Remember HR 554? That's the measure that would require the text of non-emergency legislation be placed on the Internet at least 72 hours in advance of a vote. Want to know what's happening with HR 554? Nothing. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is working to ensure that nothing continues to happen by keeping the bill languishing in committee. There's a way around that, though, and Let Freedom Ring has found it. It's called a "discharge." With a sufficient number of signers, a discharge petition will remove a bill from a committee and force it directly to the House floor for a vote.

With a campaign entitled "We the People Can Read," Let Freedom Ring is campaigning for more Representatives to sign on to a discharge petition for HR 554. When you visit the Web page set aside for this purpose, you'll learn more about HR 554 and you'll see a list of House members and their current status where the discharge petitionis concerned. You'll also find a list of talking points as well as contact information for your own Representative. Only 36 more signatures are needed as of this writing.

All too often we're not aware of even the salient points of bills until it's too late. HR 554 would give everybody—activists, interested parties, even politicians—both the time and the wherewithal to see just what a "yea" or "nay" vote would really mean. Only those politicians who don't want us to know what's happening could fail to support HR 554 and the mechanism needed to get it to the floor for a vote. And any politician who doesn't certainly deserves to have his constituents kow he prefers to keep them in the dark! Make your phone calls urging your representative to sign the discharge petition and then vote in favor of HR 554 today! 11-15-09

Downsize DC advises that "last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee set aside Russ Feingold's JUSTICE Act, which would have amended the PATRIOT Act to protect civil liberties." Then it went ahead and weakened an already bad bill even further. Analysts note that "several safeguards found in the JUSTICE Act are not in the new bill," and that proposed amendments that would have protected authorities from broad powers under what we were told would have a clear focus have been removed.

As of now, the Senate Judiciary's bill (S. 1692) hasn't yet passed the full Senate. But an even greater opportunity to address these wrongs lies in the House. In what is likely a surprise to many of his supporters, President Obama hasn't been supportive of much change in the Bush administration policies so many lamented were anti-civil liberties. That means it's up to us to encourage Congress, most notably the House, to make those much needed changes by introducing and passing the JUSTICE Act and/or by modifying the USA PATRIOT Act to include real protections for innocent Americans.

Downsize DC has set up a page where you can get a more thorough synopsis of the USA PATRIOT Act's shortcomings, how the JUSTICE Act would address the problem, and what you can do to mitigate those sections of the law that would continue to take your freedoms. This is the ideal time to take action since Congress must address the fact that some provisions are due to expire soon. 10-31-09

The rush toward approval of a national health care plan is one we can ill afford in more ways than one. The plans are being rushed so that neither you nor your representative can possibly know or understand everything contained in this more than 1,000 page legislation package (early word on several Senate packages doesn't offer any more hope for remotely effective or acceptable reform).

Some few things that we know are contained in the package include the effective death knell for private insurance, punishment for businesses and individuals who don't toe the government line, healthcare rationing and refusals, and a gargantuan price tag.

Though the President is continues to push for quick action, opposition to the plan is growing and giving more than a few politicians pause. Don't let Obama's threats or promises sway either you or your representative. Downsize DC has a campaign outlining some of the many problems with "Obamacare" as well as suggestions for action. If you're still not convinced "Obamacare" is a bad idea, check out the information at Defend Your Healthcare, Fix Healthcare Policy (from the Heritage Foundation), and CATO on Healthcare Reform.

Nobody is suggesting that some reform isn't needed. But a total reformatting combined with socialization won't change things in a good way. The least we can do is delay passage of any measure so that everybody has a chance to truly review and understand the implications, and to prevent this plan all together! At the very least, we must oppose in no uncertain terms wholesale government involvement in healthcare. 11-20-09

There's an online petition opposing government involvement in healthcare at Free Our Healthcare Now.

Perhaps the best reason "Obamacare" would prove a bad thing? The legislation itself. Here's the House version as introduced on Occtober 29, 2009, all 1,990 pages of it. The Senate version isn't much better, but it is a little slimmer, coming in at just over 1,500 pages.

More information and reasons "Obamacare" shouldn't be implemented:

• What To Do About “Health Care Reform”
• Obamacare for old folks: Just 'cut your life short'
• 5 freedoms used lose in healthcare reform
• Health Reform’s Hidden Victims
• The CBO Death Knell For "Obamacare"
• Obama Care Truth
• Obamacare: Startling New Revelations Scare Public

In my opinion, three of the most important overall campaigns in support of restoring our Constitutional Republic are those which would mandate Congress cite Constitutional authority for any legislation; that it actually read bills before they're brought to a vote; and a measure which would limit a given bill to one subject and one subject only. Downsize DC is championing these measures, and the Enumerated Powers Act, the Read the Bills Act, and the One Subject at a Time Act have my unreserved support as well. Please offer them yours.

One of the greatest ongoing dangers, meanwhile, continues to be to our economy. Yes, our economy. The poverty-stricken or the suddenly destitute tend to seek help wherever they can find it. A benevolent Barack Obama stands ready to offer that help. And the single greatest threat to our economy (in addition to the President's version of health care reform) is "Cap and Trade." Learn all you can. Downsize DC has information that will get you started as well as a campaign against the program. Once you do learn more, I suspect that neither I nor anybody else will need to convince you to fight it!