ALG praises D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals for overturning NLRB poster ruling

May 8, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government General Counsel Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement praising a ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals for overturning a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that had compelled employers to hang a Board-mandated poster not explicitly provided for under law:

"The court made the right decision here, finding the Board cannot make the failure to post a Board-mandated poster an unfair labor practice because, among other reasons, the Board could not make an employer's speech advising employees that they do not have to join a union an unfair labor practice.  Also, because the poster requirement had no basis in the statute itself, the court ruled the Board cannot just make up what it deems to be an unfair labor practice and then compel employers to abide by their arbitrary definition.

"The court also tossed the tolling provision in the rule and held that because the Board wouldn't have promulgated the rule without those provisions that the rest falls also.  Two judges would have gone even further to hold that the Board lacks the statutory jurisdiction to promulgate the rule in the first place.

"Interestingly, the court in dicta called into question whether the recess appointment of Craig Becker to the Board was legitimate, assuming without deciding it was constitutionally invalid. But since even without Becker, there was still a Senate-confirmed quorum of Board members, his recess appointment was not at issue in this case. For other cases, however, that likely will not be so.

"All of which underscores the foolishness and arrogance of the White House in making these so-called recess appointments to the Board in the first place — as well as to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — when Congress was not even in recess. We expect more rulings will come down in this direction and never again will a president be able to imagine a congressional recess into existence."

To view online: http://getliberty.org/alg-praises-d-c-circuit-court-of-appeals-for-overturning-nlrb-poster-ruling/

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Americans for Limited Government is a non-partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms, private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website at www.GetLiberty.org.

ALG urges amendment to 'Full Faith and Credit Act'

May 8, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government Vice President of Communications and Public Policy Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging the House of Representatives to amend prior to acting on H.R. 807, the "Full Faith and Credit Act":

"The Full Faith and Credit Act is based on very good intentions, which is to avert default and meet essential obligations should the statutory debt limit be reached. This in turn will insulate Congress from coercive political pressure from the White House to increase the debt ceiling under duress when there was enough revenue to cover the bulk of obligations. To be clear, that is a great idea that we wholly support.

"Unfortunately, even if Congress preferred that the White House handle payments prioritization beyond debt payments as they are constitutionally empowered to do, the bill does not even minimally bother to explicitly authorize and commit the President to doing so. Just look at how sequestration was implemented with air traffic control when specific guidance was not provided on how to manage the FAA's accounts. Assuming good faith from this White House should the debt ceiling be reached to properly handle payments prioritization based on a broad reading of current law is not a sound financial decision. We already know what Obama will do.

"The current proposal will not stop Obama's political fear mongering. It covers debt held by the public and debt held Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Disability Insurance Trust Fund that finance Social Security benefits. It says nothing about the $325 billion of treasuries in the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Supplemental Insurance Trust Fund that helps pay for Medicare. Why not?

"Nor does it instruct the President on how to prioritize existing revenue. To insulate Congress from the accusation it is ditching Grandma and the troops, this legislation must provide a wider range of prioritization, expanding on the Toomey proposal in the Senate that also encompasses Social Security and active duty military payments, but going even further to also include Medicare and veterans' benefits.

"Out of the $2.7 trillion of annual revenue the White House expects in 2013, only about $420 billion, or $35billion monthly, will go to paying gross interest on the debt. In addition, there would also be enough revenue to pay out Social Security ($812 billion), Medicare ($504 billion), defense ($652 billion), and veterans' benefits ($80.8 billion), with nearly $250 billion left over to pay for other essential items. We urge the House to amend the proposal to provide these protections.

"If the House GOP leaves the option of prioritization to the White House, Obama will easily claim, even if it is untrue, that he lacks the authority to prioritize other payments. Then, he will make payments on debt service to the stated trust funds and to the public, but deny payments to the other trust funds and essential services. Congress will get blamed for not providing more explicit instructions.

To view online: http://getliberty.org/alg-urges-amendment-to-full-faith-and-credit-act/

Attachments:

"What is the GOP's debt ceiling strategy?" by Robert Romano, ALG Senior Editor, May 8, 2013 at http://netrightdaily.com/2013/05/what-is-the-gops-debt-ceiling-strategy/

"Republicans taking default off the table" by Robert Romano, ALG Senior Editor, April 24, 2013 at http://netrightdaily.com/2013/04/republicans-taking-default-off-the-table/

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Americans for Limited Government is a non-partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms, private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website at www.GetLiberty.org.

ALG urges McConnell filibuster to stop Obama Labor pick Perez

May 8, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government General Counsel Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement urging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to wage a filibuster against Obama's choice to head the Labor Department, Thomas Perez:

"It is encouraging that Senator McConnell has weighed in so heavily in opposition to Mr. Perez' nomination saying in a release today that Perez is a 'committed ideologue who appears willing, quite frankly, to say or do anything to achieve his ideological ends. His willingness, time and again, to bend or ignore the law and to misstate the facts in order to advance his far-left ideology lead me and others to conclude that he'd continue to do so if he were confirmed to another, and much more consequential, position of public trust.' We agree.

"There is simply no place in any Administration for a Cabinet official who has demonstrated total disregard for both the law and the Congress.  Americans for Limited Government thanks Senator McConnell for his strong statement and urges him to use all the powers of his office including the filibuster, if necessary, to lead the Senate in rejecting Thomas Perez as the next Secretary of Labor."

To view online: http://getliberty.org/alg-urges-mcconnell-filibuster-to-stop-obama-labor-pick-perez/

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Americans for Limited Government is a non-partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms, private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website at www.GetLiberty.org.

ALG's Daily Grind - What is the GOP's Debt Ceiling Strategy?

May 8, 2013

What is the GOP's Debt Ceiling Strategy?

The debt ceiling suspension ends on May 19, but what do Republicans want?

Sarah Palin's Unheeded Example for the GOP

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Obama's Labor Dept Green Jobs Chief Resigns

Jane Oates had come under fire for the alleged mismanagement of the Job Corps program which was forced to freeze enrollments for three months due to overspending budgeted funds. 

Has the Conservative Party Learnt any Lessons from Ukip's Success?

"There has been a groundswell in the big world – the neglected majority of conservative voters has moved on"

ALG's Daily Grind - Thomas Perez: Too Radical for Labor

May 7, 2013

Thomas Perez: Too Radical for Labor

In his capacity at the Justice Department, Thomas Perez tried to force the New York Fire Department to hire applicants who failed the written exam because he didn't like the racial composition of those who passed.

Cartoon: Cinco de Blameo

Obama's blame tour continues.

Establishment Beware: Lessons From the UK Elections

UK Independents surge to 23 percent of popular vote in British local elections, promise to challenge Tories and Labour in 2015. Is this a warning from across the pond to Republicans?

Woodhill: The Real Story Behind Friday's Unimpressive Unemployment Rate Decline

Trouble: "The number of people with full-time jobs fell by 212,000, while 382,000 Americans took part-time jobs, thus producing the reported 170,000 gain in total employment (which includes everyone who worked at all)."