Norman Singleton | The Libertarian Institute

This Week in Congress: Hearing Edition

by Norman Singleton | Feb 8, 2019 | Blog

While there may not be that much excitement on the floor, the House of Representatives will hold a number of significant hearings this week. The House Intelligence Committee will hold its first hearing of the year, but you won’t find out much about it because the hearing is closed to the public. In violation of House rules, the Committee leadership announced the hearing would be closed instead of holding a public vote on whether to close the hearing. The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on gun safety, by which they mean making law-abiding citizens less safe by taking away our...

This Week in Congress

by Norman Singleton | Jan 31, 2019 | Blog

Well the longest shutdown in history is over . . . for now. Last Friday, the Senate and House passed legislation ending the government shutdown until February 15. The Senate passed it by unanimous consent so there is no roll-call vote. Here is the roll-call vote from the House. The bill passed by a vote of 231-180, with 179 Republicans voting no. New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was the only Democrat to vote no. She voted no because she refuses to vote for any bill that funds the Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE) agency. Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee was...

William Barr: Enemy of the Constitution?

by Norman Singleton | Jan 18, 2019 | Featured Articles, Politics

The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding the second day of hearings on President Trumps nomination of William Barr as Attorney General. Barr previously served as Attorney General for President George H. W.Bush from 1991-1993. Barr has a long history of opposing gun rights and yesterday promised California Senator Diane Feinstein he would enthusiastically support efforts to take away gun rights without due process. During Barr’s tenure he showed himself to be an opponent of civil liberties and a supporter of unlimited executive power. Barr worked with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to...

Stan Lee versus the censors

by Norman Singleton | Jan 14, 2019 | Featured Articles, Politics

Stan “The Man” Lee passed away on November 12 of last year at the age of 94. Lee was for years the main writer of Marvel comics, and he created, or helped create, many of the most iconic characters in comics, including Spiderman, the Hulk, Iron Man, X-Men, Thor, and Captain America. Lee and his team at Marvel were the first to give their heroes world problems. Peter Parker may have been Spiderman, but when not swinging on his web, he faces typical teenage problems. Lee’s characters also clashed with authority figures, including the government. While Superman and Batman were still supporting...

Massie keeps Congress classie

by Norman Singleton | Dec 29, 2018 | Blog

Or at least tries to keep them honest. . . Last week, Representative Thomas Massie (KY-04) waged a heroic guerrilla campaign to force the House leadership to hold a vote on ending U.S. involvement in Yemen by forcing roll-call votes on every suspension bill until the House leadership allows a vote on Yemen. Here are some of the suspension bills voted on last week: S. 1158 – establishes a Mass Atrocities Task Force to prevent genocide and establishes a complex crisis fund to prevent or respond to unforeseen and complex foreign crises, including genocide. Here Is the roll-call vote. Only four...

Farm Bill Follies

by Norman Singleton | Dec 24, 2018 | Blog

Here is a detailed summary of the policies and politics of the Farm Bill that passed Congress last week. Details of the 800-page bill were kept under wraps until last Monday night. The reason might have been that, in the words of House Agricultural Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (MN-07), “There’s a concern on some of the members’ part that when people find out what’s in the bill, it will start unraveling.” Looking at the details of the bill, it is clear why it would start unraveling when people find out what’s in it. Not only does the bill not include the Grassley Amendment giving...

US Involvement in Yemen–Update

by Norman Singleton | Dec 15, 2018 | Featured Articles, Op Eds

S.J.Res. 54, which ends U.S. involvement in Yemen’s civil war, passed by a vote of 56-41. Here are the 8 Republicans who voted for the resolution: Susan Collins (ME) Steve Daines (MT) Jeff Flake (AZ) Mike Lee (UT) Jim Moran (KS) Rand Paul (KY) Todd Young (IN) Before passing the resolution, the Senate defeated an amendment by Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton that allowed the U.S. military to intervene in Yemen to stop the Houthi from attacking targets outside Yemen. That amendment was defeated 45-54. You can see the vote here. Concerns have been raised that the resolution has an “Al Qaeda”...

Will Paul Ryan and Co. Deny Another Vote on Yemen?

by Norman Singleton | Dec 7, 2018 | Blog

Remember when the House leadership squashed a vote on a resolution ending US involvement in Yemen by removing it’s privileged status? Well, the leaders of that resolution have reintroduced it as H.Con.Res.142 and I just heard from a friend on the Hill that the House leadership may pull the same trick and they may do it as early as Monday! So, Campaign for Liberty members and all decent American humans should call their Representatives and tell them to vote NO on any legislation that removes H.Con.Res 142’s privileged status!

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