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Quote of the Day: "Ideas and images in men’s minds are the invisible powers that govern them."

 -- Hans Sennholz

Subject: Great news on the "Enumerated Powers Act"

The "Enumerated Powers Act" (H.R. 1359) would compel Congress to identify their Constitutional authority for every law they pass. It wouldn't stop them from passing bad laws, but it sure would highlight the fact that most of what they do has no Constitutional authority at all.

We pretty much know what they would do. They would have to invoke the so-called "general welfare clause," which is really just the preamble to the Constitution, or the "commerce clause," which was really intended to foster free trade between the states. It would become very embarrassing very quickly, and we could pound them about it constantly.

When we last reported to you the "Enumerated Powers Act" had 47 co-sponsors in the House. Well, now it has 52. But there's even better news . . .

Senator Tom Coburn introduced a Senate version (S. 3159) on June 19th, and 22 out of 100 Senators have already signed-on as co-sponsors. This is an incredible level of support that has come about very quickly.

Why are so many politicians sponsoring legislation that would serve to cast Congress in a poor light?

One possibility is that lots of them really would like to stick closer to the Constitution, but feel constrained by the Congressional leadership and the perverse incentives by which Congress operates. We're not saying this excuses their un-constitutional votes, but it could explain some of them. 

That's why we've crafted proposals such as the "Read the Bills Act," the "One Subject at a Time Act," and the "Write the Laws Act." If we could just change the incentives by which Congress operates, we could also change the outcome. The "Enumerated Powers Act" could be a small but important part of this.

Another possibility might be because you've been asking them to do so! So here's what we need to do now . . .

* If your Rep. or one or more of your Senators is a co-sponsor, please thank them (we've provided a list of co-sponsors below my signature).

* If one or more of your elected representatives is not on the list, ask them to please become a co-sponsor

You can send your message here.

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Jim Babka

President

DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

Here's the list of co-sponsors in the Senate . . .

Sen Allard, Wayne - 6/19/2008

Sen Barrasso, John - 6/19/2008

Sen Brownback, Sam - 6/19/2008

Sen Burr, Richard - 6/19/2008

Sen Chambliss, Saxby - 6/19/2008

Sen Cornyn, John - 6/19/2008

Sen Crapo, Mike 56564 - 6/19/2008

Sen DeMint, Jim - 6/19/2008

Sen Dole, Elizabeth - 6/19/2008

Sen Ensign, John - 6/19/2008

Sen Enzi, Michael B. - 6/19/2008

Sen Graham, Lindsey - 6/19/2008

Sen Grassley, Chuck - 6/19/2008

Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey - 6/19/2008

Sen Inhofe, James M. - 6/19/2008

Sen Kyl, Jon - 6/19/2008

Sen McCain, John - 6/19/2008

Sen Sessions, Jeff - 6/19/2008

Sen Sununu, John E. - 6/19/2008

Sen Thune, John - 6/19/2008

Sen Vitter, David - 6/19/2008

Sen Wicker, Roger F. - 6/19/2008

Here's the list of co-sponsors in the House . . .

Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 3/6/2007

Rep Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3] - 12/5/2007

Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 3/6/2007

Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] - 3/5/2008

Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 3/6/2007

Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 4/24/2007

Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] - 2/13/2008

Rep Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26] - 6/9/2008

Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 3/6/2007

Rep Cannon, Chris [UT-3] - 2/25/2008

Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] - 3/6/2007

Rep Cubin, Barbara - 3/5/2008

Rep Davis, David [TN-1] - 3/27/2007

Rep Doolittle, John T. [CA-4] - 3/5/2008

Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 3/7/2007

Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] - 4/24/2007

Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] - 3/6/2007

Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] - 3/6/2007

Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 3/14/2007

Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 3/6/2007

Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] - 3/6/2007

Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] - 3/6/2007

Rep Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] - 9/7/2007

Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] - 8/1/2007

Rep Hensarling, Jeb [TX-5] - 12/12/2007

Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 3/6/2007

Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] - 12/4/2007

Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] - 12/4/2007

Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 3/31/2008

Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 12/12/2007

Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] - 3/6/2007

Rep Mack, Connie [FL-14] - 12/12/2007

Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] - 3/6/2007

Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 3/6/2007

Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] - 3/6/2007

Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 12/12/2007

Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 3/6/2007

Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 3/6/2007

Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 10/25/2007

Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] - 3/12/2007

Rep Price, Tom [GA-6] - 3/5/2008

Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] - 6/3/2008

Rep Sali, Bill [ID-1] - 12/5/2007

Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] - 5/15/2008

Rep Smith, Lamar [TX-21] - 4/23/2008

Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 4/9/2008

Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] - 5/23/2007

Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] - 4/24/2008

Rep Walberg, Timothy [MI-7] - 3/9/2007

Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 4/4/2008

Rep Weldon, Dave [FL-15] - 5/1/2007

Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] - 3/6/2007

D o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c h

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