Time: Tue Dec 02 08:51:09 1997 To: From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar] Subject: SLS: Questions sent to Congress (fwd) Cc: Bcc: sls References: <snip> > > Netline To Congress > Information & Explanation About Netline To Congress > > Previous Questions > >1. 8-4-97 Should public officials who violate their "Oath of Office" >in any way or manner be impeached immediately? Results: YES=98% >NO=2% > >2. 8-5-97 Do you believe that Congress and the President have >actually lowered taxes, reduced spending, and prepared a budget that >could ever be balanced? Results: YES=0% NO=100% > >3. 8-6-97 The influx of Chinese imports have created a U.S. trade >deficit of near $100 Billion dollars by competing American Workers >against Chinese slave labor. Should Congress rescind the Favored >Nation status granted China this year? Results: YES=100% NO=0% > >4. 8-7-97 Since the passage of the Gatt Agreement, millions of >Americans have lost their jobs. Should Congress vote to remove the >United States from participation in the Gatt Agreement and thus avoid >the arbitrary authority of the international World Trade >Organization, which enforces Gatt? Results: YES=100% NO=0% > >5. 8-08-97 The Framers of the Constitution believed that serving in >Congress was an honorable and patriotic duty, not an occupation or >profession. Would you agree with Congress limiting its sessions to >two (2) months per year and its members being paid a travel allowance >and a reasonable per diem fee while in session, instead of a salary >and pension? Results: YES=93% NO=7% > >6. 8-11&12-97 In the latest Budget, Congress apparently gave >approval to President Clinton to negotiate an expansion of NAFTA. A >negotiated expansion, according to the latest Budget Bill, will then >be voted on by Congress with a "fast track" yes or no vote and no >debate. Do you think Congress should vote to defeat any expansion of >NAFTA? Results: YES=95% NO=5% > >7. 8-13-97 Reportedly, U.S. armed forces are based in approximately >100 countries. Except for a few strategic bases, do you think >Congress should vote to bring our military personnel home and close >most of the foreign bases? Results: YES=81% NO=19% > >8. 8-14-97 Do you think Congress should abolish the income tax? >Results: YES=95% NO=5% > >9. 8-19-97 Would you like for Congress to propose a Constitutional >Amendment that would abolish lifetime appointments of federal judges >and that would require all federal judgeships be filled by election >every 4 years, within the district for district courts, within the >circuit for Court of Appeals, and nationally for the Supreme Court, >and which prohibits consecutive re-election? Results: YES=79% >NO=21% > >10. 8-20-97 Over 2 years ago the President told the Congress and the >American People that U.S. troops would be in Bosnia not longer than 1 >year. Do you think that Congress should stop the funding for U.S. >troops in Bosnia? Results: YES=100% NO=0% > >11. 8-21-97 In 1979 there were approximately 11 federal law >enforcement agencies. Today, 18 years later, there are 32 such >executive branch agencies with over 60,000 armed agents, >collectively. Most of these agencies have trained "swat teams", >members of which wear black ski masks, black ninja-like clothing, and >black boots. They are armed with sophisticated automatic weapons and >sniper rifles, and they are primarily trained to kill. Do you believe >that Congress should refuse to fund 32 federal law enforcement >agencies and 60,000 armed federal agents? Results: YES=100% NO=0% > >12. 8-22-97 Should Congress pass a law which allows terminally ill >patients the right to choose any alternative or experimental drug, >therapy, treatment or procedure? Results: YES=86% NO=14% > >13. 8-25-97 Should Congress pass a law which limits campaign >contributions by individuals and corporations to any federal office >candidate to $1,000 or less, and which prohibits pac contributions? >Results: YES=93% NO=7% > >14. 8-26-97 The Constitution identifies only 4 federal crimes. In >Article I Section 8, it says Congress shall have the power "To >provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and >current coin of the United States...To define and punish Piracies and >Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of >Nations." In Article III, Treason is listed. Article III also >requires that the Trial of all crimes be held in the State where the >crimes were committed. The constitution does not provide for the >establishment of any federal law enforcement agencies. Article VI >states that all executive state officers shall be bound by Oath or >Affirmation to support the Constitution. Thus, such officers (ie., >Sheriffs) have constitutional authority to enforce the aforementioned >federal crimes. Should Congress repeal all federal criminal laws not >specifically provided for in the constitution and abolish all federal >law enforcement agencies? Results: YES=88% NO=12% > >15. 