Commentary by Howard Phillips, Chairman of The Conservative Caucus  
   

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  Peter Thomas New TCC Chairman | May 1, 2012 |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626

Peter Thomas Selected as Chairman of The Conservative Caucus

May 1, Vienna, VA  Peter J. Thomas, one of the founders of The Conservative Caucus (TCC) in 1974, takes over today as the organization’s new Chairman. He has a long history of activity in conservative politics, and as a political appointee in Republican administrations going back to Ronald Reagan. Thomas replaces Howard Phillips, who retired late last year.

Thomas thanked Howard Phillips for his many years of service to TCC and for his unwavering support of Conservative issues. Thomas went on to say his goal as Chairman is to restore the Caucus as a grass roots lobbing force in the congressional districts as well as on Capitol Hill. .

Thomas served as TCC’s National Field Director from 1975-1981, seeking to establish a grass roots network in each state and congressional district. He played a key role in organizing citizen opposition to the Panama Canal Treaties, the SALT II Treaty, and the proposed Constitutional Amendment that would have given the District of Columbia voting representation in Congress. He later founded and served as President of the Massachusetts Foundation for Economic Research.

President Reagan appointed him as the New England Regional Administrator of the General Services Administration in 1981, a position he held until 1985. Thomas returned to the Federal government in 1990, working in the Small Business Administration for two years. He gained first-hand experience with Congress as Chief of Staff to Rep. Peter Torkildsen (R-MA) from 1995-1997. He later served President George W. Bush in the Department of Agriculture, rising to the position of Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration.

The new TCC Chairman also has an extensive background in the business sector, leading the consulting firm of Bay State Strategies since 1997. Earlier he spent four years as Director of Public Affairs for Papa Gino’s of America, a restaurant chain.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, blocking the Clinton health-care takeover, and persuading the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton.

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  Americans Say No to Obama Amnesty | April 30, 2012 |

Obama’s Amnesty by Executive Power Has Little Public Support

The recent Obama administration decision to exempt most illegal aliens from deportation has little support from the American public, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus. Ninety-eight percent said that this was an abuse of executive branch authority, and the same number favored congressional hearings on the policy.

The new Obama policy focuses only on the deportation of illegal aliens who have committed an additional, and serious, crime. Deportation proceedings against other illegal aliens were dismissed, granting them what amounts to amnesty.

The poll was conducted by mail, with about 3,000 responses.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton, and blocking passage of amnesty for illegal aliens.


  Obama's Disregard of the Constitution | April 9, 2012 |

POLL: 94% agreed that another four years of Obama could result in irreparable harm to the United States.

Americans are very concerned about President Obama’s disregard of the Constitution, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus (TCC). Obama’s violation of the separation of powers, expansion of government beyond its Constitutional boundaries, attack on individual liberty, and flouting of the Tenth Amendment were each named by 66% as reasons for concern.

Sixty-eight percent were of the opinion that Obama would not have been elected if Americans had known of his lack of respect for the Constitution, and 94% agreed that another four years of Obama could result in irreparable harm to the United States.

The polling took place before the President’s recent remarks in which he at first denied the Supreme Court’s Constitutional responsibility to determine the constitutionality of Federal laws.

The poll was conducted by mail and included more than 5,000 participants.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, blocking the Clinton health-care takeover, and having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton.


  TCCF Senate Report Released | April 5 2012 |

The Conservative Caucus Foundation just issued its April Senate Report, detailing 3 key votes: www.conservativeusa.org/senatereport2.htm

  • The Keystone pipeline
  • ObamaCare contraception mandate vote
  • Ending duplicative Federal programs.

You are invited to read it and share it with with your friends.


  No to Government Union Bargaining | April 4 2012 |

Voters Opposed to Collective Bargaining with Public Employee Unions

There is strong opposition to collective bargaining with public employee unions, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus (TCC). A prohibition on such bargaining was supported by 94%, with 92% saying they would be more inclined to support a candidate who held that position.

