ConservAmerica Applauds GOP Senators Upholding Clean Air Rule

June 20, 2012
For Immediate Release


ConservAmerica Applauds GOP Senators Voting to Uphold Clean Air Rule

ConservAmerica, a national grassroots organization of conservation-minded Republicans, applauds five Republican senators who voted today to uphold a Clean Air Act rule limiting emissions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from coal-burning power plants.
 
Senators Lamar Alexander (TN), Kelly Ayotte (NH), Scott Brown (MA), Susan Collins (ME), and Olympia Snowe (ME) were part of a majority that blocked a resolution to overturn the rule.
 
President Ronald Reagan correctly pointed out that the “preservation of our environment is not a partisan challenge; it’s common sense.”
 
“We appreciate Senators Alexander, Ayotte, Brown, Collins, and Snowe for casting principled votes for clean air. Cleaning up pollution that blows across state lines protects the health of American families in downwind states, reduces health care costs, supports jobs, and encourages a diverse mix of energy resources,” David Jenkins, ConservAmerica vice president for government affairs, said.
 
“The five senators are thoughtful conservatives who recognize the value of stewardship and who will not be bullied by out-of-state special interests. We need more like them,” Jenkins added.
 
“All five stood up for the conservative ethic that individuals and companies should take responsibility for their actions. As President Reagan said, laws protecting the environment promote liberty by securing our lives and property against the destructive trespass of pollution,” Rob Sisson, ConservAmerica president, said.
 
“In adopting the mercury rule, EPA was following Congress' direction. The Clean Air Act was both enacted and strengthened with strong Republican support. Senators Alexander, Ayotte, Brown, Collins, and Snowe voting to uphold an important Clean Air Act rule was in keeping with that proud legacy,” Sisson said.

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Jim DiPeso
Policy Director
ConservAmerica

ALG - Snowe, Collins, and Brown Support of Financial Takeover Draws Fire

"Senators Snowe, Collins, and Brown have failed the American people, and have failed to address the true causes of the financial crisis that government was responsible for," —ALG President Bill Wilson.

ALG Blasts New England Republican Senators for

"Failing to Address the True Causes of the Financial Crisis"

July 13^th, 2010, Fairfax, VA—New England Republican Senators Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, and Scott Brown have indicated they will be voting for the Dodd-Frank financial takeover bill, prompting criticism from Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson.

"Senators Snowe, Collins, and Brown, through their support of this bill, are enabling government to perpetuate the easy money and loose lending policies that led to the crisis, to continue too-big-to-fail, and to institutionalize the regime that led to limitless bailouts by taxpayers and de facto government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac," Wilson declared.

Recent polling by Rasmussen Reports indicates opposition to bailouts if "some of the largest banks in the country reach a point where they can no longer meet their obligations," 56 percent favor the government letting them go out of business.  Only 25 percent favor the legislation overall.

"This is precisely the sort of legislation that made America opposed in TARP.  Lawmakers have made the same mistake again, and now they have Senators Snowe, Collins, and Brown to thank," Wilson said.

In a statement, Senator Snowe said, "After thoroughly reviewing the 2,315-page financial regulatory reform conference bill during the July 4 work period, I intend to support passage of the legislation when it's brought before the Senate for consideration."

"Since Senator Snowe has thoroughly reviewed the legislation she intends to support, she is familiar with and agrees with the unlimited bank tax on pages 356 through 364, the racial and gender quotas from pages 441 to 450, and the bailout-takeover fund on pages 347 to 356," Wilson noted.

In Senator Brown's statement of support he said, "While it isn't perfect, I expect to support the bill when it comes up for a vote.  It includes safeguards to help prevent another financial meltdown, ensures that consumers are protected, and it is paid for without new taxes."

"Senator Brown is just plain wrong.  The bill includes an unlimited bank tax that will be passed on to consumers, and addresses not one of the root, government causes of the financial crisis," Wilson said. 

Wilson cited research by former chief credit officer of Fannie Mae, Ed Pinto, demonstrating that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac weakened mortgage underwriting standards and mislabeled high-risk mortgage-backed securities, defrauding investors; that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) lowered down payments on mortgages; and that the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Reinvestment Act regulations and "affordable housing goals" reduced lending standards and forced banks to give loans to lower-income Americans that could not be repaid.  "None of these root causes are addressed," Wilson said.

