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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Time to adopt the USMCA

Aug. 30, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging Congress to act promptly on the USMCA trade deal as soon as President Donald Trump submits it to Congress:

“As the decoupling with China begins, President Trump is ahead of the curve in securing trade deals with Japan and also Canada and Mexico as supply chains are moved away from China. There’s nothing that China produces that cannot be produced elsewhere. The USMCA is about to be submitted to Congress and is ready to be adopted. It will be a boon for U.S. exporters including agriculture, and addresses labor conditions in Mexico. Plus the currency provisions against competitive devaluation will set a gold standard in terms of shaping future trade deals. It is important that Congress act now and not get caught flat-footed. After more than 25 years of complaining about NAFTA, it’s finally time to do something about it by supporting the new USMCA agreement.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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James Comey is not too big to jail

Aug. 29, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement reacting to the Justice Department OIG report on James Comey’s unauthorized disclosure of classified information:

“Edward Snowden and James Comey’s excuse for the unauthorized disclosure of classified information is that they love their country. Whereas Snowden had to flee to Russia to escape the FBI that Comey was to lead in just a few short months, Comey for his part is demanding an apology from all those who had the audacity to report exactly what he did. If there was any justice, Snowden would have a law professorship at William and Mary teaching ethics and Comey would be wearing orange. Hopefully, Attorney General William Barr will ensure that the faith of the American people in equal justice under the law will be restored by handling this matter like they would any other low-level FBI or government employee or contractor. Comey is not too big to jail.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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Time to end California waiver on fuel economy standards

Aug. 29, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging the Trump administration to end California’s waiver on fuel economy standards:

“The state of California has for too long been provided special treatment on setting fuel economy standards for the nation’s automobiles. These waivers have allowed California to have almost a coercive impact on the vehicles available in the rest of the United States and it’s time for that to end. The Trump administration has wisely put the Obama era demand that manufacturers produce expensive and less safe vehicles on hold. Ironically, many vehicle manufacturers are currently failing to meet the existing standard, let alone one that would require an almost complete retooling of the autos which would be available for purchase. Next week, four car manufacturers will be meeting with California officials to agree on continuing to pursue the Obama CAFE timeline. That is their prerogative. However, the rest of the nation should not be saddled with the less safe and more costly vehicles that will result. While some companies like Volkswagen are busily green-washing their horrific environmental records, the Trump administration’s common sense proposed regulation focuses on consumer needs for safe and affordable vehicles.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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Fed chair Powell must denounce politicization of the Fed

Aug. 27, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement blasting former New York Federal Reserve President Bill Dudley’s urging that “Fed officials should consider how their decisions will affect the political outcome in 2020”:

“The myth of the Federal Reserve’s political neutrality has been busted by former New York Federal Reserve President Bill Dudley’s non-plussed urging of the Fed to take 2020 political calculations into account when setting monetary policy in order to defeat President Trump in the election. Now that the illusion of a politically neutral Fed has been annihilated, President Trump’s recent focus on the failure of the central bank to take into account competitive devaluations by China and Europe to boost exports, and of exchange rates is vindicated. The audacity the non-elected central bank seeking to impact election outcomes and fiscal policies is only exceeded by the 2016 attempt of the nation’s intelligence agencies and Justice Department to stop the election of Trump and their subsequent efforts to unseat him. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell needs to denounce Dudley’s remarks immediately and forcefully if the central bank is to retain any shred of credibility.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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Trump makes right pick with Scalia at Labor Department

Aug. 27, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning, who served as a member of the Donald Trump Labor Department transition team and as member of the George W. Bush administration Labor Department, issued the following statement in support of President Donald Trump’s nomination for the Secretary of Labor, Eugene Scalia:

“Eugene Scalia will be a great Secretary of Labor in the Trump administration. His extraordinary background in employment law, experience in the George W. Bush administration and general temperament will serve the President well as he continues his quest to boost labor participation and enhance employment opportunities among working aged adults across our nation. The Senate should move rapidly to confirm Mr. Scalia’s nomination.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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ALG urges Congress to end the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Aug. 26, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging the elimination of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and beginning the return of lands to the states, localities, and the private sector as part of Americans for Limited Government’s program to identify wasteful federal spending:

“The federal government owns too much land — approximately 640 million acres. This is more land than is contained in the 21 states in the Northeast and the Midwest. In spite of its massive holdings, the government continues to buy more with funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. At the same time, the government cannot properly maintain the land it now owns. In fact, the federal government has a huge backlog of deferred maintenance projects; adding up to more than $11 billion at the National Park Service alone. For these and other reasons, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which currently contains more than $21 billion, should be eliminated, and the federal government should begin returning its lands to the states, localities, and the private sector while using the funds to meet the backlog costs and make our national parks great again.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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U.S. agreement with Japan on corn obviates any need to revisit ethanol refining waivers

Aug. 27, 2019, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement reacting favorably to the U.S.-Japan agreement in principle on trade including to purchase corn:

“A U.S. trade agreement with Japan is long overdue and comes at a critical strategic moment, demonstrating that with long-standing allies there are alternatives to China to be developed. In addition, thanks to Japan’s agreement to purchase $7 billion of U.S. agricultural products, mainly corn, the deal obviates any worries from farm states about a limited number of fuel refiners obtaining waivers from mixing ethanol into gasoline. Building the U.S. relationship with Japan is a strategic imperative and here Trump is showing that it can get done on a bilateral basis to advance U.S. interests and pave the way for a longer term deal.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1 or at media@limitgov.org.

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