Collective bargaining by the Federal government was legalized by President Kennedy in 1961, and 78% believed that Kennedy’s motivation was political.

The poll was conducted by mail and included more than 2,000 participants.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, blocking the Clinton health-care takeover, and having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton.
 


  GOP Ryan Budget Too Timid  | March 27 2012 |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626

Conservatives Say Ryan Budget Is Too Timid

The proposed budget released this week by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan fails to seriously attack the deficit according to The Conservative Caucus (TCC). Charles Orndorff, TCC Vice Chairman, said that the Ryan budget allows Federal spending to continue growing, does not attempt to eliminate the deficit even in the long run, and fails to identify unconstitutional programs and target them for elimination.

"Chairman Ryan boasts of reducing President Obama’s deficits by $3 trillion over ten years, but fails to mention that his own budget still adds more than $3 trillion to the national debt. Furthermore, at the end of ten years, the deficit is trending upward again. Chairman Ryan projects deficits to continue past 2030, which is unacceptable", said Orndorff. He pointed out that the Ryan budget, with temporary reductions in the deficit followed by a return to growing deficits late in the decade, follow the same basic path as the Obama budget.

TCC favors a freeze on total Federal spending, said Orndorff. If spending were capped at the 2012 level of $3.6 trillion, and the revenue estimates of the Ryan budget are correct, the deficit would be replaced by an $18 billion surplus in 2017.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, blocking the Clinton health-care takeover, and persuading the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton.

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  TCC Poll: No Amnesty!  | March 8 2012 |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Charles Orndorff

703-938-9626

Poll Says Americans Want US to Get Tough on Illegal Immigration

Americans favor strong border security over amnesty as the response to illegal immigration, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus (TCC). Only 1% favored granting amnesty to illegal aliens, while all favored "actively enforced" immigration laws.

Granting citizenship to children born in the United States but whose parents are here illegally was supported by only 1%.

Using the filibuster to block any amnesty bill had 87% support, while 99% said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who supported amnesty.

The poll was conducted by mail, with about 3,000 responses.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, blocking the Clinton health-care takeover, and having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton.

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  Poll: Stop the NAU  | February 8 2012 |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626

North American Union Has Little Public Support

Few Americans support a North American Union (NAU) that would merge the government of the United States with those of Mexico and Canada, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus Foundation (TCCF).

Ninety-nine percent wanted the nation’s borders defended, not opened to unlimited immigration from Mexico and Canada, while 93% disagreed with the policy of implementing an NAU without the approval of Congress or the voters.

The cost of U.S. welfare benefits for Mexicans and Canadians was also a concern to 98%.

The poll was conducted by mail and received about 1,000 responses.

The Conservative Caucus Foundation (TCCF), founded in 1976, has published studies on many public policy issues, including some concerning a Constitutional Budget, Red China, the Panama Canal, the START treaties, and SDI.

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  Americans Against Amnesty  | January 25 2012 |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626

Obama’s Amnesty by Executive Power Has Little Public Support

The recent Obama administration decision to exempt most illegal aliens from deportation has little support from the American public, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus. Ninety-eight percent said that this was an abuse of executive branch authority, and 100% favored congressional hearings on the policy.

Respondents identified the major problems associated with illegal immigration as being taxpayer-funded welfare benefits (96%), increased crime (92%), and drug trafficking (92%).

The new Obama policy focuses only on the deportation of illegal aliens who have committed an additional, and serious, crime. Deportation proceedings against other illegal aliens were dismissed, granting them what amounts to amnesty.

The poll was conducted by mail, with about 10,000 responses.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton, and blocking passage of amnesty for illegal aliens.

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  Americans Strongly Oppose ObamaCare  | January 23, 2012 |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626

Americans Still Negative on ObamaCare

Americans expect ObamaCare to harm, rather than help the quality of healthcare, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus (TCC), and 60% feel "strongly" that it should be repealed.

