Main Street Journal

2006 U.S. Senate Primary Debate

01.05.06

3 comments so far

Mr. Bates was at the Dutch Treat in Dec,05 and defended Ed Bryant’s voting record. Will Mr. Bates defend Ed’s record while on the panel at the debate?

The U.S. Constitution allows the House of Representatives to vote on a limited number of issues and states in amendment 10 that: 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. Ed Bryant has repeatedly ignored this amendment and his responsibility to keep his oath to God and follow it.

Federal Funding of State Prisons, Amendment to H.R. 667.
During consideration of the state prison construction bill, Representative Robert Scott (D-VA) offered this amendment to delete $2.5 billion in new money from the bill, leaving only the $8 billion already authorized by last year’s crime bill. In addition to the fact that the federal government does not have any constitutional authority to administer or finance the crime and prison policies of the states, the funds, Representative Tim Roemer (D-IN) noted, constitute a “bailout bill for States that have not made the tough decisions to build [new] prisons.” (February 10, 1995 Congressional Record pages H1582-83, roll call 115) Ed Bryant voted against this taxpayer money saving amendment.
(Source: The New American July 24, 1995)

Preempting State Courts, Amendment to H.R. 956.
During consideration of the Product Liability and Legal Reform bill, Representative Melvin Watt (D-NC) offered this amendment to remove provisions of the bill preempting state laws on the burden of proof for punitive damages in product liability cases. Taking a states’ rights position, Watt counseled removal of provisions which tell the states “how to apply [the] law [in liability suits] and how much of the evidence will be required to win a case and how you should try the case.” (March 9, 1995 Congressional Record, page H2935, roll call 222) Ed Bryant voted against this constitutional amendment.
(Source: The New American July 24, 1995)

War Powers Act Repeal, Amendment to H.R. 1561.
During consideration of the fiscal 1996-97 Foreign Assistance and State Department Authorization bill, Representative Henry Hyde (R-IL) offered this amendment to repeal the 1973 War Powers Resolution. That resolution, which was passed during the Vietnam War era to curb presidential abuse of war powers, requires the President to bring home within 60 days troops deployed abroad in combat situations unless Congress acts affirmatively to approve the deployment. Representative Richard Durbin (D-IL) explained, “Our Constitution could not make it clearer. Article I, section 8, clause 11 of the Constitution confers on Congress – the House of Representatives and the Senate alone – the power to declare war, and the War Powers Act, imperfect though it may be, is an effort to carry out the intent of our Constitution, the clear unambiguous intent of that Constitution, to require Congress, and the American people through them, to enter into a debate and deliberation before we send our sons and daughters off to die.” Repeal of the War Powers Resolution would signal that the Congress is willing to abdicate its constitutional power to declare war and to give a blank check to the President. It would effectively make the U.S. Armed Forces the President’s personal army that can be sent into battle at the President’s personal whim. (June 7, 1995 Congressional Record, pages H5673-74, roll call 359) Ed Bryant voted for this amendment.
(Source: The New American July 24, 1995)
Abolition of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Ame