8-27-97 Should Congress act quickly and impeach all elected >federal officials who accepted illegal campaign contributions in 1994 >and 1996? Results: YES=99% NO=1% > >16. 8-28-97 In light of the 1st Amendment's guarantee of the right >of freedom of speech and the right of the people peaceably to >assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances, >should Congress refrain from passing any law which, in any way or >manner, regulates the Internet? Results: YES=91% NO=9% > >17. 8-29-97 Recently, the United States Supreme Court ruled part of >the Brady gun law to be unconstitutional. In light of this decision >and the 2nd Amendment's guarantee of the "right of the people to keep >and bear Arms," should Congress repeal the Brady gun law? Results: >YES=98% NO=2% > >18. 9-2-97 There is a growing belief in the United States that >voting fraud at the ballot box is a major problem that is enhanced by >the use of mechanical voting machines and computers. Should Congress >pass a law requiring that all federal elections be conducted by paper >ballots, which must be manually counted and certified at the polling >place before being released to any other authorities? Results: >YES=86% NO=14% > >19. 9-3-97 Should Congress live up to the Republican Contract with >America of 1994, and abolish the Department of Education, thus >effectively canceling such programs as "Goals 2000" and "Outcome >Based Education"? Results: YES=98% NO=2% > >20. 9-4-97 A Bill has been introduced in Congress (H.R. 2369), which >would make it unlawful for the public (including amateur radio >operators) to possess and listen to scanner and short-wave radio's. >Should Congress pass this Bill and make it law? Results: YES=2% >NO=98% > >21. 9-5-97 Congress in August & September of 1996 passed into law, >Public Law 104-193 (Welfare Reform law) and 104-208 (Immigration >Reform Law). Most provisions of these laws become effective and >operational October 1, 1997. Together these laws specifically >provide for the identification, tracking, and locating of all >American citizens through the use of a newly developed integrated >information system of state and federal computers and databases. >Besides names and addresses, the social security number is to be used >to identify all citizens contained within the system. Provision is >also made, by over broad generic type legal wording, for biometric >information (i.e., fingerprints) to be added to the databases, when >required by rules passed by the agencies involved in enforcing the >laws. Additionally, the laws require that the following information >be added to the databases for regular and periodic, and on-demand >cross-matching of names, addresses and social security numbers (when >lacking, social security numbers must now be added to the following >information): all birth & death certificates; all passports; all >newly hired employees by all employers; all driver licenses; all >occupational, vocational, and recreational licenses (i.e., doctors, >lawyers, electricians, barbers, boats, off-road vehicles, hunting & >fishing licenses); all child support & alimony court orders; all >financial institution accounts (bank, credit union, savings & loan, >and stock brokerages); and all recipient accounts of any state or >federal benefit program. The databases are to be accessible to many >federal, state and local county agencies. Public law 104-193 >requires that all financial accounts be checked by the system every >90 days. Public Law 104-208 provides for a national ID card by the >year 2000. Question: Should Congress repeal these laws? Results: >YES=98% NO=2% > >22. 9-8-97 Several bills have recently been introduced in Congress >that would eliminate or restrict American citizens' right to own or >possess handguns, rifles, and shotguns. The 2nd Amendment to the >Constitution of the United States says that, "the right of the people >to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". All Senators and >Representatives, pursuant to Article VI of the Constitution, are >bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support the Constitution. Should >any Member of Congress who votes in favor of eliminating or >restricting the right to own or possess firearms be impeached for >violating his "Oath of Office" to support the Constitution? Results: >YES=98% NO=2% > >23. 