John L. Micek | Call Harrisburg Bureau
12:09 PM EST, February 21, 2008
HARRISBURG - In case you'd forgotten, here's a vivid reminder that politics makes for strange bedfellows.
One of the General Assembly's most conservative members and one of its most liberal have teamed up to block the implementation of a federal program that they say would create a new national identity card, putting the personal privacy of millions of Americans at risk.
State Rep. Samuel Rohrer, R-Berks, and Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, are co-sponsoring legislation designed to bar the implementation of the federal REAL ID program in Pennsylvania.
Rohrer is best known as one of the Legislature's most vigilant tax hawks. Josephs, the chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, embraces such social causes as civil unions for same-sex couples.
"Fundamentally, [REAL ID] is a violation of several provisions of the Constitution," Rohrer said this week as the House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee kicked off a pair of hearings on the issue. "The most obvious one is that Congress has no authority to implement anything of this type."
The program is "dreadful," because of its potential costs and the volume of personal information that it will centralize, Josephs said in a brief interview. "Here's something that looks like it was put together to harass the American people," Josephs said, adding that, "there is no evidence whatsoever that this will make us any safer from terrorists."
The House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee held a public hearing on the legislation in Philadelphia today. Another is planned for Pittsburgh on March 13. Passed by Congress in 2005, the federal REAL ID Act sets up nationwide standards for drivers' licenses. The cards are supposed to be tamper-proof so that terrorists can't duplicate them.
But critics fear that the required inclusion of so-called "biometric information" on the cards, and the fact that information on the cards would be shared between states, would lead to the creation of a nationwide database of personal identities.
"It's the use of bio-metric information that's contained in the card," Rohrer said. "It's the equivalent to DNA or a fingerprint."
Rohrer also said he's worried about both the threat to personal privacy of such a database as well as its security. He pointed to a recent incident in the United Kingdom in which the personal details of 600,000 people were put at-risk when a government laptop was stolen.
The program has united critics on both the right and left, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative, Harrisburg think-tank.
Officials at the state Department of Transportation are reviewing the financial impact of implementing the program in Pennsylvania, a PennDOT official said at a public hearing in Harrisburg last month.
Critics fear that the cost of implementing the program will run into the millions of dollars. The Bush administration has not included state funding in any of its budgets, and Congress has only appropriated $90 million for the program since 2006, said Jeremy D. Meadows, a policy analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The federal government has allowed states to use U.S. Homeland Security grant money for REAL ID purposes, but much of that money is "largely already spoken for by other homeland security priorities," Meadows said at that same public hearing.
States have until 2011 to fully comply with federal REAL ID requirements. But people could run into trouble as soon as this May, unless state officials are granted an exception by the Department of Homeland Security to continue studying the program's requirements, PennDOT Deputy Secretary Kurt Myers said.
At that point, only REAL ID licenses will be accepted to board commercial airliners or such federal facilities as nuclear power plants where identification is required. Assuming the state is granted an exception, that requirement wouldn't kick in for Pennsylvania residents until Dec. 31, 2009, Myers said. States would have until 2011 to finally implement the program.
john.micek@mcall.com (717)783-7305
www.themorningcall.com
Friday, February 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Allegheny County meeting recap
There was not alot to go over in the old business so we jumped right into the new business. Most of the meeting was discussing the upcoming PA state convention. It is on March 1st. At the convention we will be voting for new officers(chairman, vice-chair, secretary and treasure). Not all current candidates will be seeking reelection. We will also have to pick delegates to the national convention in Kansas City starting on April 23rd. To be a voting delegate at the PA state convention you must be registered with the party and pay your $35 annual dues. There will be a banquet following the convention and the cost is $40 for a single and $70 for couples.
The National convention was also discussed. Topics included potential national delegates and who could serve on the various committees.
It was a good night and after we adjurned we stayed aroud talked and drank more coffee. I look forward to seeing more people at our March meeting on the 18th.
The National convention was also discussed. Topics included potential national delegates and who could serve on the various committees.
It was a good night and after we adjurned we stayed aroud talked and drank more coffee. I look forward to seeing more people at our March meeting on the 18th.
