Supreme Court oral arguments begin on Obamacare, ALG responds

March 26, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement on the beginning of oral arguments in the U.S. SupremeCourt on the constitutionality of the Obamcare statute:

"This is one of the most important weeks in the national debate over Obamacare. The oral arguments at the Supreme Court over these three days will give valuable insight into what many of the justices' thinking on the important issues surrounding the law are, including the individual mandate and its severability from the rest of the legislation.

"The fact is the mandate is so thoroughly tied into other parts of the law, that if it is found to be an unconstitutional exercise of the Commerce Clause, the Court may be forced to strike it down in its entirety. Given the hurdles to an outright repeal through Congress, including the ability to reach 60 votes in the Senate, this may be the only opportunity the American people have to get rid of this abominable law.

"The Court is the last line of defense of the Constitution. This is one of those times it must exercise its authority in a sweeping way, to save the American people from the scourge of government-run health care, rationing and intruding on decisions best left to doctors and patients."

For online version: http://getliberty.org/content.asp?pl=10&sl=5&contentid=859 

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

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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.

NHDP - Statement on the Two-Year Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

CONCORD, NH - New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley today released the following statement on the two year anniversary of President Obama's signing of the Affordable Care Act - which to date has helped millions of middle class families, seniors, and young people receive quality affordable health care:

"Two years ago with the stroke of a pen, President Obama achieved what no other president had accomplished for decades - comprehensive reforms that improve access to affordable health care coverage for all Americans and end the worst insurance company abuses," said Buckley. "No longer will insurers be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, charge women more than men for the same coverage, or place a dollar amount on how much coverage a person can receive for essential health benefits."

"President Obama kept his word and because of his tireless commitment to health care reform. Right now, Medicare is stronger for 47 million Americans, women can now get free life-saving preventive services such as mammograms, children won't lose their coverage just because they were born with pre-existing conditions like asthma, and an additional 2.5 million young adults now have insurance because they can stay on their parents' plans until they turn 26 - also at no additional cost."

"For these Americans, President Obama's leadership stands in stark contrast to his Republican rivals, all of whom have said they would repeal this critical legislation if they were to become President. The GOP frontrunner, Mitt Romney, continues to follow an Etch A Sketch strategy to secure the Republican nomination - saying we should repeal health care reform while hoping that voters will forget he signed similar legislation as Governor of Massachusetts. Romney even said at the time that his bill should be a 'model' for national health reform," said Buckley.

"Instead of arguing for strengthening and preserving Medicare, Mitt Romney has decided to embrace the Romney-Ryan budget which would repeal the Affordable Care Act, allow insurance companies to discriminate against consumers again, turn Medicare into a voucher program and increase health care costs on seniors by thousands of dollars. Time and again, Mitt Romney has shown he has no core values and will say anything to get elected - even if it means turning his back on policies he once supported and making seniors foot the bill to cover tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans."

"Thankfully, Americans can count on President Obama and Democrats to stand up for them and their health care-and the Affordable Care Act, which turns two years old today, will ensure that Americans have affordable and reliable access to health care for generations to come," said Buckley. 

