July 11, 2018, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging the U.S. Senate to reject a “motion to instruct” by Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) that would direct conferees on H.R. 5895 to include language that repeals Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962:

“For 56 years, the President and the Department of Commerce have been authorized by Congress to conduct trade investigations and when violations of U.S. trade law such as dumping are found to endanger national security, to punish countries with appropriate tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

“In fact, the overall 1962 act that certain foolish senators now seek to dismantle authorizes the President to reduce tariffs as well as increase them. The power to ratchet tariffs up and down, authorized by Congress, gives the President the appropriate tools to negotiate solutions to trade disputes. This has little to do with restoring Article I powers to Congress. If the instructions in the motion are followed by the conferees, it would create a situation where the President could still unilaterally reduce tariffs, but not increase them, undermining the President’s leverage in trade negotiations, and giving foreign powers an advantage over the U.S.

“President Trump won the 2016 election largely on the promise to get better trade deals for the U.S., winning key Rust Belt states that Republicans had long since abandoned. Politically, this would be a foolish gambit by Senate Republicans, and a slap in the face to President Trump’s supporters who put the GOP over the top in 2016. A U.S. Steel mill in Granite City, Illinois has already been reopened creating hundreds of jobs because of the President’s announced steel and aluminum tariffs, which certain senators now seek to undo.

“The only way to get fair and reciprocal reductions of tariffs is for the President to be able to negotiate from a position of strength. Seeking to weaken the President when he is in the midst of sensitive trade negotiations — while he is overseas no less — undermines the conduct of foreign relations. We call upon Senate Democrats and Republicans to stand with the President on trade and to send a message to the trade cheaters that America will not be pushed around anymore.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1003 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts.

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July 9, 2018, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement reacting to the nomination by President Donald Trump of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to succeed Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court:

“President Trump’s decision to nominate Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his choice to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy is a safe, down the middle of the fairway choice who should be easily confirmed with bi-partisan support.  While the President could have made a bolder choice, Kavanaugh is thoroughly vetted with a decade of D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decisions behind him.

“President Trump has gone through the most transparent process in the history of Supreme Court appointments with the list of potential nominees available to every interested party almost two years in advance of tonight’s choice.

“As a result, the nomination of Kavanaugh is the most pre-vetted in history, and this should make for a quick, open and honest confirmation, so the Supreme Court can get to work with a full complement of Justices for the fall session.

“Kavanaugh says that he believes the separation of powers in the Constitution protects individual liberty. We agree, and he must uphold this promise when seated upon the Court.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1003 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts.

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July 06, 2018, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning, a former Trump Labor Department transition team member, today commented on today’s release of unemployment numbers:

“There is great news in June’s employment numbers. 601,000 more Americans were in the labor force than in May.  While the unemployment rate went up slightly due to this huge number of people either entering or re-entering the job market, it is evidence that increasing numbers of people are becoming convinced that jobs are available and that working makes sense.  Those marginally attached to the workforce has declined by 145,000 over the past year, and the number of discouraged workers has declined by 155,000, showing that the economic growth is restoring hope.

“And the good news is even more apparent as the job growth has occurred in the higher paying areas of manufacturing, mining, construction and health care, while retail has taken a slight dip. These new jobs are not burger flipper positions, but ones that people can make careers out of, and that is the ultimate test of whether our nation’s economic vitality will continue to accelerate.”

Correction: The civilian labor force increased by 601,000, not 413,000.

Attachments:

“Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation Summary” https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1003 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts.

 

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July 03, 2018, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement questioning the decision by the Department of Justice not to charge Imran Awan with theft:

“The decision to give the Pakistani who is the heart of the Congressional IT scandal, where hundreds of thousands of dollars, where taxpayer’s computer equipment went missing and the security of the entire Congressional email system was compromised, a slap on the wrist is a punch in the gut to the rule of law.

“It is unconscionable that the Department of Justice has dropped the ball so thoroughly on this case.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1003 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts.