9-9-97 Should Congress pass a law that requires that every >legislative act introduced contain a statement which specifically >states the Constitutional authority or provision(s) that supports the >proposed legislation? Results: YES=96% NO=4% > >24. 9-10-97 The Clinton Administration is pushing for legislation >that would require privacy software manufacturers to provide the FBI >with "trap door" decryption keys. Should Congress pass legislation >that would require privacy software manufacturers to provide the FBI >or any other government agency with decryption keys? Results: YES=0% >NO=100% > >25. 9-11-97 Clinton administration officials are considering >legislation that would allow law enforcement officers to gain broad >access to patients' medical records, with hardly any restrictions on >use or redisclosure of the information. The 4th Amendment guarantees >the Right against unreasonable searches and seizures; the 5th >Amendment guarantees the Right against self incrimination; and the >Supreme Court has interpreted the 5th and 14th Amendments as >guaranteeing the Right to privacy. In light of these Constitutional >Rights, should Congress pass legislation which would allow law >enforcement officers access to a patient's medical records before >such officials notified the patient and obtained a judicial order >pursuant to a court hearing, in which it was determined that the >patient's Constitutional Rights would not be violated? Results: >YES=2% NO=98% > >26. 9-12-97 Should Congress vote to give the President the power to >negotiate trade agreements that are executed pursuant to a "fast >track" protocol, whereby it does not debate or make changes to an >agreement but only votes "yes" or "no" with respect to an agreement, >thus delegating to the President its authority and responsibility to >make the laws of the United States, under Article I of the >Constitution? Results: YES=1% NO=99% > >27. 9-15-97 Do you believe Congress should initiate impeachment >proceedings against President Clinton and Vice President Gore for >campaign finance violations? Results: YES=95% NO=5% > >28. 9-16-97 Janet Reno was appointed Attorney General by President >Clinton. As the highest law enforcement officer in the Nation, she >was bound by "Oath" to support the Constitution and Laws of the >United States. In Light of an obvious conflict of interest, should >Congress impeach Janet Reno for obstructing the due administration of >justice, which is grounded upon her failure and apparent refusal to >appoint an Independent Counsel to investigate campaign finance >violations? Results: YES=98% NO=2% > >29. 9-17-97 Many professional pilots and other workers in the >airline industry, as well as frequent flyers, believe the Nation's >air traffic control system needs substantial improvement. Do you >think Congress should treat this matter as a priority item and >appropriate the necessary funds so that the FAA can install and >maintain a state-of-the-art air traffic control system nationwide? >Results: YES=82% NO=18% > >30. 9-18-97 Under the Constitution, Congress is supposed to make the >laws, and the President is supposed to "take Care that the Laws be >faithfully executed." Since 1933, Congress has ignored this >separation of powers and has allowed Presidents to issue Executive >Orders with regard to various matters. Executive Orders essentially >have the same impact as if they were laws passed by Congress. Should >Congress restore the separation of powers concept, as mandated by the >Constitution, and repeal all laws which give the President authority >to issue and enforce Executive Orders? Results: YES=99% NO=1% > >31. 9-19-97 Should Congress include an automatic date of expiration >in all laws passed, which does not exceed 5 years? Results: YES=78% >NO=22% > >32. 9-22-97 Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) has introduced a Bill in >Congress, H.R. 1146, named THE AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY RESTORATION ACT >OF 1997. If passed, as introduced, H.R. 1146 would require the >complete withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations and >would essentially end United States participation in U.N. activities. >Should Congress vote to pass H.R. 1146, as introduced, and thus vote >to end the United States' participation in the United Nations? >Results: YES=93% NO=7% > >33. 9-23-97 Should Congress increase the minimum age for a person to >be able to qualify for social security benefits? Results: YES=11% >NO=89% > >34. 