Hillsdale College - Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution

Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution Available to you, your family, your friends, and all Americans. Week One Now Available – Sign Up TODAY! Dear Supporter of Liberty, For the first time ever, Hillsdale College is offering a no-cost 10 week online Constitution course based on the course Hillsdale College students must complete, in order to graduate. I am proud to be teaching part of our NEW Constitution 101 Course and hope YOU will be one of my students! Many in our country, particularly those in elected leadership, have strayed from the principles of individual liberty and limited government that the Constitution upholds. That’s why Hillsdale College has launched one of its most ambitious undertakings yet . . . ["Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution"] This course on the U.S. Constitution will be offered online and at no charge to everyone who wants to understand and defend the timeless principles of liberty upon which our nation was founded! "Constitution 101" began on February 20, 2012, and concludes the week of April 30. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE, because it is archived online, you can take each course at your leisure. The course covers such topics as the Declaration of Independence and its connection to the Constitution, how the Constitution is structured to protect individual liberty and ensure good government, the crisis of constitutional government faced by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, and its modern challenges during the "Progressive" era. It is my honor to teach the first class, "Introduction: The American Mind," and the final class, "The Recovery of the Constitution." All of the classes will be taught by Hillsdale College professors — the top teachers in their field and the same ones who instruct our students here on Hillsdale’s campus. Constitution 101 Schedule Introduction: The American Mind Larry P. Arnn Monday, February 20 The Declaration of Independence Thomas G. West Monday, February 27 The Problem of Majority Tyranny David Bobb Monday, March 5 Separation of Powers: Preventing Tyranny Kevin Portteus Monday, March 12 Separation of Powers: Ensuring Good Government Will Morrisey Monday, March 19 Religion, Morality, and Property David Bobb Monday, March 26 Crisis of Constitutional Government Will Morrisey Monday, April 2 Abraham Lincoln and the Constitution Kevin Portteus Monday, April 9 The Progressive Rejection of the Founding Ronald J. Pestritto Monday, April 16 The Recovery of the Constitution Larry P. Arnn Monday, April 23 [Go here to register for "Constitution 101" now] As Hillsdale’s president, I have devoted my life to education, helping students understand the meaning and history of the American founding. Here at Hillsdale, we know that can only come about through a close reading and study of our nation’s founding documents, particularly the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. In recent years, Hillsdale has worked hard to expand its educational outreach, teaching citizens and policy makers (especially members of Congress and their staffs) about the timeless truths contained in our nation’s founding documents. This is a direct response to the way the Constitution is being ignored and violated by our government. After all, the Constitution is the supreme law of our nation, the framework by which our country should be governed. Its principles and structures are responsible for the greatest government in human history. Like you, I see the coming months as pivotal in the history of our country. And I am deeply concerned about the future. Will we as a nation succumb to bureaucratic despotism, or will we take a stand for liberty? The century-old attack on the Constitution, that continues today, has threatened to undermine our hard-won liberties and is reducing American citizens to subservience to an ever-expanding federal bureaucracy. [Please go here to enroll in "Constitution 101"] Our choice of whether to recover the principles of liberty and limited government under the Constitution will determine if we will remain self-governing citizens or become dependent subjects ruled by unelected bureaucrats. That's why Hillsdale College is committed to restoring and reviving the public's understanding of the Constitution, once again making it the central focus of American government. As you probably know—especially if you listen to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, or Mark Levin on the radio—Hillsdale College is one of the few colleges or universities in the country that requires all of its students, regardless of their major, to complete a one-semester course on the U.S. Constitution. Over the years, many Hillsdale friends, even those who never attended college here, have commented to me: "Dr. Arnn, I wish I could take Hillsdale’s Constitution course." In response to these requests, this past year, for the first time ever, Hillsdale College offered a condensed "Introduction to the Constitution" online course at no charge. Frankly, I wasn’t sure what sort of a response a course like this would have. However, more than 180,000 people from all over the United States registered for this program. I was thrilled, not only by the reaction, but at what it indicates: Americans are willing and eager to study and defend the founding principles that made our country so prosperous! This re-awakening of national interest in the Constitution comes not a minute too soon. My Request to You ACTION STEP #1: Be one of the first to sign up for "Constitution 101" by completing the course REGISTRATION form. ACTION STEP #2: Please include the best donation you can make to help Hillsdale College fund this vital project. The course, available at no charge to the public, is not without cost to Hillsdale. The College has already invested much to make this landmark course a reality. