Vigilance Needed from Legislators
to Protect Liberty
During my decade as a Colorado legislator, it became evident
that most legislators fail to use a limited-government filter when
drafting legislation. To further our
freedoms, individual liberties must be considered first and foremost when
evaluating legislation. Much legislation
is simply created as a response to current events of the day with little or no
regard to long-range consequences. The result,
most often is a growth in the power and control of the bureaucracy over the individual. While legislation
is generally proposed with good intentions, it is too-often crafted at the expense
of the personal liberty of the citizens represented.
Observing this trend, caused me to develop a heightened
sensitivity to the erosion of personal liberty, which in turn led me to adopt the
philosophy of voting NO on bills that could not be proven to advance liberty or
prevent its erosion in some way. To create a degree of voting consistency based on limited government, I developed a set of filters which I used when analyzing each piece of legislation. Some will say the list is too long; I submit, however
that its very length indicates the many ways our personal liberties
can be usurped.
Although this list was initially crafted as a guide for Colorado's state legislators, many of the questions would equally apply to City Council members and County Commissioners as they too pass regulations, resolutions and the like that affect the individual liberties of the citizens they represent.
The following is a list of "filters" that if considered by politicians would hopefully reduce the frequent erosion of our personal liberties.
Although this list was initially crafted as a guide for Colorado's state legislators, many of the questions would equally apply to City Council members and County Commissioners as they too pass regulations, resolutions and the like that affect the individual liberties of the citizens they represent.
The following is a list of "filters" that if considered by politicians would hopefully reduce the frequent erosion of our personal liberties.
A “YES” to ANY of
the following questions should trigger a
“NO” vote from conservative legislators.
- Does the bill limit personal liberty/freedom, personal responsibility or free enterprise?
- Does the bill exert greater government influence over our personal lives or that of the business community?
- Does the bill allow the government to meddle in free enterprise?
- Does the bill increase taxes, fees, or regulation costs on individuals or businesses?
- Could the bill eventually lead to an increase in taxes/fees or violate the spirit or intent of the Taxpayers Bill of Rights?
- Does the bill erode an individual's property rights in any form?
- Does the bill redistribute wealth?
- Does the bill promote equality rather than equal opportunity?
- Does the bill concern itself with groups rather than individual citizens?
- Does the bill infringe on the rule-of-law?
- Does the bill in any way promote illegal immigration?
- Does the bill fall outside the purview of the U.S. or state constitution?
- Does the bill negatively impact the traditional family?
- Does the bill lessen the authority of the parents over their children?
- Does the bill negatively impact the faith community or an individual’s right of conscience?
- Does the bill usurp the historical role of the religious community
- Does the bill run counter to traditional moral values?
- Does the bill negatively affect the sanctity of life?
- Does the bill
further entangle the state with the Federal government? (or receive Federal
funds)? see WSJ Article:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/james-l-buckley-how-congress-bribes-states-to-give-up-power-1419541292 - Does bill increase the state’s budget over that of the previous year?
- Does the bill allow for funding through gifts, grants and donations?(i.e.by special-interest groups)
- Does the bill increase a citizen’s dependency on government services?
- Does the bill allow increased government influence on K-12-aged children (i.e. Pre-Kindergarten, Full-day Kindergarten, or daycare?)
- Does the bill require one or more government agencies to collect personal or business data?
- Does the bill reduce transparency of government operations?
- Does the bill diminish local control?
- Does the bill reduce a person's right to self-defense?
- Does the bill decrease the integrity of the voting system in any manner?
- Does the bill refer to "comprehensive" changes?
- Does the bill transfer money from a specific-use cash-fund account for a non-related use?
- Does the bill’s passage seem to be advocated by organized “stakeholder” groups (stakeholder groups almost always require taxpayer dollars to further their future income under the guise of "helping" others.)
Posts