At least 98% believe that ObamaCare will lead to fewer doctors, less research and development, and long waiting times.

Impatience is growing with the failure of the House of Representatives to make repeal of ObamaCare a priority, with 96% saying that Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and the Republican leadership must do more. Ninety-eight percent said that repealing ObamaCare would be a "very important" factor in deciding who to vote for in 2012, and 90% said they would support a "Tea Party-style Constitutional conservative" against a less conservative incumbent in a Republican primary.

The poll was conducted by mail, with about 4,000 responses.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton, and blocking passage of amnesty for illegal aliens.

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  Howard Phillips Retires, TCC Leadership Promises to Keep Up The Fight  | January 11, 2012 |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626

Phillips Retires After 37 Years of Leading The Conservative Caucus

Howard Phillips, founder of The Conservative Caucus (TCC) and its Chairman since 1974, has resigned, saying that recent health problems required that he "direct my energies on my health, my family life, my spiritual priorities, and my writings." He affirmed his gratitude "for the opportunities God has given me to work with such fine people and I remain wholeheartedly supportive of the important work and mission of this organization."

Phillips, now 70, led TCC through successful battles to block ratification of the SALT II Treaty, begin the SDI missile defense program, repeal the Catastrophic Coverage Act, prevent passage of Hillary Clinton’s socialized medicine scheme, and persuade the House of Representatives to impeach President Bill Clinton.

He visited all 50 states in campaigns against the Panama Canal treaties, SALT II, and the nuclear freeze. He also held organizational meetings in all 435 congressional districts during the early years of TCC.

His leadership in TCC’s Victory Over Communism project included support for anti-Communist freedom fighters in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, repeal of the Clark Amendment, Congressional approval of the MX missile, a 600-ship navy, and even a visit to Eastern Europe and the Baltic states as the Soviet empire began to show signs of collapse.

Phillips is a graduate of the Boston Latin School and Harvard, having served as President of the Harvard Student Council. He was one of the founders of Young Americans for Freedom.

Prior to founding The Conservative Caucus, he was Republican Chairman of Boston and campaign manager for Richard Schweiker’s successful 1968 Senate campaign in Pennsylvania.

During the Nixon administration, Phillips headed the President’s Council on Youth Opportunity and the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), and won nationwide conservative acclaim when he attempted to eliminate the OEO programs.

The Constitution Party (originally named the U.S. Taxpayers Party) nominated Phillips as its candidate for President in 1992, 1996, and 2000.

TCC’s Board of Directors expects to choose a new Chairman early in 2012, with Darrell Castle serving as interim Chairman. Castle was the 2008 Vice-presidential nominee of the Constitution Party.

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  Poll: Americans Oppose Amnesty  | December 20, 2011 | Digg This

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For further information, contact:
Charles Orndorff, 703-938-9626

Obama’s Amnesty by Executive Power Has Little Public Support

The recent Obama administration decision to exempt most illegal aliens from deportation has little support from the American public, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus. Ninety-eight percent said that this was an abuse of executive branch authority, and 96% favored congressional hearings on the policy.

The new Obama policy focuses only on the deportation of illegal aliens who have committed an additional, and serious, crime. Deportation proceedings against other illegal aliens were dismissed, granting them what amounts to amnesty.

The poll was conducted by mail, with about 10,000 responses.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton, and blocking passage of amnesty for illegal aliens.

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  Candidates: How to Restore the Constitution  | December 12, 2011 |

The Ten Actions That the Next President Should Take in Order to Restore Compliance with the U.S. Constitution
by Howard Phillips

  1. Issue an Executive Order for the cessation of all activities related to ObamaCare – no enforcement of provisions already in effect, and no preparations for provisions going into effect in 2014. No funds would be spent for any purpose related to ObamaCare, except what may be required to shut down current operations.

