Tag: Jason Chaffetz

As far as Accountability in his Contract for the American Dream Congressman Chaffetz lists our sitation as:

Americans have lost confidence in their elected leaders and the direction of the country as a whole. We are being governed by a “nanny state” mentality that is blanketing the country with the misconception that the government can and should solve all problems.

He envisions the goal as:

Imagine an atmosphere of personal responsibility where individuals took control of their future and worked hard to improve their lives. Restoration of confidence in the government is possible through true openness and transparency in all facets of government operations.

To achieve that goal he proposes:

• Fire the Czars and adhere to the procedures under the Constitution requiring Senate confirmation for such leadership positions.
• Apply all laws equally to Congress.
• Require Committees to post all proceedings on the Internet within 24 hours. Allow 72 hours for Bills and Conference Reports to be publicly online prior to a vote on the House Floor.
• Prohibit Members of Congress serving on Appropriations and Ways & Means from seeking earmarks.
• Require that 100% of all campaign donations be filed with the Federal Election Commission for public review.
• Attack the rampant waste, fraud, and abuses in Medicare and Medicaid.
• Deny the passage of “card check” and participate in labor law reform.
• Ensure that E-Verify is fully deployed and mandatory for hiring an employee.

My thoughts on his steps toward the goal:

• Sounds more like a sound bite than an real effective step in the right direction.
• What does this mean?
• This couldn’t hurt.
• This would make those committee assignments much less desirable but if the rest of our Representatives can still seek earmarks little will have been accomplished.
• I like it.
• Vague.
• Vague.
• I’m not sure that E-Verify is all that it is cracked up to be. I fear that it will be more expense than value.

On Limited Government in his Contract for the American Dream Congressman Chaffetz lists our situation as:

The government is omnipresent in our lives, restricting our basic liberties. The proper role of government is a strictly limited one. We recognize that the States created the federal government. The federal government did not create the States. Further, it is not the government that will create jobs, wealth, or propel the United States of America to reach its fullest potential. It is the American people who will drive America forward.

He suggests that our goal should be:

Imagine a federal government that recognized it could not solve every problem. Imagine a government focused instead on the most important federal roles, such as national defense. Individuals should have the freedom to succeed or fail in this country. It is not the government’s role to stand in the way of either outcome or to choose winners and losers.

To achieve this goal he recommends:

• Repeal TARP and commit to no more “stimulus” bills that are merely a ruse to grow government.
• Appoint a bi-partisan “Sunset Commission” to identify at least 100 federal departments or programs recommended for elimination by December 31, 2011.
• Reduce the corporate income tax to a flat 10%. This will eliminate the wide array of corporate loopholes, incentivize business in the U.S.A., and simplify the tax code.
• Reject the “Cap & Trade” scheme and repeal all EPA funding related to carbon policy.
• Sell back to private ownership the three million acres of federal land identified under the Clinton Administration as having no federal purpose.

My thoughts on those steps is as follows:

• No more stimulus is a great idea.
• A bipartisan commission would only identify 100 departments by having half the commission identify at least 49 departments or programs and then trade those with the 49 other “crucial” departments or programs identified by the other half of the commission as recommended for elimination. Added to the two departments or programs that the majority could honestly agree on they would scrape together the recommended 100 – none of which will actually get eliminated. Mmmm, sausage.
• As I said before, a flat tax rate without loopholes allows the private portion of the economy to act with more confidence.
• All of our government “green” legislation and policies are more political than scientific. It’s too bad that our government can’t stick to facts and let opinions sort themselves out instead of the other way around.
• The government should sell off any federal land that has no federal purpose.