WASHINGTON, DC:
In September, we sent a Memo for the Movement declaring that Congress should not hold a “lame duck” session after the 2016 elections. Historically, lame duck sessions have been used to enact massive backroom deals containing spending increases, tax increases, and ratifications of treaties that threaten U.S. sovereignty. Furthermore, lame duck sessions are fundamentally undemocratic – legislators who have just been defeated in an election or are just retiring are no longer accountable for the votes they take.
Donald Trump has been elected President, and in January, Republicans will have unified control of the government. It is more important than ever that the actions Congress take in the lame duck session respond to the mandate that the voters expressed on November 8.
Specifically, this means that Congress should not pass a bloated omnibus spending bill that will fund the government well into the new term of President-elect Trump. Rather, Congress should pass a short-term Continuing Resolution that will give the new president – and the new Congress – a chance to implement their own spending priorities.
Conservatives are already calling for this. The Republican Study Committee released a statement calling on the House to pass “a very short-term continuing resolution” that will fund the government without limiting the options of the new President and the new Congress.
With the exception of the spending bill, the entire slate of potential legislation that could be considered in the lame duck session would be improved if President Trump were expected to sign these laws, rather than President Obama. Furthermore, there is no pressing reason why any of it cannot wait until January 20, when the new Congress and new President have been sworn in.
President-elect Trump has released his agenda for his first 100 days. Among his top priorities are repealing Obamacare, and constructing a wall at the Southern border. If this Congress passes an omnibus spending bill, it will effectively remove the President-elect’s ability to implement his legislative agenda. Thus any attempt by the current Congress to pass anything other than a short-term Continuing Resolution is an affront to the democratic ideals they are sworn to represent.
On November 8, American voters gave the Republican party control of the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Republican majorities in the House and Senate should not squander this mandate by negotiating deals with a departing president that will bind the hands of the new GOP majority, and the new Republican president.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Former Attorney General President Ronald Reagan |
The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop Chairman, Conservative Action Project Former White House Advisor, President Ronald Reagan |
| Cleta Mitchell, Esq. |
The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
| The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Former Domestic Advisor President Ronald Reagan |
Michael A. Needham Chief Executive Officer Heritage Action for America |
| The Honorable Colin A. Hanna President Let Freedom Ring, Inc. |
Diana Banister President and Partner Shirley & Banister Public Affairs |
| The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
| Ed Corrigan Former Executive Director Senate Steering Committee |
Richard A. Viguerie Chairman ConservativeHQ.com |
| William L. Walton Vice President Council for National Policy |
Alfred S. Regnery Chairman Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund |
| Dr. Michael P. Farris, J.D., LL.M. Chancellor & Founder, Patrick Henry College Chairman & Founder, Home School Legal Defense Association |
Trent England Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and David and Ann Brown Distinguished Fellow Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs |
| Ali Akbar Senior Advisor BlackConservativesFund.com |
Bill Dallas CEO United in Purpose |
| Robert K. Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
Floyd Brown Chairman Western Center for Journalism |
| Penny Pullen President Life Advocacy Resource Project |
Allen J. Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship |
| Peter J. Thomas Chairman Americans for Constitutional Liberty |
Haley Martin President The Martin Foundation |
| Lewis K. Uhler Founder and President National Tax Limitation Committee |
Matt Mackowiak Executive Director Fight For Tomorrow |
| Joel Anand Samy Co-Founder and PresidentInternational Leaders Summit |
Willes K. Lee President National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
| Lee A. Beaman Chief Executive Officer Beaman Automotive |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
