Although the links are no longer valid, the articles below were saved in their entirety and adequately document Republican intent to gut government by any means possible.
Republicans didn't accomplish slashing government and regulations through a Sunset Commission, rather from Tax Cuts for the Wealthy and the Sequestration. Government no longer works and they proved it by failing to fund it as we saw in the Amtrak catastrophe.
Is this the country we want to live in? What other successful nation follows this path?
Apparently rushing to lock in a long-sought goal before the fall elections, GOP congressional leaders may bring to a vote within weeks a proposal that could literally wipe out any federal program that protects public health or the environment--or for that matter civil rights, poverty programs, auto safety, education, affordable housing, Head Start, workplace safety or any other activity targeted by anti-regulatory forces.
With strong support from the Bush White House and the Republican Study Committee, the proposal would create a "sunset commission"--an unelected body with the power to recommend whether a program lives or dies, and then move its recommendations through Congress on a fast-track basis with limited debate and no amendments.
Three leading proposals have been introduced and are being winnowed into a final version. They would give the White House some--or total--authority to nominate members to the commission. House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has confirmed that his office is coordinating development of a final version for prompt floor action.
Sunset commissions have been proposed, and defeated, before. But public interest veterans say the current situation is unlike any in the past, because the House Republican Study Committee, which includes some of the most anti-regulatory members of Congress, has secured guaranteed floor consideration of a sunset bill.
If such a bill should become law, the sunset commission could be packed with industry lobbyists and representatives from industry-funded think tanks, and could conduct its business in secrecy. Two of the sunset proposals under consideration would mandate that programs die after they are reviewed, unless Congress takes action to save them.
Several environmental programs have been targeted during past sunset attempts. Experts predict those would be among the first a sunset commission would review. Among them: the Energy Star Program; federal support for mass transit; the State Energy Program, which supports numerous state and local energy renewable efficiency programs; the Clean School Bus Program; the Land and Water Conservation Fund; federal grants for Wastewater infrastructure; a national children's health study that examines factors leading to such problems as premature birth, autism, obesity, asthma, and exposures to pesticides, mercury and other toxic chemicals.
A coalition of public interest groups is fighting to block enactment of a sunset commission. Information is available through the Sunset Commission Action Center at OMB Watch.
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Washington, DC 20036 | (202) 783-7400
Web site comments: info@bushgreenwatch.org
Copyright 2006 Friends of the Earth
Once again, Congress is attempting to dismantle critical programs – and even entire agencies – by creating so-called “Sunset Commissions” made up of unelected and unaccountable appointees, operating behind closed doors.
Can you imagine a nation that would send its soldiers and sailors off to war, only to take away their health care benefits when they return? That’s exactly what could happen if H.R. 5766 or H.R. 3282 passes.
Under these so-called “Sunset Commission” bills, there is almost no program or agency that would be safe, including Medicare, Veterans benefits and even Social Security. The bills have other problems too:
- HR 5766 is unconstitutional, allowing Congress to shirk its duty and delegate power to a commission appointed by the President.
- Fast track approval process for the commissions’ recommendations included in both bills is the wrong way to make policy affecting the safety and well-being of millions of Americans.
- Commission members would be accountable to no one, with no incentive to protect programs impacting education, the environment, workers, housing, nutrition, transportation and other programs on which Americans rely.
In fact, appointees could include those with ties to powerful corporations and their CEOs intent on increasing profits at the expense the health and safety of Americans. With the lack of accountability and fast track approval process, it is impossible to predict what protections and programs would be gutted.
In fact, the commissions’ ability to operate in secret brings to mind Vice President Cheney’s “energy task force.” With the price of gas what it is today, is that the kind of secrecy we want from our government?
Instead of creating a shadowy commission, operating behind closed doors, our Representatives should do their job. Passing legislation that passes the buck from an elected Congress to an unelected commission is the last thing that Congress should be doing.
Sincerely,
Kristin Keckeisen
Campaign Manager, People Over Profits
Campaign Manager, People Over Profits
Act Now: Help Save Federal Programs from the "Sunset Commission" Chopping Block!
Two frightening bills are moving forward in the House of Representatives. Each would create unelected, unaccountable commissions with the authority to decide the fate of federal programs. Members of the House will vote on one or both of these bills next week.
Let your representative know you don't want an unelected body making important decisions about how our government is structured and run. That's the job we elected Congress to do, and lawmakers should be doing it - not giving it away to a "sunset commission!"
Both bills, one sponsored by Rep. Todd Tiahrt (H.R. 5766) and one by Rep. Kevin Brady (H.R. 3282), would give an unelected panel the power to examine federal programs and create legislation to reorganize important programs or even do away with them completely.
Save the programs you care about from the chopping block!
The White House has tried for years to eliminate, or slash the budgets of, programs that we believe in, including those that provide help for veterans, clean drinking water of communities, shelters for domestic violence victims, and meals for low-income seniors, even emergency medical care for children.
Until now, Congress and concerned citizens have been able to save them, but "sunset commissions" would change that.
The legislation that these unelected commissions come up with - critical legislation for programs we care about - will be pushed through Congress with no public hearings, limited debate in Congress, and little opportunity for lawmakers to offer amendments.
You can stop "sunset commissions."
Vote 'No' to H.R. 5766 and H.R. 3282!
Visit our Sunset Commission Action Center to send a letter to Congress, tell a friend, and support this effort.
And find out more at OMB Watch's Sunset Commission Resource Center.
Gary D. Bass
Executive Director
OMB Watch
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