 

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June 28, 2018, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging cosponsors for the MERIT Act by U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) as the organization flew a banner reading FIRETHESWAMP.COM across the D.C.-Metro area as federal workers commuted to D.C. earning video coverage from Fox 5 DC:

“In this day and age with an unaccountable administrative state, the only way to drain the swamp is to fire the swamp. The MERIT Act mirrors language passed by the House last year reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs, expediting the firing of non-performing federal employees, expanding the process across all departments and agencies. Please contact U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk’s office and join 54 House members in cosponsoring this important legislation.”

Attachments:

“Video: Fire The Swamp banner seen in skies near D.C. part of conservative group’s demonstration,” Fox 5 DC, June 28, 2018 at http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/fire-the-swamp-banner-seen-in-skies-above-dc-part-of-conservative-groups-demonstration

Letter to Congress urging support of H.R. 559, June 28, 2018 at https://getliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/MERITActLetter6-28-18.pdf

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1003 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts.

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June 27, 2018, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for ushering in Trump judicial nominees including Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court:

“Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has been the point of the spear for restoring the constitutional rule of law into our federal courts.  The importance of his ushering Neil Gorsuch through the Senate to the Supreme Court has been made all the more apparent this week with critical decisions on the president’s ability to declare national security risks at our border, the right of public employees to opt-out of union membership and the ending of California’s efforts to force Christian pregnancy providers to advertise abortion services being just three examples of the transformative fruits of Chairman Grassley’s efforts.

“Now with the announcement that Justice Anthony Kennedy will be stepping down, the people of Iowa are truly fortunate to have Chairman Chuck Grassley’s calm, wise leadership at the helm of the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1003 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts.

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June 27, 2018, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in support of Robert Wilkie to serve as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

“Today the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is taking up the nomination of Acting VA Secretary and Under Secretary of Defense and Personnel Readiness, Robert Wilkie to VA Secretary. Since he became Acting Secretary two months ago, Wilkie has demonstrated his commitment to the veteran community by helping persuade Congress to pass the VA MISSION Act, making it easier for veterans to obtain care.

“Wilkie also knows what it is to serve our nation, as he has done in and out of uniform, as he is still in the Reserves. He knows the toll service can take on families. He comes from a long line of service members, including his father, a highly decorated Vietnam soldier wounded three times.

“As Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness, Wilkie oversaw the Military Health System, one of the largest healthcare systems in the country. With over 130,000 employees, over 400 clinics, and over 10 million beneficiaries. Wilkie knows how to run a healthcare system with specific needs for veterans.

“Not only is Wilkie eminently qualified for the position, but he has also earned the endorsement of the major Veteran Services Organizations, something extremely hard to do in today’s environment. The Senate should move quickly to confirm Robert Wilkie as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Now is not the time for political games or obstruction. The VA has serious issues, and Robert Wilkie is the right person at the right time.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1003 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts.

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June 27, 2018, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in support of the T-Mobile-Sprint merger to bolster the nation’s 5G infrastructure:

“The T-Mobile-Sprint merger is an important step toward creating a competitive 5G environment in the United States.  By combining their spectrum resources, this new company will be positioned to compete across the nation in rural, suburban, exurban and urban environments for the Internet of Things economy.  Americans for Limited Government supports the T-Mobile-Sprint merger because it will actually increase competition. Together both companies will be able to fully compete in the new economic environment, which demands massive new integrated capacity and infrastructure to be fully realized.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1003 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts.

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June 27, 2018, Fairfax, Va.–Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising the Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. State, County, and Municipal Employees:

“The Supreme Court’s decision in Janus is a victory for the free speech of public employees everywhere, who will no longer be compelled to pay union dues should they choose not to. Although this decision affected state and local public employees, the Trump administration should immediately remind federal employees of their liberty to opt out of union membership, providing them with the paperwork so that they can exercise their constitutional rights. The Janus decision is just one more step in draining the swamp as it degrades the stranglehold public employee unions have held over state, local and indeed, federal levels of government. To learn more about what you can do, go to FIRETHESWAMP.COM.”

Attachments:

“Janus Decision Likely to Be Good for Government Workers,” By Richard McCarty, June 27, 2018 at http://dailytorch.com/2018/06/janus-decision-likely-to-be-good-for-government-workers/

Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 1003 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts.

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