Friday, September 18, 2009

Foxx Comments On Our Constitution

The following is from a press release from NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.

Foxx: Constitution “is a resilient and timeless charter”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today is the 222nd anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution, also known as Constitution Day. U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx made the following statement on the occasion of Constitution Day:

“More than two centuries ago 39 patriots put their names to a document that changed the course of history. This document chartered a lasting experiment in democracy and put our nation on the path to becoming the world’s strongest and freest democracy.

“Our Constitution remains the foundation of our unique system of government and individual liberty. It is a resilient and timeless charter. It is a towering achievement in the cause of freedom. It is, above all, a monument to America’s founding ideals.

“As a member of Congress it is an honor and sacred duty to protect and uphold the Constitution. I hope that many Americans will find the time this week to read our Constitution and be reminded of our many freedoms, of the genius of checks and balances and of the privilege it is to be an American.”

Note: The Constitution can be read online at the National Archives’ web site. Any 5th District constituent who would like a hard copy of the U.S. Constitution can contact Foxx’s office at (866) 677-8968.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Foxx Cosponsors "Czar" Legislation

The following is a press release from NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.

Foxx cosponsors legislation to rein in unelected “czars”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today announced that she is cosponsoring legislation (H.R. 3226) to re-establish Congress’s constitutional role in the presidential appointment of government ‘czars’. Since taking office, President Obama has appointed dozens of powerful administration officials, popularly known as ‘czars’, outside the Senate confirmation process established by the Constitution.

“In the past eight months the Obama administration has appointed more than 30 czars with power over every conceivable area of government and very few have gone through the constitutionally mandated Senate confirmation process,” Foxx said. “Congress must reclaim its oversight role in the confirmation process of high-ranking administration officials.”

“As the recent dust-up over President Obama’s green jobs czar shows, transparency and accountability matter,” Foxx said. “I believe that every President should be advised by the best and brightest our country has to offer. But I am concerned that the proliferation of unaccountable czars threatens to undermine our system of checks and balances.”

H.R. 3226, the Czar Accountability and Reform Act cuts off funding for czar positions which have not been subject to Senate confirmation. To date the Obama administration has appointed ‘czars’ with authority in areas from bank and auto bailouts to technology and energy policy.

Note: Foxx penned an op-ed several weeks ago about the proliferation of so-called ‘czars’ in American government over the past several decades and what this development signals about the growth of government.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Foxx On Healthcare

The following is a press release from NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.

Foxx on healthcare: Americans “fed up with Washington’s tin ear”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC05) made the following statement before the House of Representatives today, calling on Congress to pursue healthcare reform that puts patients, not big government, first:

“Mr. Speaker, it was a long, hot August for many members of Congress who returned home to face the displeasure of constituents fed up with Washington’s tin ear syndrome.

“Over the past month I have heard from more people than I can count who have had enough of the explosion of Washington-style big government. And of course it was no comfort that in the middle of August the White House announced that they expect $9.1 trillion in new government debt over the next ten years.

“So how is it that the American people are expected to stomach a new government-run healthcare proposal that is estimated to cost up to $1.6 trillion?

“Let’s scrap the current government-run healthcare proposal and return to the drawing board for a plan like ones Republicans have offered that put patients, not government, first.”

Click here for video/audio of Foxx remarks.

Observations On Our American Government

Allow me to share with you a few important observations about our American government. This is not meant to be in-depth and all-inclusive. It is shared with the hope that it will enlighten the reader and encourage more participation in our American government!

1. All men are endowed by God with unalienable rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I must stress that these rights are God-given and are not distributed or granted to us by the government.
  • "We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness... " Declaration of Independence
  • "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." Amendment IX
  • "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Amendment X

2. Men cede to government some of their natural rights in order to give government its powers. Government only has the powers given it by the people.
  • "...governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed... " Declaration of Independence
  • "Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers." The Federalist #2

3. Our government's role is to secure our unalienable rights.
  • "...all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men..." Declaration of Independence
  • "Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint." The Federalist #15
  • "A wise and frugal government...shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement...This is the sum of good government." Thomas Jefferson (1st Inaugural Address)

4. Our government is accountable to the people and the people are to hold the government in check.
  • "In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government..." The Federalist #51

Based on these and other writings from our founding fathers, I am of the firm conviction that our government was designed to be a small and limited government. Our founders did not see a government that dispensed our every need. They saw our government as securing our rights as individuals to pursue life, liberty and happiness.

Cross-posted at www.backtotheconstitution.org