9-24-97 James Madison, one of the Framers of the Constitution, >strongly advocated that the three branches of the federal government >be completely separated. He emphasized and discussed this doctrine, >as incorporated into the Constitution, in "The Federalist Papers", >(#51). With respect to the Judicial Branch, the president of the >Florida Bar Association, in a 1994 publication, stated that Lawyers >were "Officers of the Court" and, like judges, were an "integral part >of the Judiciary." QUESTION: Should Congress impeach and remove all >Members of Congress who are also lawyers and members of the Bar >Association, on the grounds that such Members have violated their >Oath or Affirmation to support the Constitution, since being both a >member of the Judicial and legislative branches violates the >Constitution's "Separation of Powers Doctrine?" Results: YES=98% >NO=2% > >35. 9-25-97 A National ID card is a document that reasonably >identifies a person and indicates that person's country of >citizenship. Public Law 104-208 was passed by Congress on September >30, 1996. Section 657 of that law, titled "DEVELOPMENT OF PROTOTYPE >OF COUNTERFEIT-RESISTANT SOCIAL SECURITY CARD" (now found and buried >only as a note approximately 25 pages following the main body text of >Title 42 Sec. 405 of the United States Code), states: "(a) >Development-- (1) In general.--The Commissioner of Social Security >(in this section referred to as the "Commissioner") shall, in >accordance with the provisions of this section, develop a prototype >of a counterfeit-resistant social security card. Such prototype >card-- (A) shall be made of a durable, tamper-resistant material such >as plastic or polyester; (B) shall employ technologies that provide >security features, such as magnetic stripes, holograms, and >integrated circuits; and (C) shall be developed so as to provide >individuals with reliable proof of citizenship"... QUESTION: Do you >believe, based on the wording of Section 657 of Public Law 104-208, >quoted above, that Congress has passed a law which directs the >development of a National ID Card? Results: YES=95% NO=5% > >36. 9-26-97 This question is closely related and is a sequel to >yesterday's question. A National ID card is a document that >reasonably identifies a person and indicates that person's country of >citizenship. Public Law 104-208 was passed by Congress on September >30, 1996. Section 657 of that law, titled "DEVELOPMENT OF PROTOTYPE >OF COUNTERFEIT-RESISTANT SOCIAL SECURITY CARD" (now found and buried >only as a Note approximately 25 pages following the main body text of >Title 42 Sec. 405 of the United States Code), states: "(a) >Development-- (1) In general.--The Commissioner of Social Security >(in this section referred to as the "Commissioner") shall, in >accordance with the provisions of this section, develop a prototype >of a counterfeit-resistant social security card. Such prototype >card-- (A) shall be made of a durable, tamper-resistant material such >as plastic or polyester; (B) shall employ technologies that provide >security features, such as magnetic stripes, holograms, and >integrated circuits; and (C) shall be developed so as to provide >individuals with reliable proof of citizenship"... QUESTION: Do you >believe that Section 657 of Public Law 104-208, quoted above, >provides for the establishment of a National ID Card and, further, >that Congress should repeal the law, immediately? Results: YES=96% >NO=4% > >37. 9-29-97 Many Public laws, or parts thereof, passed by Congress >are difficult to find because they are placed as Notes following the >main text of a particular statute section in the United States Code >(appearing in small print and often positioned many pages past the >main text of the statute), which is composed of 50 separate Titles. >Because of this practice many laws of important consequence go >unnoticed by the public. QUESTION: Should Congress pass a law which >requires that an enacted Public Law, and all parts thereof, be placed >within the main text of the proper code section of the United States >Code? Results: YES=100% NO=0% > >38. 9-30-97 Should Congress continue to pass laws which make it >easier for the FBI, BATF, DEA, etc., to come into your home anytime >they desire and to look for anything of interest to them? Results: >YES=2% NO=98% > >39. 10-6-97 Several possible tax reform schemes may be considered by >Congress in the near future, one of which is a flat tax, and another >is a national sales tax. QUESTION: Do you favor Congress passing a >flat tax law as opposed to a national sales tax law? Results: >YES=39% NO=61% > >40. 10-8-97 In recent years Congress has deregulated several >industries. QUESTION: Should Congress repeal all laws which control >and regulate farming and agriculture? Results: YES=88% NO=12% > >41. 