“Providing for the common defense” is the federal government’s single most important responsibility as prescribed by the Constitution. It is the cornerstone of our freedom, upon which all other liberties and guarantees rely. Our nation’s ability to protect its citizens must remain the foremost priority for the President and Congress, regardless of political affiliation or public sentiment. This requires providing the Department of Defense (DOD) with the necessary resources to do so. Last week, the House of Representatives passed the Sequester Replacement and Reconciliation Act, designed to ensure those resources … More
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There aren’t many people who justify comparisons to Nelson Mandela, but longtime Burmese political dissident Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the few. For 20 years, Kyi incurred imprisonment, house arrest, and other forms of detention for attempting to bring democracy to the military-ruled Burma. This month, she is free and standing for parliament after erecting a pillar of freedom to her country through her political party, the National League for Democracy. Kyi has won the Nobel Peace Prize and is a powerful example of persevering, peaceful dissidence coming … More
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By Michael F. Cannon
Richard Thaler writes in the New York Times: Justice Scalia is arguing that if the court lets Congress create a mandate to buy health insurance, nothing could stop Congress from passing laws requiring everyone to buy broccoli and to join a gym…Can anyone imagine Congress passing a broccoli mandate law, much less the court allowing it to take [...]
Stop Using Slippery-Slope Arguments? Where Would that End? is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
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By Michael F. Cannon
Today, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) became the latest governor to throw sand in the gears of ObamaCare, issuing an eleventh-hour veto of a bill to create an ObamaCare Exchange in New Jersey. An excerpt from his veto message: While I am unwilling to approve the establishment of a statewide health insurance exchange at this [...]
Gov. Christie Vetoes ObamaCare Exchange — ‘At This Time’ is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
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By Michael F. Cannon
In the Wall Street Journal, Peter Berkowitz says you probably didn’t. And it shows: It would be difficult to overstate the significance of The Federalist for understanding the principles of American government and the challenges that liberal democracies confront early in the second decade of the 21st century. Yet despite the lip service they pay to [...]
Did You Read the Federalist Papers in College? Grad School? Law School? is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
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By Michael F. Cannon
According to WSFA-12 News, Alabama legislators are working on legislation to create an ObamaCare Exchange. But: Governor Robert Bentley [R] will likely veto the bill. “This legislation is premature. The federal government has yet to establish clear guidelines for a health insurance exchange,” said Deputy Communications Director Jeremy King, in a statement to WSFA 12 News. “Also, [...]
Alabama Gov. Vows to Veto ObamaCare Exchange is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
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Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) made the case that the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), passed by the Senate, “oversteps the Constitution’s rightful limits on federal power.” Sen. Lee argued on the Senate floor that “everyone agrees that violence against women is reprehensible.” He went on to make the case that this is an issue better left to the states and not an issue in the constitutional purview of the federal government. Sen. Lee argues that there are three reasons why the VAWA should not have been passed by the United … More
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Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) swore to support and defend the U.S. Constitution upon taking office. The founding document weighs heavily on him with each vote, and it’s the reason Amash is the only member of Congress to justify each of those votes on his popular Facebook page. He’ll speak today at noon ET at The Bloggers Briefing along with Katie Pavlich, author of “Fast and Furious,” a new book about the Obama administration’s gun-walking scandal. Breitbart TV, in partnership with The Heritage Foundation, will air it live. Amash’s approach to … More
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With a handful of words, the Founders set forth a simple principle that protects a central liberty enjoyed by all in this Republic — the freedom of speech, as recognized in the First Amendment. Yet after more than 200 years of history, liberals in Congress — including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) — aim to set that freedom on its head so they can further their efforts to silence their political opponents. The proposal, which is known as the “People’s Rights Amendment,” would amend the Constitution and hold that … More
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By Michael F. Cannon
In today’s Wall Street Journal, Alan Blinder writes one of the most error-ridden and discourse-debasing op-eds I have ever read. About any topic. Ever. A sampling: [O]ur country was founded on the idea that the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable. Access to affordable health care is surely essential to two [...]
Alan Blinder Owes Me $5 for Wasting My Time is a post from Cato @ Liberty – Cato Institute Blog
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