  2. Order the Department of Homeland Security to proceed with the deportation of all known illegal aliens.

  3. Instruct all cabinet members to review each program in their departments for constitutional justification and report to the President within 30 days. Follow these reports with a message to Congress, calling for a phase-out of unconstitutional programs during FY 2013.

  4. Prepare and send to Congress a balanced budget for FY 2014, eliminating unconstitutional programs, and promising to veto any bills containing unconstitutional spending.

  5. Promise to veto any further increase in the debt ceiling.

  6. Announce that U.S. armed forces will cease fighting undeclared wars and return home as quickly as the officers in command deem practical.

  7. Call on Congress to enact HR 1146, the American Sovereignty Restoration Act while immediately suspending all US payments to the United Nations and withdrawing from all participation in the United Nations.

  8. Appoint a commission to draft a plan to fund the Federal government entirely from tariffs and excises, with the income tax and the 16th Amendment to be repealed.

  9. Announce that no members will be appointed to the Federal Election Commission, ending its ability to enforce unconstitutional limitations on freedom of speech.

  10. Appoint a commission to prepare a plan for the phasing out of the Federal Reserve system.


  Americans Say "No" to North American Union  | November 21, 2011 | Digg This

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For further information, contact:
Charles Orndorff, 703-281-6782

North American Union Has Little Public Support

Few Americans support a North American Union (NAU) that would merge the government of the United States with those of Mexico and Canada, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus Foundation (TCCF).

Ninety-five percent described the NAU scheme as “an assault on our way of life”, ninety-nine percent saw it as a “betrayal of the Constitution”, and 99% also disagreed with the policy of implementing an NAU without the approval of Congress or the voters.

Defending the U.S. border with Mexico, rather than eliminating it, won 99% support. The cost of U.S. welfare benefits for Mexicans and Canadians was also a concern to 99%.

The poll was conducted by mail and received about 3,500 responses.

The Conservative Caucus Foundation (TCCF), founded in 1976, has published studies on many public policy issues, including some concerning a Constitutional Budget, Red China, the Panama Canal, the START treaties, and SDI.

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  Howard Phillips' Op-Ed in Roll Call  | November 17, 2011 | Digg This

Phillips: Stop Wasting Time; Balance the Budget

By Howard Phillips
Special to Roll Call - Nov. 16, 2011

It is time for conservatives in Congress to cease wasting time on a balanced budget constitutional amendment and focus on a specific plan to end the deficit through spending cuts.

A balanced budget amendment is a waste of time because it would fail to produce a balanced budget. It cannot be effectively enforced.

Enforcement would have to be the responsibility of Congress, the president or the federal courts. Congress will certainly not enforce such an amendment because it already has the power to balance the budget but has refused to do so.

An amendment would not change the basic political equation, which is that voters welcome government benefits while refusing to accept the taxes required to pay for those benefits. This guarantees that Congress would respond to a balanced budget amendment by seizing upon any loophole to evade it, and the amendments always include one or more such loopholes.

Most amendments allow Congress to continue deficit spending during a war, even an undeclared war. The amendments also allow Congress, by the vote of a supermajority, to suspend the balanced budget requirement whenever Congress wishes to do so. The political realities would make it much easier to obtain a three-fifths or two-thirds vote to “temporarily” continue spending than a majority to make painful and unpopular spending cuts.

Handing enforcement power to the president would be no more effective and would introduce dangerous side effects. The president would feel the same political constraints as Congress and would be unwilling to risk unpopularity for himself and his party.

However, giving him the power to make unilateral decisions on spending cuts would enormously increase the president’s influence over Congress. He would be able to threaten Members with the loss of spending considered vital for their state or district, forcing them into line when administration bills come up for a vote.

Our nation would suffer from the worst of both worlds as the president made small spending cuts to punish his political enemies while refusing to balance the budget.

Read the complete op-ed at: www.rollcall.com/issues/57_60/howard_phillips..


