| Sen. Deb Fischer |
Last week, I discussed my efforts to expedite health information technology by cutting unnecessary red tape. Big government is not just holding back technological progress. It’s holding us back on a number of other fronts and intimidating citizens along the way.
Farmers and ranchers have experienced this firsthand with aerial surveillance of their operations conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Though the agency repeatedly refused to provide information about these flyovers, Congress recently passed legislation that included a provision requiring EPA to submit a full account of the surveillance program.
Many journalists and news organizations encountered similar issues last year when the Department of Justice admitted to secretly seizing the phone records of reporters. The chilling effect of these privacy invasions poses a serious threat to a free press.
Another alarming example of government overreach is the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) harassment of conservative groups. IRS officials have admitted to deliberately delaying the applications of conservative organizations seeking tax-exempt status. Though these practices were only uncovered last year, it’s been reported that the harassment began as early as 2010.
Rather than getting to the bottom of the IRS scandal, the administration is now pushing new regulations that could further curtail First Amendment rights. The proposed rules target civic groups involved in political activity by limiting their participation in the public debate.
I believe that any infringement – large or small – upon our basic constitutional rights is unacceptable. I’m working to fight this pattern of overreach. I recently sent a letter, along with several of my colleagues, to the IRS commissioner urging him not to move forward with these new rules.
I also cosponsored the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 to get to the root of the problem. This legislation would prevent further targeting of conservative groups and suspends any IRS rulemaking on the issue for one year. Given the agency’s recent outrageous behavior and its intended role as the impartial enforcer of our nation’s tax laws, the IRS is in no position to issue new regulations defining political activity.
President Ronald Reagan said, “As government expands, liberty contracts.” He referred to this principle “as neat and predictable as a law of physics.” I believe he was right, and I know many Nebraskans agree. A healthy democracy promotes civic engagement – it doesn’t squelch it.
A government that acts behind the scenes or beyond its legal authority diminishes the rights of American citizens. These actions also weaken the public’s confidence in the government’s ability to carry out even its most basic duties. In short, government has a credibility problem.
That’s why the president faced a great deal of skepticism when he announced his plans to use more executive actions to implement and modify laws. Instead of working collaboratively with Congress, which has an important oversight role in promoting transparency and accountability in government, the administration is simply dictating rules through executive fiat.
For example, the administration has issued executive orders to enact sweeping regulations on coal-fired power plants. Though these rules will adversely impact Nebraskans and many Americans across the country, they were never brought before Congress for a vote. We’ve also seen the administration use executive action to issue selective delays of ObamaCare and rewrite the president’s disastrous healthcare law.
These actions cut people out of the policy-making process. I’ve written to President Obama raising these concerns and seeking answers about his administration’s use of executive actions to pursue its agenda. I also joined a resolution of disapproval to stop the EPA from imposing its proposed rule effectively banning construction of new coal-fired power plants. The resolution would ensure the Senate has a chance to vote on and repeal the regulation before implementation. Rather than side-stepping Congress, the president should allow the American people to have a say in these policies through their elected representatives.
I believe a government “of the people, and by the people” must be accountable to the people. Rest assured I will continue to work to promote greater transparency and push back against government overreach.
Thank you for taking part in our democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
Farmers and ranchers have experienced this firsthand with aerial surveillance of their operations conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Though the agency repeatedly refused to provide information about these flyovers, Congress recently passed legislation that included a provision requiring EPA to submit a full account of the surveillance program.
Many journalists and news organizations encountered similar issues last year when the Department of Justice admitted to secretly seizing the phone records of reporters. The chilling effect of these privacy invasions poses a serious threat to a free press.
Another alarming example of government overreach is the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) harassment of conservative groups. IRS officials have admitted to deliberately delaying the applications of conservative organizations seeking tax-exempt status. Though these practices were only uncovered last year, it’s been reported that the harassment began as early as 2010.
Rather than getting to the bottom of the IRS scandal, the administration is now pushing new regulations that could further curtail First Amendment rights. The proposed rules target civic groups involved in political activity by limiting their participation in the public debate.
I believe that any infringement – large or small – upon our basic constitutional rights is unacceptable. I’m working to fight this pattern of overreach. I recently sent a letter, along with several of my colleagues, to the IRS commissioner urging him not to move forward with these new rules.
I also cosponsored the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 to get to the root of the problem. This legislation would prevent further targeting of conservative groups and suspends any IRS rulemaking on the issue for one year. Given the agency’s recent outrageous behavior and its intended role as the impartial enforcer of our nation’s tax laws, the IRS is in no position to issue new regulations defining political activity.
President Ronald Reagan said, “As government expands, liberty contracts.” He referred to this principle “as neat and predictable as a law of physics.” I believe he was right, and I know many Nebraskans agree. A healthy democracy promotes civic engagement – it doesn’t squelch it.
A government that acts behind the scenes or beyond its legal authority diminishes the rights of American citizens. These actions also weaken the public’s confidence in the government’s ability to carry out even its most basic duties. In short, government has a credibility problem.
That’s why the president faced a great deal of skepticism when he announced his plans to use more executive actions to implement and modify laws. Instead of working collaboratively with Congress, which has an important oversight role in promoting transparency and accountability in government, the administration is simply dictating rules through executive fiat.
For example, the administration has issued executive orders to enact sweeping regulations on coal-fired power plants. Though these rules will adversely impact Nebraskans and many Americans across the country, they were never brought before Congress for a vote. We’ve also seen the administration use executive action to issue selective delays of ObamaCare and rewrite the president’s disastrous healthcare law.
These actions cut people out of the policy-making process. I’ve written to President Obama raising these concerns and seeking answers about his administration’s use of executive actions to pursue its agenda. I also joined a resolution of disapproval to stop the EPA from imposing its proposed rule effectively banning construction of new coal-fired power plants. The resolution would ensure the Senate has a chance to vote on and repeal the regulation before implementation. Rather than side-stepping Congress, the president should allow the American people to have a say in these policies through their elected representatives.
I believe a government “of the people, and by the people” must be accountable to the people. Rest assured I will continue to work to promote greater transparency and push back against government overreach.
Thank you for taking part in our democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
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