http://members.myheritage.org/site/R?i=2RTRUitnGiX5u7bacQmtig..
An Open Letter to the Congress and the President of the United States
For the last 35 years, educators and analysts at The Heritage
Foundation have been intimately involved in the nation's great
public policy debates. In all that time, we have never
encountered legislation with such far-reaching and revolutionary
policy implications as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
currently before Congress. And never have we seen a bill more
cloaked in secrecy or more withdrawn from open public exposure and
honest debate.
In addition to being the single most expensive bill ever proposed,
this measure calls for a massive expansion of the federal
government's reach into the day-to-day life of virtually every
citizen, business and civic organization in the nation. That, in
itself, should be the subject of an extensive public conversation and
thoughtful debate. Instead, we have seen Congressional leaders
schedule snap votes on a 1,434-page bill that no one--repeat, no
one--has had a chance to read in its entirety, much less digest
and deliberate.
This bill has been advertised as an economic stimulus
bill--despite the fact that the Congressional Budget Office
estimates it will actually weaken our nation's long-term economic
growth. While the stimulative utility of the bill is, at best,
questionable, it would unquestionably rewrite the social contract
between the American people and their government. For example:
* The bill reverses the bipartisan and highly successful welfare
reforms of 1996 and drastically expands the welfare state.
For instance, it will start rewarding states for adding
people to their welfare rolls, rather than for helping them find
gainful employment. And contrary to long-established
practice, it will entitle able-bodied adults without children to
receive cash assistance.
* It does extreme violence to the concept of
federalism--bailing out states that have spent
irresponsibly at the expense of taxpayers in states that have
been fiscally prudent.
* It greatly shifts the responsibility and power over health care
delivery and decision making from individuals to government.
Among other things, it would create a new federal health
board to decide which medical services are
"effective" in America, paving the way for
government effectively to overrule the clinical decisions of
private physicians.
* It deliberately censors religious speech and worship on school
campuses by prohibiting use of any "stimulus" funds
for facilities that are used for sectarian instruction,
religious worship, or a school of divinity.
The list goes on. These and similar provisions will mean
fundamental changes in our society. In many instances, the bill
would establish policies that directly challenge widely held American
values.
We are appalled that Congress is even contemplating such profound
changes with so little openness and due diligence. In the past,
major policy changes in our welfare system, or health care, or trade
policies, etc., were always, quite properly, preceded by extensive
public conversation and full debate. That is how a democracy
should make important decisions.
The failure of Congress and the Administration to allow that debate is
damaging to our democracy. Both chambers of Congress suspended
their budget rules to push it along. And both the President and
the leaders of the House and Senate have violated their solemn
promises that the bill would be available for several days of public
review prior to voting, so that the American people might have a
chance to learn what is in the bill and to make their views known to
their elected officials.
This reckless approach to governance can only undermine public faith
in our elected officials and our government as a whole. We call
on Congress and the Administration to live up to their promises and
stated ideals, and give the democratic process a chance to work.
Sincerely,
Edwin J. Feulner,
President
The Heritage Foundation
An Open Letter to the Congress and the President of the United States
For the last 35 years, educators and analysts at The Heritage
Foundation have been intimately involved in the nation's great
public policy debates. In all that time, we have never
encountered legislation with such far-reaching and revolutionary
policy implications as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
currently before Congress. And never have we seen a bill more
cloaked in secrecy or more withdrawn from open public exposure and
honest debate.
In addition to being the single most expensive bill ever proposed,
this measure calls for a massive expansion of the federal
government's reach into the day-to-day life of virtually every
citizen, business and civic organization in the nation. That, in
itself, should be the subject of an extensive public conversation and
thoughtful debate. Instead, we have seen Congressional leaders
schedule snap votes on a 1,434-page bill that no one--repeat, no
one--has had a chance to read in its entirety, much less digest
and deliberate.
This bill has been advertised as an economic stimulus
bill--despite the fact that the Congressional Budget Office
estimates it will actually weaken our nation's long-term economic
growth. While the stimulative utility of the bill is, at best,
questionable, it would unquestionably rewrite the social contract
between the American people and their government. For example:
* The bill reverses the bipartisan and highly successful welfare
reforms of 1996 and drastically expands the welfare state.
For instance, it will start rewarding states for adding
people to their welfare rolls, rather than for helping them find
gainful employment. And contrary to long-established
practice, it will entitle able-bodied adults without children to
receive cash assistance.
* It does extreme violence to the concept of
federalism--bailing out states that have spent
irresponsibly at the expense of taxpayers in states that have
been fiscally prudent.
* It greatly shifts the responsibility and power over health care
delivery and decision making from individuals to government.
Among other things, it would create a new federal health
board to decide which medical services are
"effective" in America, paving the way for
government effectively to overrule the clinical decisions of
private physicians.
* It deliberately censors religious speech and worship on school
campuses by prohibiting use of any "stimulus" funds
for facilities that are used for sectarian instruction,
religious worship, or a school of divinity.
The list goes on. These and similar provisions will mean
fundamental changes in our society. In many instances, the bill
would establish policies that directly challenge widely held American
values.
We are appalled that Congress is even contemplating such profound
changes with so little openness and due diligence. In the past,
major policy changes in our welfare system, or health care, or trade
policies, etc., were always, quite properly, preceded by extensive
public conversation and full debate. That is how a democracy
should make important decisions.
The failure of Congress and the Administration to allow that debate is
damaging to our democracy. Both chambers of Congress suspended
their budget rules to push it along. And both the President and
the leaders of the House and Senate have violated their solemn
promises that the bill would be available for several days of public
review prior to voting, so that the American people might have a
chance to learn what is in the bill and to make their views known to
their elected officials.
This reckless approach to governance can only undermine public faith
in our elected officials and our government as a whole. We call
on Congress and the Administration to live up to their promises and
stated ideals, and give the democratic process a chance to work.
Sincerely,
Edwin J. Feulner,
President
The Heritage Foundation
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