"The Dodd-Frank bill even prohibits the liquidation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the so-called 'orderly liquidation authority'," Wilson noted, pointing to page 171 of the bill.

Wilson pointed out there would be no audit of the Federal Reserve either, "whose easy money policies accommodated the housing bubble."  He cited research by Stanford economic professor John Taylor stating that "the Fed's target for the federal-funds interest rate was well below what the Taylor rule would call for in 2002-2005. By this measure the interest rate was too low for too long, reducing borrowing costs and accelerating the housing boom."

"Senators Snowe, Collins, and Brown have failed the American people, and have failed to address the true causes of the financial crisis that government was responsible for," Wilson concluded.

Attachments:

"'Down a Rabbit Hole:' The Threat Posed by the Dodd Bill to the Private Sector," Updated June 28^th, 2010, Americans for Limited Government.

"Big Brother is Watching You: The Threat Posed by the Dodd Bill to Privacy," Updated June 28^th, 2010.

Letter to the U.S. Senate, ALG President Bill Wilson, April 26th, 2010.

Daily Grind: Snowe and Collins Can Do It Again

Editorial: Snowe and Collins – They've done it before, they can do it Again
Perhaps no other battle in recent memory has gripped Washington more than the fierce struggle currently being waged over the future of American healthcare.

The Looting of America
Barack Obama is whistling past the graveyard of financial oblivion.

The Jarrett Chronicles Part IV: The Valerie Jarrett Health Care Plan
Jarrett's Habitat Company violated the Family and Medical Leave Act by terminating an ill employee in 2004.

ALG in the News: 'Comparative effectiveness' could cost you your life
The Madisonville Meteor features Liberty Features Syndicated writer and ALG Contributor Victor Morawski's piece on health care.

ALG Urges Senators Snowe and Collins Not to Pull Trigger on "Public Option"

"Senators Snowe and Collins can be heroes if they stop this highly unpopular, budget-busting government power grab.  They are in an historic position to save health care for millions of Americans." – ALG President Bill Wilson

December 9^th, 2009, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today urged Maine Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to oppose the "public option" trigger now proposed by Senate Democrats, a plan that would implement the "public option" based on the insurance company participation in establishing "non-profit" plans.

According to TalkingPointsMemo.com, under the plan "Insurance companies will have the option of creating nationally-based non-profit insurance plans that would offered on the exchanges in every state. However, according to the aide, if insurance companies don't step up to the plate to offer such plans, that will trigger a national public option."

"A vote for a triggered 'public option' is the same as a vote for the 'public option,'" Wilson said.  "Everyone knows the game will be rigged so that the trigger will automatically be pulled later.  The fact is, the Reid proposal authorizes the establishment of the 'public option,' and that is reason enough to vote no."

"Only Senators Snowe and Collins can stop this madness," Wilson declared.  "Now is a time for choosing for Senators Snowe and Collins, with the 'public option' aimed at the American people." 

"They must decide whether they will be the ones who pull the 'trigger' and help the government take over the nation's entire health system.  Or, whether they will stand with the American people and stop the trigger from being pulled," Wilson explained.

In the latest Rasmussen Reports poll, 51 percent of voters surveyed say they oppose the proposed legislation.  Only 41 percent support it.

"This plan will only result in the establishment of the government-run 'public option' that will lose trillions of dollars, ration of health care away from seniors, raise the cost of premiums, drive the American people off of private health options, and bankrupt the Treasury," Wilson said.

A recent Congressional Budget Office study states, "Average premiums per policy in the non-group market would in 2016 would be roughly $5,800 for single policies and $15,200 for family policies under the proposal, compared with roughly $5,500 for single policies and $13,100 for family policies under current law."

The Senate version of the "public option" will start operating at massive deficits starting in 2015, according to an Americans for Limited Government analysis of Congressional Budget Office data.  By 2019, the "public option" will have spent some $361 billion more than it took in via new taxes. 

"Senators Snowe and Collins can be heroes if they stop this highly unpopular, budget-busting government power grab.  They are in an historic position to save health care for millions of Americans." Wilson concluded.