Monday, February 18, 2008
PA Constitution Party state meeting
The Constitution Party State Meeting and Banquet will be held:
March 1st 2008
at the
Hotel Carlisle in the Windsor Ball Room
1700 Harrisburg Pike
Carlisle, PA 17015
717-243-1717
Executive Meeting is from 10:00 am -12:00 pm
State Meeting is from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Banquet is from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ticket Price
$40.00 per person
or
$70.00 per couple
Please R.S.V.P. 724-586-9739
Speakers to be announced at later date.
March 1st 2008
at the
Hotel Carlisle in the Windsor Ball Room
1700 Harrisburg Pike
Carlisle, PA 17015
717-243-1717
Executive Meeting is from 10:00 am -12:00 pm
State Meeting is from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Banquet is from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ticket Price
$40.00 per person
or
$70.00 per couple
Please R.S.V.P. 724-586-9739
Speakers to be announced at later date.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Four Parties Start Pennsylvania Petitioning
Pennsylvania has no procedure for an unqualified party to circulate a petition that just names the party. Instead, Pennsylvania only has procedures for petitions that list candidates. However, Pennsylvania permits stand-ins. The Constitution Party stand-in national ticket is Jim Clymer for president and Chuck Baldwin for vice-president. The Green Party stand-in national ticket is John Zachmann for president and K.C. McCurry for vice-president. The Libertarian stand-in national ticket is Rochelle Etzel for president and Chuck Boust for vice-president. The Reform Party petition lists Michael Bloomberg for president and Frank McKay for vice-president.
www.ballot-access.org
www.ballot-access.org
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Pennsylvania Greens and Libertarians Anticipate Joining Lawsuit Initiated by Constitution Party
February 14th, 2008
The Pennsylvania Constitution Party earlier decided to bring a new federal lawsuit against certain Pennsylvania election laws. Since then, the Pennsylvania Green Party and the Pennsylvania Libertarian Party have decided to join the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is likely to challenge four Pennsylvania laws or practices: (1) Pennsylvania’s unique system of forcing candidates whose petitions are successfully challenged, to pay for the costs of determining that the petition was insufficient; (2) the practice of many Pennsylvania counties of failing to count any write-in votes, even though under state law all write-ins are valid; (3) Pennsylvania’s failure to tally registrations for parties that are not qualified parties but which do place nominees on the November ballot; (4) the wording on the petition that says the signers are “nominating” the listed candidates.
The basis for point (1) is that the U.S. Supreme Court has long held that states cannot force voters, parties, and candidates to pay for the costs of administering elections. The basis for point (3) is a string of favorable precedents on the same issue from courts in Colorado, Oklahoma, New Jersey, New York and Iowa. The basis for point (4) is a string of favorable precedents from federal courts in Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia, striking down restrictive wording on petitions for minor parties or their candidates
www.ballot-access.org
The Pennsylvania Constitution Party earlier decided to bring a new federal lawsuit against certain Pennsylvania election laws. Since then, the Pennsylvania Green Party and the Pennsylvania Libertarian Party have decided to join the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is likely to challenge four Pennsylvania laws or practices: (1) Pennsylvania’s unique system of forcing candidates whose petitions are successfully challenged, to pay for the costs of determining that the petition was insufficient; (2) the practice of many Pennsylvania counties of failing to count any write-in votes, even though under state law all write-ins are valid; (3) Pennsylvania’s failure to tally registrations for parties that are not qualified parties but which do place nominees on the November ballot; (4) the wording on the petition that says the signers are “nominating” the listed candidates.
The basis for point (1) is that the U.S. Supreme Court has long held that states cannot force voters, parties, and candidates to pay for the costs of administering elections. The basis for point (3) is a string of favorable precedents on the same issue from courts in Colorado, Oklahoma, New Jersey, New York and Iowa. The basis for point (4) is a string of favorable precedents from federal courts in Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia, striking down restrictive wording on petitions for minor parties or their candidates
www.ballot-access.org
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Becoming Familiar with the Constitution
It is becoming quite apparent to many American that most people know very little about the Constitution and the form of government our Founders gave us. This is evident by the fact that the Constitution is seldom referred to in any political debate. It is also evident by the increasing number of requests NCCS is getting to hold seminars on the Constitution in areas all over the country. Of course, this is very mission of The National Center for Constitutional Studies--to educate Americans about the exciting message of the Founders and why their formula for freedom and liberty would solve nearly every problem in America today.