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been committed to create and prepare the course for one of the most far-reaching webcasts in our history . . . and to mount a massive email, radio, and mail marketing campaign to enroll an initial ONE MILLION course registrants. To make "Constitution 101" available nationwide will cost nearly $1,000,000. While a monumental expenditure for Hillsdale College, it must be made if we are to reach as many citizens and elected officials as possible during 2012. ACTION STEP #3: Please forward this email to friends and family and encourage them to enroll in "Constitution 101." OUR CHALLENGE With your help, Hillsdale College is dedicated to returning the U. S. Constitution to its rightful place at the center of American political life. If our republic does not reverse course, we may not be able to reclaim the liberty that has been lost, and we will lose the liberty we still have. Hillsdale College has accepted this challenge, and our commitment to making "Constitution 101" available to citizens nationwide is proof. But we need your help to make this possible. . . You know, before coming to Hillsdale, I often wondered how a small liberal arts college in rural southern Michigan could, as Ronald Reagan once described it, "cast such a long shadow." The answer is simple. It can be found in adherence to our motto: Pursuing Truth and Defending Liberty since 1844. This phrase defines the purpose of the College, and gives life to the education we provide our students – and potentially all Americans! That commitment has made it possible for Hillsdale to accomplish what many considered unachievable for a school of our size, including: Proudly publishing Imprimis, a no-cost monthly speech digest that promotes liberty, for 40 consecutive years—now with a circulation of over 2.1 million subscribers; Educating our students independent of any and all government taxpayer subsidy—even in the form of grants and loans; and Establishing our Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in the heart of Washington, D.C. One of its chief purposes is educational outreach to our elected officials and their staffs on the principles of American constitutionalism. Hillsdale College has worked tirelessly to safeguard the principles of liberty by educating citizens about the Constitution. [Go here to register and donate] And Hillsdale has done it all without a dime of taxpayer subsidy. In order to protect the integrity of its mission and prevent intrusive government regulation, Hillsdale College accepts no taxpayer funding whatsoever. We are proud to remain steadfast in this policy at a time when almost every other institution of "higher learning" is increasingly dependent on government support. Thank you for supporting the mission of Hillsdale College. Before I close, I would like to ask you please to consider honoring Hillsdale with a special gift to support the vital work of Hillsdale College at such an important time in our nation's history. Your generosity at this critical time will not just help underwrite the cost of making "Constitution 101" available nationwide. It will also support all the other ways that Hillsdale College educates Americans to be defenders of liberty and self-government. MY GIFT FOR YOU In appreciation of your donation of $100 or more, I will send you a complimentary copy of my new hardbound book. Its title is: THE FOUNDERS' KEY: THE DIVINE AND NATURAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DECLARATION AND THE CONSTITUTION AND WHAT WE RISK BY LOSING IT In this book I explain the unique connection between America's two most important documents, how that connection has been severed today, and why we must repair it for the sake of freedom. If your gift is $500 or more, you become eligible to have your name (or the name of a loved one you would like recognize) engraved on a brick on the Liberty Walk located on the Hillsdale campus. But even a gift of $25 will help ensure that Hillsdale can continue to reach millions with the message of liberty via Imprimis . . . educate our elected officials and their staffs at our Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship . . . run Hillsdale-sponsored events and lectures in cities all across America . . . and continue to educate the next generation of leaders without federal or state government subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants and loans. Your gift will help make it all possible. And for that I am grateful. [Please go here to donate] For liberty to prevail, Americans must come to understand and defend the Constitution. And they must do so urgently. Please help Hillsdale College educate citizens on how to revive the Constitution and preserve America's tradition of individual liberty and limited government. Thank you for supporting Hillsdale College. Yours for liberty, Dr. Larry P. Arnn President Hillsdale College P.S. PLEASE REMEMBER to do these three important things: Make the most generous tax-deductible contribution you can afford. And remember, as thanks for your gift of $100 or more, you will receive a copy of my new book, The Founders' Key. Enroll NOW in our new "Constitution 101: the Meaning and History of the Constitution" online course. Forward this email to any of your friends or family who you think would enjoy Constitution 101. Thank you so much for standing with Hillsdale and the Constitution . . . and for doing everything in your power to defend liberty in America in 2012.

