‘Co-sponsoring this legislation is the world’s biggest no-brainer’

Fairfax, Va. – Representative Jeff Duncan (R-SC) along with Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) have introduced legislation to remove Major League Baseball’s (MLB) federal antitrust protection in response to their hyper-partisan decision to move the 2021 MLB All-Star game and draft out of Atlanta, Georgia.

Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning issued the following statement today urging every member of Congress to co-sponsor the legislation:

“Americans for Limited Government supports ending the absurd exemption that Major League Baseball has from our nation’s antitrust laws, and every Member of Congress should immediately co-sponsor this important reform.

“Co-sponsoring this legislation is the world’s biggest no-brainer as the anti-trust exemption stems from a 1922 Supreme Court case where it was granted because Major League Baseball was viewed as a game rather than a business.  Ninety-nine years later, MLB has morphed into a business supported by a game with corporate advertising, licensing deals, broadcast rights, and taxpayer funded stadiums being primary drivers of the thirty cartel members (franchises).

“The value of these teams varies widely based upon their location and broadcast rights and stadium deals but the lowest valued (Miami Marlins) is still worth a billion dollars and the most valuable (New York Yankees) is worth nearly five billion dollars.  This cartel engages in profit sharing where both national broadcast rights fees are distributed, visiting teams get a portion of the ticket sales generated by their appearance, and those teams which exceed a set total player salary amount pay into a fund which is distributed to the teams which pay the least in salaries.  Additionally, the League negotiates with a players union without any fear of outside competition for player services by a competitive league due to the anti-trust exemption.

“Politics aside, there is no reason for Major League Baseball to retain this special exemption that only they enjoy and every American should embrace re-establishing competition into the marketplace of what was once America’s pastime.”

Currently, Lee, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Antitrust Subcommittee has been joined by Cruz, Hawley, Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) as original co-sponsors.

On the House side, Rep. Duncan has secured 29 original co-sponsors: Jim Jordan (OH), Ralph Norman (SC), William Timmons (SC), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Austin Scott (GA), Jody Hice (GA), Buddy Carter (GA), Rick Allen (GA), Andrew Clyde (GA), Chip Roy (TX), Louie Gohmert (TX), Randy Weber (TX), Brian Babin (TX), Pete Sessions (TX), Lance Gooden (TX), Paul Gosar (AZ), Andy Biggs (AZ), Jerry Carl (AL), Barry Moore (AL), Dan Bishop (NC), Yvette Herrell (NM), Greg Steube (FL), Mary Miller (IL), Claudia Tenney (NY), Scott Perry (PA), Rick Crawford (AR), Lauren Boebert (CO), Burgess Owens (UT), and Bob Good (VA).

Americans for Limited Government is urging Americans to contact their Member of Congress and support legislation to remove MLB’s antitrust exemption.

To take action, click here.

Fairfax, Va. – President Joe Biden today called for so-called red flag laws to prevent gun violence. These are laws that would put law-abiding Americans and members of law enforcement at risk.

Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning issued the following statement in opposition to Biden’s latest gun control push:

“Eleven months ago, America was stunned with violent riots in many of our cities after the shooting of Breonna Taylor.  Now the Biden-Harris administration is pushing for the Justice Department to expand so-called red flag laws, which will expand police late night raids on homes of people of all colors justified solely by the allegation that they have a firearm and they are dangerous.  Breonna Taylor died because the Louisville Police Department believed there was a dangerous suspect hiding in the house, causing the early morning raid and the ensuing tragedy.

“On September 23, 2020, candidate Joe Biden issued a statement on the case saying, ‘We know what is necessary. We need to start by addressing the use of excessive force, banning choke holds, and overhauling no-knock warrants.’

“A little more than six months later, President Biden’s red flag directive would expand the use of no-knock warrants and the likelihood of violent exchanges against people who have done nothing wrong and haven’t been afforded the opportunity to confront accusers in a court of law – a fundamental precept of our legal system.

“It is almost as if Biden not only doesn’t remember the name of Breonna Taylor, but has forgotten the very lessons that he lectured the rest of the country that needed to be learned. Of course, anyone surprised by this hypocrisy from the current occupant of the Oval Office hasn’t been paying attention for the past three months.”

For media availability, contact Catherine Mortensen at 703-478-4643 or cmortensen@getliberty.org.

 

Arizona first in the nation to formally oppose Pelosi’s vote rigging bill in Congress

Fairfax, Va. – Arizona has become the first state in the nation to formally oppose HR1/S1, Nancy Pelosi’s vote rigging bill.   In addition, Arizona is the first legislature to pass a ban on private funding of the administration of elections, something Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg did in 2020 through the Center for Technology and Civic Life.

Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning issued the following statement today in support of both Houses of the Arizona State Legislature passing  HB2569 and HCR2023.

“Americans for Limited Government applauds Arizona lawmakers for their bold action to protect election integrity. After the widespread voter fraud in last November’s presidential election, it is vitally important that we improve election security to restore faith in our elections moving forward.

“By denouncing HR 1, Nancy Pelosi’s Democrat vote-rigging bill, Arizona lawmakers are sending Congress a clear message that the state will not sanction election fraud.

“State Rep. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) deserves special praise for spearheading this action, which we hope will serve as a model for legislators around the country.”

House Concurrent Resolution 2023 opposing HR1/S1 does not need the governor’s signature. Lawmakers will send a copy immediately to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Sen.  Mark Kelly (D-AZ), all members of the Arizona congressional delegation, and all speakers/presidents of the other 49 legislatures.

HB2569 now heads to the governor. The governor has 5 days to sign or veto the legislation. If he takes no action it becomes law at the end of the 5-day period.

HB 2569: Prohibits private funding of elections activities.

HCR 2023: A concurrent resolution opposing HR1 in the US Congress.

For media availability, contact Catherine Mortensen at 703-478-4643 or cmortensen@getliberty.org

Janet Yellen Has No Authority to Set Global Corporate Tax Rate

Fairfax, Va. – Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is proposing a minimum global corporate tax rate, to avoid, what she called, “a race to the bottom on corporate tax rates.” It is part of President Joe Biden’s broader proposals to raise U.S. corporate taxes from 21 percent to 28 percent. Yellin said, “We’re working with G20 nations to agree to a global minimum corporate tax rate that can stop the race to the bottom.”

Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning issued the following statement in reaction to Yellen’s announcement:

“Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s attempt to unilaterally create a minimum corporate tax around the world reveals a breathtaking ignorance of the separation of powers in the Constitution. The power of taxation is vested in Congress, according to Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. What’s more, one Congress cannot bind a future Congress when it comes to setting tax rates. Yellen has neither the power to impose a tax rate, nor the ability to create a long-term deal unless it is within the context of a treaty which must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Senate.

“The idea of setting a minimum tax rate for corporations will not stop corporate flight from high tax countries. One would think the treasury secretary would be busy printing money to cover the Biden spend-orama rather than seeking to make deals she doesn’t have the power to make.”

For media availability contact Catherine Mortensen at 703-478-4643, or cmortensen@getliberty.org.

By caving to Woke Left, MLB proves it is ‘past it’s time’

Fairfax, Va. – In reaction to the announcement today by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to move the MLB all-star game from Atlanta to protest Georgia’s new voter integrity laws Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning issued the following statement:

“Major League Baseball’s decision to stand against basic voter integrity laws in this nation is tantamount to taking strike three with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. After last year’s decision to kneel to the Marxist movement Black Lives Matter, today’s announcement ends baseball’s status as ‘America’s Game.’ Americans for Limited Government urges fans to make the New York City-based commissioner’s decision a deciding factor on whether to spend entertainment dollars with a sport which believes there should be more ballot integrity for all-star game voting than for electing state and national officials. Mark April 2, 2021 as the day when the national pastime decided to go past it’s time.”

Americans for Limited Government led a national email campaign to urge Commissioner Manfred and team owners to stand up to the Woke Left and keep the all-star game in Atlanta.

For media availability, contact Catherine Mortensen at 703-478-4643 or by email at cmortensen@getliberty.org.

Time for Congress to end ‘trillion dollar splurges’

Fairfax, Va. – Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in reaction to the March unemployment figures released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“If Congress needed any more proof that the 91 percent of the recently passed $1.9 trillion spending bill that did not deal with health care needs should be pared back with all money not already spent rescinded, today’s employment report ends any argument.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys taken in mid-March show what any sentient person already knew, continued opening of the economy produces massive job gains.

“This confirms, once again, that this is nothing more than a continuation of the Trump recovery with the major gains directly attributable to the former president’s push to re-open the economy.  The emergency is over, and the spending-drunk Democrat Congress needs to stop throwing around trillion dollar splurges and begin budgeting again.”

From the BLS report:

“Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 916,000 in March, and the unemployment rate edged down to 6.0 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. These improvements in the labor market reflect the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Job growth was widespread in March, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, public and private education, and construction.”

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For media availability contact Catherine Mortensen at 703-478-4643, or email at cmortensen@getliberty.org.