Americans must become conversant with the Constitution. We should be able to teach from the Constitution. We should be able to ask candidates for public office questions from a constitutional perspective. So, as a start, and with a copy of the Constitution in hand, could you answer the questions below? References to where the answers are found are given in parenthesis, (article, section, clause). Each one of these questions can be directly related to an issue currently being discussed in campaign circles and debates. A good family activity might be to see if you can identify a current issue that directly relates to the references in the Constitution. Perhaps you should underline these answers so as to be as prepared in these matters as the Apostle Peter encouraged the saints to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15) These questions and answers are based, of course, on the original intent of the Founders and not on current judicial decrees. Here are some questions:
Laws can only become effective on the people by what means? (I.1.1)
How are states rights protected in the federal government? (I.3.1)
How does the Constitution keep the legislative independent of the executive? (I.6.2)
Where must all money bills originate? (I.7.1)
Congress has the power to do about how many things? (I.8)
What is the first use of tax money mandated by the Constitution? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution limit Congress to spend tax money on things that benefit the nation as a whole and not for individuals or special groups? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution forbid a system of graduated taxes? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution forbid giving power over U. S. commerce to foreign governments? (I.8.3)
To whom did the people give authority to establish rules for immigration and naturalization? (I.8.4)
How did the people give only Congress, and no others, the right to manage our money system? (I.8.5)
How does the Constitution prohibit any treaty giving authority to other countries over the high seas? (I.8.10)
How does the Constitution prohibit the United States being under the jurisdiction of the United Nations? (I.8.10)
To whom did the people give the exclusive power to declare war? (I.8.11)
How does the Constitution protect the people against a standing army? (I.8.12)
How does the Constitution prohibit our armed forces to ever be under the jurisdiction or control of other nations? (I.8.14)
What are the three constitutional reasons for which the militia of the states may be called into active duty? Who has authority to call them up to active duty? (I.8.15)
Under what conditions does the Constitution allow the federal government to own land within a state? (I.8.17)
How does the Constitution prohibit the "necessary and proper clause", sometimes called the "elastic clause", from being used to give additional power to Congress? (I.8.18)
Does the original Constitution prohibit an income tax? (I.9.4)
What does the Constitution say the states must use to pay their debts? (I.10.1)
Does the Constitution say anything about governmental authority to suspend or modify mortgage payments? (I.10.1)
What does the Constitution require of all executive agreement or treaties made by the president? (II.2.2)
What are the only areas of constitutional authority of the president? (II.2-II-3)
Is the power of "judicial review" given to the judiciary in the Constitution? (III.2)
How many kinds of cases are assigned to the federal courts? (III.2.1)
What is the only crime defined in the Constitution? (III.3.1)
Does the Constitution give power to the federal government to protect certain rights of citizens within states? (IV.4)
How does the Constitution prohibit qualifying a candidate for public office based on his religious beliefs? (VI.3)
Where does it say that the Bill of Rights prohibitions only apply to the federal government? (1 st Amendment)
How does the constitution prohibit gun control by the federal government? (2 nd Amendment)
Does the constitution specifically say all power not enumerated as belonging to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people? (10th Amendment)
The National Center for Constitutional Studies is embarking on a bold program to encourage all Americans to read the United States Constitution between now and Election Day in November. You can help! For a limited time, NCCS is making available to individuals and organizations 100 copies of our beautiful pocket Constitution for only $30.00. This includes handling and shipping. All other quantity prices will remain the same. Click here to order your today.
As an example of what might be done, NCCS recently visited a university campus where we handed out over 7,000 copies of the pocket Constitution to students who signed a pledge to read it this year. It was a great and successful experience--one that should be repeated on every college campus in this land.