  Americans: No Citizenship for Children of Illegals | October 27, 2011 | Digg This

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626

AMERICANS OPPOSE CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN BORN TO ILLEGAL ALIENS

Most Americans oppose granting citizenship to children born in the United States to illegal aliens, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus. Eighty-nine percent oppose citizenship, with 83% saying they strongly oppose it.

Passage of the Birthright Citizenship Act (HR 140) was supported by 65%. This bill, introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-IA), would amend current law so that citizenship would not be conferred on anyone born in the United States unless at least one parent was a citizen or a legal visitor.

The poll was conducted by mail, with about 2,500 responses.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton, and blocking passage of amnesty for illegal aliens.

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  Americans: Ban Public Employee Unions | October 27, 2011 | Digg This

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626

Time to End Bargaining with Public Employee Unions

Government-employee unions should be banned, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus (TCC).

The ban was supported by 88%, compared to 8% supporting unions and 4% undecided. A ban on all types of political contributions by government-employee unions had 94% support, with only 2% disagreeing.

Seventy-eight percent believed that the 1961 legalization of government-employee unions at the Federal level was done for purely political reasons.

The poll was conducted by mail, with about 1,000 responses.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton, and blocking passage of amnesty for illegal aliens.

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  Eliminate Legal Services Corp. | October 12, 2011 | Digg This

LSC SHOULD BE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED

The good news is that Congress has cut funding for the left-wing radical-activist Legal Services Corporation (LSC). According to USA Today, 8/30/11, the LSC is "laying off employees, cutting services and increasingly turning away people who need assistance as slashed budgets face deeper cuts."

They’d save a lot more time and money if they stopped funding programs that promote abortion, sodomy and "welfare rights".

As reported by USA Today, "Congress cut funding for the Legal Services Corp. (LSC), an umbrella non-profit group that distributes grants to 136 programs on the state level." The cuts were for $15.8 million dollars, which is "about 4% of the program’s most recent budget".

In addition, "the House Appropriation Committee has proposed slashing an additional $104 million dollars for fiscal 2012, rolling back funding to $300 million dollars - a level not seen since 1999."

The LSC should not be receiving a single penny of taxpayer funds.


  Senator Malcolm Wallop | October 5, 2011 | Digg This

One of the greatest orators in the history of the U. S. Senate has died. Malcolm Wallop was out front on a number of important issues.

He was a determined anti-communist, and one of the initial enthusiastic supporters of SDI. He will certainly be missed. An obit in The Washington Post had this to say:


  Senator Charles Percy | September 30, 2011 | Digg This

CONSERVATIVE INDEPENDENTS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR PERCY DEFEAT IN 1989

I first met the late Senator Charles H. Percy when I was age 19 and President of the Harvard Student Council. I had contacted him, who was then running the Bell & Howell Corporation, about a possible speech to an event I was hosting. He was unable to accept my invitation, but we had a good conversation. Subsequently, I organized an independent U. S. Senate campaign in 1984, which was largely responsible for Percy losing his Senate seat.

Former Senator Charles Percy (R-Ill.) died September 17, 2011 at age 91. The obituary was reported in the Washington Post (9/18/11).


  Constitution Day Event | September 17, 2011 | Digg This
You are cordially invited to the

TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN
CONSTITUTION DAY
COMMEMORATION and PUBLIC EVENT
SEPTEMBER 17, 2011, ARLINGTON, VA


Celebrating September 17, 1787 when the Constitution of the United States was adopted.