10-9-97 Should Congress allow Ted Turner to claim his donation >of 1 Billion Dollars to the United Nations as a tax exempt donation? >Results: YES=5% NO=95% > >42. 10-17-97 SUBJECT: Vitamins By Prescription. The GATT agreement, >as enforced by the World Trade Organization (WTO), requires that >Federal & State laws be made to harmonize with the laws of other >countries that signed the agreement. Several participating >countries, like Germany, allow the use of vitamins, minerals, and >food supplements only by a doctor's prescription. A German >pharmaceutical company has filed a complaint with the WTO to force >the United States to likewise require a doctor's prescription for >such health foods. Additionally, the House of Representatives and the >Senate have recently passed separate versions of legislation (H.R. >1411 & S.830) which, by way of Food & Drug Administration >regulations, would make, if a joint conference committee report is >adopted, vitamins, minerals, and food supplements, prescription >items. QUESTION: Should Congress pass a law which requires that you >have a doctor's prescription to buy and use vitamins, minerals, and >food supplements? Results: YES=1% NO=99% > >43. 10-22-97 For almost 3 months, since Netline To Congress began >asking the Question of the Day, several Members of Congress have >requested that only e-mail reflecting the opinions of their >constituents be sent to them. Netline To Congress has refused to >agree to such requests. QUESTION: Do you believe that Members of >Congress should only consider the opinions of their constituents when >voting or taking action on proposed legislation or Congressional >matters? Results: YES=18% NO=82% > >44. 10-23-97 On the Jim Lehrer TV News Hour Show, Wednesday, October >22,1997, Congressman Bill Archer (R-TX), announced his collaboration >with President Clinton to bring out of committee a legislative Bill >to "fix" the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Archer openly admitted >that he was aware that Americans would say NO to just "fixing" the >I.R.S. Speaker Gingrich appeared on the same program and advocated >the total abolishment of the I.R.S. QUESTION: In light of these >congressmen's statements and the recent testimony before the Senate >of gross I.R.S. abuses, should Congress vote immediately to abolish >the Internal Revenue Service? Results: Yes=93% No=7% > >45. 10-27-97 The Senate placed a time limit on Senator Thompson's >committee, which is investigating campaign finance violations. On >Sunday, October 26, 1997, Senator Thompson, on national TV, stated >that certain disclosures have led to an expanded investigation and >that he believed the Senate should extend the committee's >investigation time period. QUESTION: Should the Senate vote to extend >the time period of Senator Thompson's campaign finance investigation >committee? Results: YES=95% NO=5% > >46. 10-28-97 Would you like for Congress to propose a Constitutional >Amendment that would abolish lifetime appointments of federal judges >and that would require all federal judgeships be filled by election >every 4 years, within the district for district courts, within the >circuit for Court of Appeals, and nationally for the Supreme Court, >and which prohibits consecutive re-election? Results: Yes=61% >No=39% > >47. 10-29-97 There is a growing belief in the United States that >elections are "fixed", and that voting fraud at the ballot box is a >major problem that is enhanced by the use of mechanical voting >machines and computers. Should Congress pass a law requiring that all >federal elections be conducted by paper ballots, which must be >manually counted in the presence of the public and certified at the >polling place before being released to any other authorities? >Results: Yes=63% No=37% > >48. 11-04-97 Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) has introduced a Bill in >Congress (H.R. 1146) to provide for the complete withdrawal of the >United States from the United Nations. Some States and Counties have >already passed resolutions calling for Congress to terminate the >United States' participation in the United Nations. QUESTION: Should >Congress pass legislation which provides for the complete withdrawal >of the United States from the United Nations? Results: Yes=53% >No=47% > >49. 11-5-97 Should Congress condemn the actions of Saddam Hussein of >Iraq, and support military action if needed to ensure complete >inspections of all of Iraq's sites which may contain banned weapons >of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons? >Results: Yes=87% No=13% > >50. 