It looks like the Patriot Act is going to be extended for another four years. Both the House and Senate voted to renew some key provisions that were set to expire at midnight tonight. But the truly notable story from today is that of Senator Rand Paul (R-KY).
It started yesterday, when the freshman senator wanted to offer amendments to the legislation, including one to prevent warrantless access to some gun records. Although Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had promised a week of debate and an open amendment process, he chastised Paul, ”The national security of the United States is at stake, and the junior senator from Kentucky is complaining that he has not been able to offer amendments…When the clock strikes midnight tomorrow, we would be giving terrorists the opportunity to plot attacks against our country, undetected.” Paul called this a “scurrilous accusation” and said, ”To be attacked of such a belief when I’m here to discuss and debate the constitutionality of the Patriot Act is offensive and I find it personally insulting.” Then, Reid said, ”It’s hard to imagine why the senator from Kentucky would want to hold up the Patriot Act for a misguided amendment that would make America less safe.” Well, maybe because it would make America more free, which is anything but misguided.
Today Democrats in the Senate agreed to hold votes on two of Paul’s amendments. But Republican leaders tried to stop this, according to Paul because they did not want to alienate supporters of Second Amendment rights by voting down the gun-records amendment. During debate on this amendment, Paul said, “It’s very important that we are always vigilant, that we are eternally vigilant about the powers of government…Are we so afraid that we’re giving up all of our liberty for security?” Sadly, the amendments were defeated, the provisions were renewed, and the legislators left for their Memorial Day recess a few hours later than planned.
Senator Paul, I salute you for your courage. Although you inconvenienced a few people and did not ultimately stop the renewal of the Patriot Act, you succeeded in making individual liberty and the constitution subjects of discussion, and most importantly, what you said was right. Thank you for the work that you do.
Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) just agreed to end his standoff against the temporary extension of unemployment benefits. Bunning has been single-handedly blocking the passage of a 30-day extension of benefits, which expired on Monday. Today, however, he agreed to a deal to pass the bill.
Democrats and even some Republicans have been harshly criticizing Bunning for blocking the legislation. However, I think Bunning was brave for sticking to his principles even if it makes him unpopular. Bunning opposed the $10 billion extension because the government can’t afford it, and its cost was not offset. I agree with him. Although Bunning’s actions resulted in people going for a couple days without unemployment benefits, these people don’t really have the right to complain, because they don’t have a fundamental right to free money that is essentially stolen from other people.
What Bunning’s critics don’t seem to understand is that fiscal responsibility is important. The government has no business passing spending bills if we don’t have the money to pay for them. Right now our national debt is over $12 trillion. We need to cut government spending as much as possible so that we can start to pay off the debt. To increase spending without cutting it elsewhere is just ridiculous, and Bunning is right to oppose it on principle.
So although Bunning ultimately gave up on his quest to block the bill, he sent a strong message: that the government needs to spend less. I think it is a credit to our system of government that it allows one person to stand up for what they believe in, and I admire Bunning for doing so.
On the front page of today’s Boston Globe, next to the story on the Senate passing the health “reform” bill, there was a line that read ”Kirk’s crowning event. B1.” I turned to page B1 to find this story about how great it was that “Senator” Paul Kirk got to help pass the bill that fulfills Ted Kennedy’s dream of expanding health insurance coverage.
So let me get this straight: Kirk’s crowning event was being illegitimately appointed to the Senate by a corrupt governor, with the consent of a corrupt legislature and a corrupt judiciary, so that once Senator Nelson’s and Senator Landrieu’s votes were bought with millions of dollars, there would be enough votes to prevent debate on, and therefore pass, a bill that takes away everyone’s freedom to make their own decisions about health insurance.
Kirk should be so proud! NOT.
I have been so sad about the fact that the Dems seem to have the 60th vote in the Senate for their health “reform” bill that I haven’t been blogging about it. I use quotes because the bill doesn’t really reform anything at all. The only big change is that everyone is required to have health insurance, which is evil and blatantly unconstitutional.
Some pretty messed-up things have been going on:
- The Senate voted for cloture at 1 AM last night. What’s up with that?
- President Obama called the bill “a big victory for the American people.” A big victory for the insurance companies, yes, since everyone will be required to buy their product. A victory for the American people, no. This bill is a huge blow to people who believe in liberty and individual responsibility.
- RNC Chairman Michael Steele (very reasonably and sensibly) said “I am tired of the Congress thumbing their nose and flipping a bird to the American people.” Right on, Steele! But then Harry Reid fired back at him and said…”I’m more worried about an example being set by a party leader with something so obscene.” What is he talking about?? How is it obscene to say “flipping the bird”? Flipping the bird is obscene, but not saying “flipping the bird.” What Reid and the Dems in the Senate are doing, now that’s obscene.
- And of course, it looks like Sen. Ben Lincoln of Nebraska, sold his vote in exchange for millions of $ for his state. Just like Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. Big surprise!
I oppose this bill for one main reason:
The government has no right to require people to buy a product.
Compared to this, I don’t really care whether the bill reduces the deficit, increases the deficit, increases taxes, increases spending, lowers costs, raises costs, hurts the economy, helps the economy, expands coverage to more people, or whatever. For the government to require people to buy a product is just wrong, period.
As you probably know, the Senate is trying to vote on their version of the health “reform” bill tomorrow. If you’ve ever thought about emailing or calling your Senators, now is the time! Tell them that you oppose further government interference in people’s lives, especially forcing everyone to buy health insurance. Google their name to find their official Senate page, which will have contact information and probably a handy contact form. Also try contacting Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, and Joe Lieberman, whose votes may be pivotal in determining whether the bill gets passed. Tell them that the individual mandate is unconstitutional and (if they’re your senator) that you will never vote for them again if they vote for this bill!