The Agenda
Introductory Remarks by Howard Phillips, Chairman of The Conservative Caucus

Federal Budget Expert Peter Ferrara

Presentation by Howard Phillips of the
Andrew Jackson Champion of Liberty Award to Richard Norman, President of the Richard Norman Company.
Closing Remarks

Peter Ferrara is the Senior Policy Advisor for Social Security and Medicare with the Institute for Policy Innovation. He is also Director of the International Center for Law and Economics and President of the Virginia Club for Growth. He served as a senior staff member in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, and has practiced law with firms on Wall Street and in Washington, DC. He wrote the first book for the Cato Institute providing a comprehensive intellectual foundation for a personal account option for Social Security, Social Security: The Inherent Contradiction (1980), and has continued to write on that concept in further books, studies and articles for Cato, the Heritage Foundation, the National Center for Policy Analysis, the Family Research Council, the U.S Chamber of Commerce, and a wide range of other institutions and publications.


  News Release - Guest Availability | August 25, 2011 | Digg This
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
703-938-9626
TV@ConservativeUSA.org


Former Colleague of Dick Cheney Available for Interviews
on the Occasion of Cheney's Book Release
 
Conservative leader Howard Phillips is available for interviews and talk shows regarding Vice President Dick Cheney’s upcoming book; “In My Time.”
 
Mr. Phillips succeeded Mr. Cheney as the Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Office on Economic Opportunity in 1973; and Mr. Cheney welcomed Mr. Phillips to the post, saying “I’m glad you’ve signed on because you’ll do things here that we wouldn’t dare to do.” Indeed, Mr. Phillips worked to terminate Federal grants and contracts to left wing activist groups.
 
Mr. Phillips remarked he once told the Vice President; “next to Aaron Burr, you’re my favorite Vice President--but Burr was a better shot!”
 
Mr. Phillips opposed Mr. Cheney’s support for wage and price controls, which he and Don Rumsfeld advanced at the direction of President Nixon.
 
You are invited to bring this and more information about Vice President Cheney to your readers and listeners.
 
Mr. Phillips is the founder and Chairman of The Conservative Caucus, a non-partisan, nationwide grass-roots public policy advocacy group, headquartered near the nation’s Capital.
 
To interview Howard Phillips, contact TV@ConservativeUSA.org or 703-938-9626
 
Mr. Phillips' biography is at www.ConservativeUSA.org/hpbio.htm
 
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  Balanced Budget Amendment Letter | August 16, 2011 | Digg This

I sent the following letter to Senator McConnell as well as to Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Robert Goodlatte.

Please read and share with others the full critique of the balanced budget amendment.

July 29, 2011

Hon. Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader
U.S. Senate
S-230, U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20150

Dear Leader McConnell:

It is encouraging to see many members of Congress making an effort to move toward a balanced Federal budget by reducing spending rather than raising taxes.

However, it is disturbing that this is so often linked with support for a balanced budget amendment, as if such an amendment would actually result in a balanced budget.

The enclosed study, prepared by The Conservative Caucus Foundation, demonstrates that a balanced budget amendment would fail to bring about a balanced budget, but might dangerously shift power from Congress to the President and Federal judges.

I urge you and your staff to read this study, and to focus your efforts entirely on spending cuts, without wasting time on a purely symbolic balanced budget amendment.

I would be happy to discuss this further with you. Feel free to call me.

Sincerely,

Howard Phillips
Chairman
 


  Bobby Franklin | August 12, 2011 | Digg This

Rep. Bobby Franklin

A great American Constitutionalist, my friend Georgia Rep. Bobby Franklin, has been found dead on July 26, apparently of a heart attack. Here are some of the reports concerning Bobby Franklin’s life and career:

Bobby was a strong, pro-life advocate. He was the author of the Constitutional Tender Act, which aimed to make gold and silver the only legal tender for payments of debts by and to the state of Georgia, pursuant Article 1, Section 10 of the U. S. Constitution. He tried to outlaw all abortions. He was a strong defender of the right to keep and bear arms, and was a vigorous foe of state and local income taxes.

Bobby was a personal friend, and a great Patriot.


  Cut Government Pay | July 29, 2011 | Digg This

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Charles Orndorff
703-938-9626

Time to Cut Pay of Government Employees, Poll Says

Government-employee unions should be banned, according to a poll conducted by The Conservative Caucus (TCC).