11-7-97 Should Congress pass laws which are intended to control >or regulate the use of the Internet? Results: YES=10% NO=90% > >51. 11-10-97 Recent Congressional hearings into campaign financing >has highlighted the abuse of so called "soft money" contributions ( >unlimited amounts of money which may be donated to political parties) >given by individuals, corporations, and political action committees >(pacs). QUESTION: Should Congress pass a law which limits campaign >contributions by individuals, corporations, and pacs to any national >Party registered with the Federal Elections Commission to annual >contributions of $5,000 or less? Results: YES=81% NO=19% > >52. 11-11-97 Many important laws passed by Congress are enacted on >merely a voice vote. In such cases the vote by individual members of >Congress is not recorded. Accordingly, holding any member of Congress >accountable for his or her vote on a particular Senate Bill or House >Resolution is difficult, because there is no documentary proof of how >he or she voted. QUESTION: Should Congress pass a resolution which >requires that all voting on proposed legislation be by recorded Roll >Call vote? Results: YES=95% NO=5% > >53. 11-12-97 Several possible tax reform schemes may be considered >by Congress in the near future, one of which is a national sales tax, >and another is a flat tax. QUESTION: Do you favor Congress passing a >national sales tax law as opposed to a flat tax law? Results: >Yes=55% No=45% > >54. 11-18-97 According to published reports 89% of Washington >reporters voted for Bill Clinton in 1992; 61% call themselves >"liberal" or moderate to liberal"; and 59% called the Contract with >America "an election year campaign ploy." QUESTION: Do you believe >that the Republican Congress is unduly influenced by Washington >reporters? Results: Yes=74% No=26% > >55. 11-19-97 There are approximately 11,000 commercial radio >stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) >operating in the United States. Since the FCC eliminated the rule >limiting the number of stations that an individual or other business >entity could own, over 4,000 have been sold. Some companies now own >and control over 100 stations. QUESTION: Should Congress pass >legislation that would limit the number of radio stations that an >individual or other legal entity could own? Results: Yes=57% No=43% > >56. 11-20-97 Do you believe that Congress would better serve the >American public if its elected membership was proportionally >distributed among Republicans, Democrats, and a third Party's >candidates? Results: Yes=27% No=73% > >57. 11-21-97 In the Preamble to the resolution offering the proposed >Bill of Rights, Congress said: "The conventions of a number of the >States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, >expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of >its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should >be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the >Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution." >The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States sets forth >one of those declaratory and restrictive clauses and says that, "the >right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". >Notwithstanding this Constitutional guarantee President Clinton, last >week, issued an Executive Order which banned the importation of >certain semi-automatic firearms. QUESTION: Should Congress pass >legislation which overrides President Clinton's Executive Order that >banned the importation of the targeted semi-automatic firearms? >Results: Yes=51% No=49% > >58. 11-24-97 Do you think Congress should abolish the income tax? >Results: Yes=81% No=19% > >59. 11-25-97 America's increasing energy consumption, and reliance >on Arab oil production, in light of the present Iraq situation and >continuing Isaeli/Arab conflicts, raises concerns with respect to >fulfillment of its future energy needs. QUESTION: To adequately >prepare for America's future energy needs should Congress make, by >appropriate legislation, research and development of non-nuclear, >non-petroleum alternative energy sources, national priorities? >Results: Yes=80% No=20% > > > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- > >1997 Netline To Congress >http://www.netline-to-congress.com >Sponsored by: America-Collins http://www.america-collins.com and >Charles E. Collins (1996 Independent Presidential Candidate) >5736 Highway 42 North, Forsyth, GA 31029 >Office: 912-994-4064 Fax: 912-994-4066 >E-mail: netline-america@netline-to-congress.com
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