| Angelo M. Codevilla Professor Emeritus Boston University |
Bob Adams President Revive America PAC |
| Ken Cuccinelli President Senate Conservatives Fund |
Kelly Monroe Kullberg American Association of Evangelicals (AAE) |
| L. Martin Nussbaum Attorney Colorado |
Nadine Maenza Executive Director Patriot Voices |
| Col. Francis X. De Luca USMCR(Ret) President Civitas Institute |
Christopher Malagisi President Young Conservatives Coalition |
| Kevin D. Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
Charles J. Cooper Cooper & Kirk, PLLC |
| William Shaker President Rule of Law Committee |
The Honorable Briscoe Cain Texas Legal Counsel for Operation Rescue Texas State Representative-Elect HD-128 |
| Adam Brandon President FreedomWorks |
Mike Spence President Conservative Republicans of California |
| Melvin Adams President and COO RENEWANATION |
Catherine Engelbrecht Founder and President True the Vote |
| Tricia Erickson President, Angel Pictures & Publicity, Inc. Publisher: www.TheConservativePundit.net |
Cathi Herrod President Center for Arizona Policy (CAP) |
| David Williams President Taxpayers Protection Alliance |
Susan Carleson Chairman and CEO American Civil Rights Union |
| The Honorable James C. Miller III Former Director of OMB President Ronald Reagan |
Tim LeFever Chairman Capitol Resource Institute |
| Rod D. Martin Founder and CEO The Martin Organization |
Sherri R. Martin Executive Vice President The Martin Organization |
| Nicholas Stehle Campaign for the American Future |
Shawn A. Mitchell National Chaplain, National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) |
| The Honorable Jerry Melvin President Florida Republican Assembly |
Anthony Allen President Hannibal-LaGrange University |
| Barry Creamer President Criswell College |
Gary A. Marx President Madison Strategies |
| Ted Baehr Publisher MOVIEGUIDE(R) |
Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
| Joseph A. Morris Morris & De La Rosa |
C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
| Belden Bell Co-Chair Heritage Legacy Society |
The Honorable Mike Hill Former Member Florida State House of Representatives |
| Dr. Richard G. Lee President There’s Hope America Inc. |
Robert D. Thompson Administrator The Weyrich Lunch |
| Larry Cirignano DC Representative Children First Foundation |
William Shaker President Rule of Law Committee |
| Amy Ridenour Chairman The National Center for Public Policy Research |
Jenny Beth Martin Co-Founder Tea Party Patriots |
| The Honorable Steve Stockman U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Texas |
Fran Griffin, President Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation |
| J. Christian Adams Public Interest Legal Foundation |
Thomas Pyle President American Energy Alliance |
| George Rasley Editor, Richard Viguerie’s ConservativeHQ.com |
Rich Bott President/CEO Bott Radio Network |
| Dick Bott Chairman/Founder Bott Radio Network |
Frank J. Gaffney President and CEO Center for Security Policy |
| Becky Gerritson President Wetumpka TEA Party (AL) |
Dee Hodges President Maryland Taxpayers Association |
| Michael J. Bowen CEO Coalition For a Strong America |
Ambassador Henry F. Cooper Former Director of President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative and Chief US Negotiator at the Geneva Defense and Space Talks |
| Andresen Blom Executive Director Grassroot Hawaii Action |
Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
| Beverly Gossage President HSA Benefits Consulting |
Tim Macy Chairman Gun Owners of America |
| Paul Caprio Director Family Pac Federal |
Gerrye Johnston Founder/CEO Women for Democracy in America, Inc. |
| Herman Cain, CEO www.hermancain.com |
Jim Martin Chairman 60 Plus Association |
| Phillip L. Jauregui President Judicial Action Group |
Linwood Bragan Executive Director CapStand Council for Policy & Ethics |
| Ginni Thomas President Liberty Consulting |
Joe R. Calvert President Rabon and Calvert Interests |
| Samuel B. Casey General Counsel American Conservancy Action |
Robert S. Hathorne Citizen United States of America |
| Michael R. Long State Chairman New York State Conservative Party |
Jay Mount President MDS Communications Corporation |
| Mathew D. Staver Founder and Chairman Liberty Counsel |
Kenneth R. Timmerman 2012 Republican Nominee Congress (MD-8) |
| Stephen Stone President Renew America |
Tim Wildmon President AFA |
| Sandy Rios Director of Governmental Affairs AFA |
Melissa Ortiz Founder & Principal Able Americans |
| Terrence Scanlon Retired President Capital Research Center |
Dr. James C. Dobson Founder & President Dr. James Dobson’s FamilyTalk |
(All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only)