The ban was supported by 88%, compared to 8% supporting unions and 4% undecided. A ban on all types of political contributions by government-employee unions had 94% support, with only 2% disagreeing.

Seventy-eight percent believed that the 1961 legalization of government-employee unions at the Federal level was done for purely political reasons.

The poll was conducted by mail, with about 1,000 responses.

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots public policy action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, having the U.S. House of Representatives impeach President Clinton, and blocking passage of amnesty for illegal aliens.

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  Charles Manatt | July 27, 2011 | Digg This

CHARLES T. MANATT

My friend, Charles "Chuck" Manatt, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has died. I met Chuck Manatt in 1960 when I debated him before an audience comprised of National Student Congress attendees. I represented Richard Nixon, and Manatt represented Jack Kennedy in the debate. Over the years, Manatt and I became friends and collaborated on various projects.

On the eve of the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, presidential nominee Walter Mondale tried to replace Manatt with Jimmy Carter buddy, Burt Lance. Mondale backed off after an outcry within the party, triggered in part by Mr. Manatt’s positive reputation in the ranks, and Mr. Lance’s ties to a banking scandal for which he had been tried and acquitted.

As President, Bill Clinton appointed Manatt to be Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, where he served from 1999 to 2001.


  Radio Interview | June 16, 2011 | Digg This

Recently, I did a 30-minute radio interview with Steve Martin and Jack McCarthy of WXME-AM in Monticello, Maine.

It was a very friendly interview and we covered a number of topics, including the North American Union (NAU).


  China in Angola | June 14, 2011 | Digg This

My son, Brad, and I spent two hours with Jardo Muekalia discussing the situation in Angola and Namibia.

Jardo observed that American oil companies remain active in Angola, and said that China’s presence is widespread, and that China has, in effect, become the bank of Angola.


  Letter to Sen. Coburn | March 22, 2011 | Digg This

March 18, 2011

Hon. Tom Coburn
United States Senate
172 Russell Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Tom:

I ask you to consider a change in Federal law, replacing the current statute which provides that, if a state refuses a Federal grant, the funding remains available and is reallocated to other states. This is what happened in Florida after the state government refused a high-speed rail grant.

Of course, this policy makes it much more difficult for governors to reject Federal grants. It leaves them vulnerable to the charge that they have done nothing to reduce Federal spending or the deficit. The rejection simply means that the taxpayers in the state are failing to obtain any benefit from a program that their taxes finance.

Federal laws can be changed to require that any funds rejected by a state would automatically be subtracted from the appropriation. This would allow governors to actually have an impact on the deficit when they refuse to accept unnecessary or harmful grants.

I hope you will take up this cause. In any event, I appreciate your consideration and admire the leadership you provide on so many fronts.

With personal best wishes, I am

Sincerely,

Howard Phillips

Chairman


  US/Canadian Border to be Abolished | March 15, 2011 | Digg This

March 10, 2011

Hon. John Boehner
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I strongly encourage you to have the appropriate House committees hold hearings to investigate the weakening of security along the Canadian border, as described by President Obama and Prime Minister Harper in their February 4 news conference.

The President’s decision to move toward a "North American Perimeter", with less demanding security along the U.S.-Canadian border, raises serious questions which should be investigated and debated by Congress.

Will this new perimeter provide protection equal to what Americans now enjoy? Would it have been sufficient to catch the terrorist who successfully entered Canada and then attempted to cross the border into the U.S. in 1999 with the intention of killing Americans as they celebrated the arrival of the year 2000?

Does this new perimeter reduce American independence, surrendering to Canada the Federal government’s Constitutional responsibility to protect the American people? Will it pave the way for a future North American Union, merging the United States, Canada, and Mexico into a superstate modeled on the European Union?

I hope that the House will exercise its oversight responsibility on this important matter.

