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| April 28, 2018 | View Online |
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April 23
Global Trade Accountability Act: Regardless of where you might be on the issue of tariffs, it’s my bet that most everyone would agree on how clearly the Constitution vests this responsibility in the Congress. Let me say that again. Whether you want more tariffs, fewer tariffs, or no tariffs, the Constitution is explicit in Congress being the one to decide these matters. In fact, the first tax Congress imposed was a tariff...the Tariff of 1789, which was a base tariff of 5% on most imported goods. This raised money to pay for the federal government and pay down what in retrospect was a miniscule national debt. Yet Congress’ role in tariffs over the years has eroded, and we have increasingly morphed into something of an imperial executive branch on a whole host of matters, whether the White House is occupied by a Democrat or a Republican. Congress has let too much power and authority slide from its corner to the role of executive branch, though the power to tax was indeed vested with the Congress by the Constitution. Federal authority over trade matters has transferred from congressional hands into executive ones in a drip drip fashion. For example, the Reciprocal Tariff Act of 1934 gave the president the power to negotiate bilateral trade agreements, while the Trade Act of 1974 gives the executive broad authority to impose tariffs in several instances - such as when responding to other countries’ unfair trade practices. Congress shouldn’t have to assert its authority in this arena, but that’s now the case. As already mentioned, the Constitution is quite clear that Congress has the power to impose tariffs. Yet modern history is filled with examples of the executive branch imposing tariffs without Congress’s approval...or even a congressional debate. For this reason, I recently signed on as an original cosponsor of the Global Trade Accountability Act, which Congressman Warren Davidson introduced. This bill would require congressional approval for all executive branch trade actions, including imposing tariffs. This is a simple and effective way to reassert and revert to the Constitution’s underlying balance of power intended by the Founding Fathers. United States Senator Mike Lee introduced the Senate version of this bill last year and wrote an op-ed on its importance, which I thought was compelling and worth your taking the time to read. It’s posted here.
April 24 Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act: I’ve long been a proponent of school choice. I’ve taken this stand because I’ve been in countless classrooms over the years and seen most vividly how different and unique every student is. Jenny and I raised our four boys and loved them equally, but each one is different and they even learn and absorb information differently based on their God-given talents and attributes. School choice itself is nothing more than a tool to speed the rate of innovation and change. It’s for these reasons that I signed on as a cosponsor of Congressman Jim Banks’ Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act.... Click here to read more...
April 25 Salmon, Hydropower, and the Endangered Species Act: During my entire time in politics, I’ve consistently fought against and voted against special use legislation. In many cases, the intent of this type of legislation is well meaning and may even deliver in measurable good - but if one believes in the themes of equality under the law, this type of legislation is harmful. In other words, if you’re going to fix a wrong, fix it in a way that applies to all who have been harmed...not just one industry, business, or circumstance. This bill in essence carved out one power system without curing the same ill for other power systems in this country. That’s not a way in which we should advance legislation, and so accordingly I voted no. The bill passed 225 to 189. Let me get into the weeds here on the specifics of this particular measure that we voted on today. The bill, H.R. 3144, would exempt federal hydropower projects in the Pacific Northwest from a court ordered review of its salmon mitigation plans under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).... Click here to read more...
April 26 Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act: Too often, well-intended bills in the House or Senate wind up giving advantage to those connected to government...which in the end from my perspective erases any good intentions that may have existed in the bill. Such was the case this week on H.R. 5086, or the Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2018. It would allow recipients of federal small business research and innovation grants to participate in something called the “Innovation Corps” program, run by the National Science Foundation. That sounds innocuous and well intended enough, and for that reason, the bill passed 379 to 16. Unfortunately, when you look under the hood, it does indeed give advantage to those connected to government grants above and over those just out there struggling and advancing an idea on their own. For this reason, I voted against it. So here’s the simple math on this bill. If you get money from a federal grant, hopefully your idea is sound and its benefits and findings speak for themselves. What you shouldn’t get on top of that is what this bill did, which is an advantage in marketing your idea over other ideas.... Click here to read more...
April 27
Sanford on FAA Reauthorization:
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