Oppose H.R. 1586, the Bill Without a Name

Yesterday we told you about a $26 billion bailout for failed state governments.

This bailout is just one part of a grab-bag 52-page bill. But the most ridiculous thing about the bill is: The bill doesn’t even have a title!

DownsizeDC.org’s One Subject At A Time Act (OSTA) would put an end to this nonsense. OSTA would. . .

• Prevent multi-subject bills from being considered
• Require that bills have a subject that is clearly described in the bill’s title

Please tell Congress to oppose H.R. 1586 and introduce and pass the One Subject At A Time Act instead.

You may borrow from or copy this sample letter . . .

OSTA would require that each bill pertain to just one subject, and that the subject be clearly stated in the title. OSTA would . . .

• prevent unpopular and unnecessary legislation from being bundled together with popular or must-pass bills
• expose and prevent the insertion of last minute, corrupt, legislative deals
• and save taxpayers billions of dollars

H.R. 1586, which the Senate passed last week, underscores the need for limiting bills to One Subject. This bill is a grab-bag of bailouts and legislation pertaining to unrelated topics such as education, Medicaid, and nutrition – not to mention a massive bailout for incompetent state governments. It will cost the American family $126 per year. http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_1586.html

To make matters worse, the original, House-passed bill, which the Senate amended under the direction of the Senate Majority Leader, was originally the “FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act.” You know spending bills are constitutionally required to originate in the House of Representatives, yet this cheating is rewarded by the Speaker of the House.

What’s even more embarrassing, however, is that the bill now doesn’t even have a title! H.R. 1586 is presently “The (blank) Act of (blank).”

Didn’t any Senator bother to even read the title? Doesn’t any Senator even know that the year is 2010?

If nothing else, OSTA would require that bills HAVE A TITLE — a clear, descriptive label of the single topic to be considered. If OSTA was in force, the Blank Act of Blank would never see the light of day.

OSTA would force Congress to do a better job!

So I demand that you oppose H.R. 1586 and, instead, introduce the One Subject At A Time Act.

END LETTER

The vote on this grab-bag bailout is supposed to happen TODAY. It’s urgent that you [call your Senators today!]

You might even want to call your House Representative.

And please tell your friends about this. The Downsize DC Agenda bills, like the One Subject at a Time Act, would prevent bad behavior, like we’ve just shared. Please forward this message to friends, and share it on Facebook.

Jim Babka, President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.