We invite you to use your creative mind in helping to "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" (Leviticus 25:10 and on the Liberty Bell)
Sincerely,
Earl Taylor, Jr.
www.nccs.net
Americans must become conversant with the Constitution. We should be able to teach from the Constitution. We should be able to ask candidates for public office questions from a constitutional perspective. So, as a start, and with a copy of the Constitution in hand, could you answer the questions below? References to where the answers are found are given in parenthesis, (article, section, clause). Each one of these questions can be directly related to an issue currently being discussed in campaign circles and debates. A good family activity might be to see if you can identify a current issue that directly relates to the references in the Constitution. Perhaps you should underline these answers so as to be as prepared in these matters as the Apostle Peter encouraged the saints to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15) These questions and answers are based, of course, on the original intent of the Founders and not on current judicial decrees. Here are some questions:
Laws can only become effective on the people by what means? (I.1.1)
How are states rights protected in the federal government? (I.3.1)
How does the Constitution keep the legislative independent of the executive? (I.6.2)
Where must all money bills originate? (I.7.1)
Congress has the power to do about how many things? (I.8)
What is the first use of tax money mandated by the Constitution? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution limit Congress to spend tax money on things that benefit the nation as a whole and not for individuals or special groups? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution forbid a system of graduated taxes? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution forbid giving power over U. S. commerce to foreign governments? (I.8.3)
To whom did the people give authority to establish rules for immigration and naturalization? (I.8.4)
How did the people give only Congress, and no others, the right to manage our money system? (I.8.5)
How does the Constitution prohibit any treaty giving authority to other countries over the high seas? (I.8.10)
How does the Constitution prohibit the United States being under the jurisdiction of the United Nations? (I.8.10)
To whom did the people give the exclusive power to declare war? (I.8.11)
How does the Constitution protect the people against a standing army? (I.8.12)
How does the Constitution prohibit our armed forces to ever be under the jurisdiction or control of other nations? (I.8.14)
What are the three constitutional reasons for which the militia of the states may be called into active duty? Who has authority to call them up to active duty? (I.8.15)
Under what conditions does the Constitution allow the federal government to own land within a state? (I.8.17)
How does the Constitution prohibit the "necessary and proper clause", sometimes called the "elastic clause", from being used to give additional power to Congress? (I.8.18)
Does the original Constitution prohibit an income tax? (I.9.4)
What does the Constitution say the states must use to pay their debts? (I.10.1)
Does the Constitution say anything about governmental authority to suspend or modify mortgage payments? (I.10.1)
What does the Constitution require of all executive agreement or treaties made by the president? (II.2.2)
What are the only areas of constitutional authority of the president? (II.2-II-3)
Is the power of "judicial review" given to the judiciary in the Constitution? (III.2)
How many kinds of cases are assigned to the federal courts? (III.2.1)
What is the only crime defined in the Constitution? (III.3.1)
Does the Constitution give power to the federal government to protect certain rights of citizens within states? (IV.4)
How does the Constitution prohibit qualifying a candidate for public office based on his religious beliefs? (VI.3)
Where does it say that the Bill of Rights prohibitions only apply to the federal government? (1 st Amendment)
How does the constitution prohibit gun control by the federal government? (2 nd Amendment)
Does the constitution specifically say all power not enumerated as belonging to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people? (10th Amendment)
The National Center for Constitutional Studies is embarking on a bold program to encourage all Americans to read the United States Constitution between now and Election Day in November. You can help! For a limited time, NCCS is making available to individuals and organizations 100 copies of our beautiful pocket Constitution for only $30.00. This includes handling and shipping. All other quantity prices will remain the same. Click here to order your today.
As an example of what might be done, NCCS recently visited a university campus where we handed out over 7,000 copies of the pocket Constitution to students who signed a pledge to read it this year. It was a great and successful experience--one that should be repeated on every college campus in this land.
We invite you to use your creative mind in helping to "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" (Leviticus 25:10 and on the Liberty Bell)
Sincerely,
Earl Taylor, Jr.
www.nccs.net
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