Government Regulation
More on Government Regulation
Long ago, Jefferson warned, “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.” The exceptions to that rule have been few and far between recently, and ought to be celebrated when they occur.
One did this past week with the announcement that supporters of the so-called “Stop On-Line Piracy Act” and the “Protect Intellectual Property Act” have indefinitely postponed their measures after an unprecedented protest across the Internet.
Congressman McClintock has introduced H.R. 3544. The legislation offers litigatory reforms for local communities. The Congressman discussed the legislation in a House floor speech on December 1, 2011:
The Plunder of Colfax
In the Sierra Foothills in northeastern California lies the little town of Colfax, population 1,800, with a median household income of about $35,000.
In the Sierra Foothills in northeastern California lies the little town of Colfax, population 1,800, with a median household income of about $35,000.
Over the past several years, this little town has been utterly plundered by regulatory and litigatory excesses that have pushed the town to the edge of bankruptcy and ravaged families already struggling to make ends meet.
Today the House will consider HR 822, a long-overdue measure to assure that states recognize the concealed weapons permits issued by other states.
This very simple measure has unleashed a firestorm of protests from the political left. I noted one polemicist, who obviously has not read the Constitution, fumed that this is a Constitutional violation of states’ rights enshrined in the tenth amendment.
House Chamber, Washington, D.C. February 15, 2011
M. Speaker:
Last year I voted to extend the PATRIOT Act for one year. I regret that vote and was glad to have been able to correct it, although I am pained that the House voted otherwise yesterday.
During this past year, I have become convinced that the provisions of the so-called PATRIOT Act are an affront to the Bill of Rights and a serious threat to our fundamental liberty as Americans.
House Chamber, Washington, D.C. January 6, 2011. M. Speaker:
I rise to express the hope that historians will look back on the 112th Congress as the session that restored American prosperity – and to express my strong agreement with the new leaders of this House who have declared that every action of this body must be measured against this goal.
We speak of “jobs, jobs, jobs,” but jobs are a product of prosperity. And prosperity is the product of freedom.
M. Speaker:
This lame duck session is rapidly descending into farce. I believe this House is now in danger of becoming a caricature of everything the American people rejected in November: incompetence, arrogance, and a complete detachment from reality.
Nearly two months ago, the American people said very clearly they don’t want this Congress legislating for them any longer. And instead of graciously and humbly accepting the public’s verdict, the Democratic leaders seem intent to thumb their noses at the American people.
House Chamber, Washington, D.C. December 21, 2010. Mr. Speaker:
On November 2nd, the American people spoke loudly and clearly: stop the spending.
Instead of graciously bowing to the public will, the Left has embarked on a frantic lame-duck spending spree with a majority already turned out of office by the voters.
First, they exacted another $136 billion in spending as the price to prevent a devastating tax increase on New Year’s Day.