Sincerely,

Howard Phillips

Chairman


  Senator Jim McClure | March 7, 2011 | Digg This

JIM MCCLURE WAS AN OUTSTANDING SENATOR

Jim McClure, a three-term U.S Senator from Idaho, has died at the age of 87. Senator McClure was a good friend who worked closely with me on a number of projects.

I recall the role he played introducing Henry Kissinger at the 1980 Republican National Convention. I did my best to persuade him to abandon that assignment, but he graciously declined my request.

He would have been the Republican leader in the U.S. Senate, but lost in a five-way contest in which Bob Dole prevailed.


  Conservative Roundtable | March 2, 2011 | Digg This

We taped three excellent programs of Conservative Roundtable on February 16 Channel 10 headquarters. Our guests were Dick Patten (President of the American Family Business Institute), who comprehensively discussed the death tax from the Federal and state perspective; Larry Pratt (Executive Director of Gun Owners of America); and Wendy Wright (President of Concerned Women for America).

Watch Conservative Roundtable on your local cable TV or on Youtube


  Repeal ObamaCare Website | Digg This

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


For further information: contact:

 

Charles Orndorff: 703-938-9626

Americans 'Send Them a Message' to Repeal ObamaCare!

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) launched the "Pledge to Repeal ObamaCare" campaign at www.SendThemAMessage.com. Americans are urged to visit and print the Pledge to Repeal ObamaCare and get their Senators, Representative and candidates for the House and Senate to sign the pledge.

Howard Phillips, TCC’s Chairman, announced the campaign and the launch of www.SendThemAMessage.com, "This is a vital step in repealing Obama’s Socialist medicine scheme, to help keep the pressure on members of Congress to resist the influence of special interests and liberals in both parties who will be lobbying to avoid repealing ObamaCare.

Make no mistake, there are many powerful individuals and companies who will quickly learn how to profit from health care rationing and other elements of Socialist medicine; they will fight efforts by Americans to repeal this dangerous scheme."

Mr. Phillips invited Americans to pass the word to their friends; "As concerned citizens, your action and that of your friends can make the difference, and I invite you to visit SendThemAMessage.com now and send ‘them’ a message."

In conclusion, Mr. Phillips noted the effectiveness of videoing pledge signing and deliveries, "Under the scrutiny of a video camera, you may find members of Congress and candidates more willing to be courageous and sign the pledge to repeal ObamaCare, than in the quiet of their office with special interests looking over their shoulder."

The Conservative Caucus (TCC) is a grass roots action organization, formed in 1974. It was active in opposing the ObamaCare bill, defeating the SALT II Treaty, repealing the Catastrophic Coverage Act, blocking the Clinton health-care takeover, and impeaching President Clinton.

Watch the video: Here's HOW to Stop Obamacare Socialized Medicine

-- 30 --


  Home Schooling  | Digg This

Recently I was asked "If you were going to homeschool your own children today, what curriculum and method would you choose?".

I am, in fact, helping to homeschool four of my grandchildren, and my method is very simple: a) I share life experiences with them, b) I give them books to read which I think are of particular value and importance, c) I ask them to write reports on each of those books, d) I emphasize vocabulary and grammar, et cetera. So far, each of them is doing very well on their College Board tests and college admissions.

My youngest son, Sam, was homeschooled, even while he resided in his mother’s womb, and he was accepted at every college to which he applied, including Hampden-Sydney, William and Mary, Virginia Military Institute, Christendom College, and The Citadel. In most cases, he was offered scholarships.

We had no fixed curriculum, but we made sure he was well versed in the Constitution, the Bible, current events, history, et cetera.

You also ask "If you were going to invest in career education today, where would you place a bet on demand for the future? What skills would you develop in order to be a viable worker in the economy of the future?".

My answer is very simple. There will always be a demand for integrity, energy, as well as verbal and written communication skills.

Good men are hard to find, and they usually will have no problem whatsoever in finding suitable opportunities.

Thanks for asking.
Howard Phillips


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