Heritage: Great New Tools To Promote Liberty

February 24, 2012

Instead of reacting to the disastrous policies of this administration by shaking our heads or pulling our hair, we should get behind our allies who have jumped into action to develop tools to educate Americans about how to get our republic back on track. Our movement is strong and growing, and I'd like to hear what you and your organizations are up to.

We the People: A Project of the State Policy Network (SPN)

In order for Americans to defend the free market and our nation’s founding principles they need to understand them better, and Americans are ready to learn. The site will feature lessons on founding principles, the rule of law, and free markets.  The site's Action Center features a speakers' bureau and state-by-state directory of liberty-minded organizations.

New Movement Stirs Revival of Constitutional Understanding

Patrick Henry College Founder Michael Farris has launched the Constitutional Literacy Project aimed at educating Americans on how to revive the government of our founding fathers and in so doing preserve our liberty and remain free. Watch the first professionally filmed lecture in the 25-part video series by clicking here.

Solyndra: A Lesson in Green Hypocrisy

Bankrupt solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC, the "green" company that got $535 million in tax money, has abandoned efforts to clean up its toxic waste dump,  saving the company thousands of dollars. Incidentally. Solyndra will pay its workers $368,500 in bonuses. What priorities!

Higher Gasoline Prices Are Deliberate

Obama Energy Secretary Dr. Chu summed up why the president feels that "energy prices must necessarily skyrocket" when he said, "Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe." The Foundry blog produced a video that highlights the administration's half-truths about oil and gives five recommendations for providing relief at the pump.

US Authorities Prevent the 45th Terrorist Attack on US Soil

A 29 year old young man attempted a suicide attack on the U.S. Capitol. The attempt marks at least the 45th known attempted U.S. terrorist attack since 9/11, according to this Heritage report.  At a time when the world faces increasing threats from terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and radical regimes the DoD is seeing its budget slashed by approximately $1 Trillion over ten years. To see how your community will be effected by the cuts visit the Coalition for the Common Defense's Economic Impact Reports.

ALG calls for investigation of attorneys who backed Obama's unconstitutional recess appointments

Feb. 23, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) has submitted a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) asking it to investigate the attorneys who provided the legal justification for Barack Obama's unconstitutional recess appointments.

The complaint — submitted to the DOJ's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) — requests that Assistant Attorney General Virginia A. Seitz and other attorneys at the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) be investigated for their roles in drafting a January 6, 2012 memo that retroactively justified Obama's appointees to the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) and the recently-created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

"The Obama administration is deliberately trampling on the Constitution in an effort to advance its radical anti-free market agenda," said ALG President Bill Wilson. "This isn't just an abuse of power — it's an unconstitutional usurpation of power.  All Americans should condemn Obama for the contempt he is showing for the rule of law — and the Justice Department attorneys who aided and abetted this usurpation must be held accountable for violating their oaths."

According to the ALG complaint, the DOJ memo authored by Seitz "leaves no practical constraints on the appointment power of the President, regardless of whether the Senate considers itself in recess or not.  The memo also utterly ignores the constitutional right of the Senate set its own schedule and rules." 

To view the complaint, click here.

"Obama is stripping the legislative branch of its constitutional prerogative so that he can continue to appease his union allies," Wilson said. "It's one thing for him to continue rewarding the labor leaders who bankrolled his election, it's something else entirely for his administration to violate the Constitution in the process."

There is legal and political precedent for the OPR to conduct precisely the sort of inquiry that ALG is requesting. In fact the agency spent several years investigating former Justice Department attorneys John Yoo and Jay Bybee regarding the advice they provided former president George W. Bush on enhanced interrogation tactics.

Attachments:

ALG complaint to DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility, Feb. 10, 2012, at http://netrightdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/OPRComplaint02-23-12.pdf

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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.