On April 5th Congressman Tom McClintock, representing the 4th District of California, took time out of a very busy schedule to be interviewed at CABPRO's office in Grass Valley, California, by Dick Marshall. Given space limitations we are providing the following brief excerpts of Congressman McClintock's remarks:
About the recent government takeover of healthcare:
"Under the provisions of this bill, Americans will be required by federal law to purchase health insurance policies.... and will face federal fines and even imprisonment if they refuse. And they will pay for them through a combination of higher taxes, higher premiums or lower wages."
“What's really dangerous about this bill is that Congress has the power to order Americans to purchase insurance – or any other product – is contrary to the fundamental concept of individual liberty and antithetical to the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment. If this precedent were to be upheld, the federal government will have assumed authority over every aspect of individual choice in the care of ourselves and our families and can logically be extended to what foods we choose or to what physical activities we engage in. Once the precedent is established that government may usurp individual decisions in the marketplace, what limitation remains on its power to order any other of our decisions as consumers? In the next recession it could be possible for the Federal Government to order what kind of car Americans are to buy, where to buy it and when."
“Luckily, we still we still have the Bill of Rights which protects our freedom from such usurpations. It will fall to the Supreme Court to hold this act accountable to the Constitution and it will fall to “We the People” to hold those responsible for it accountable at the polls.”
About today's current political climate:
"People are reawakening because they are beginning to realize that their lifestyles could change, they could lose their property and that their very existence is being threatened."
"It is troubling to see 40 years of bad policies that are destroying California are now being implemented at the Federal level to destroy America. California should be the morality playground for most of the country to watch as these policies are implemented."
"There is a clash today between those having different views of government....those that want the all knowing government to take care of them and those that want less government involved in their lives."
"We the People have let government get out of control."
"We must engage our fellow citizens as they begin to awaken realizing they made a mistake and we must encourage them to vote in the next election."
About the recent government takeover of healthcare:
"Under the provisions of this bill, Americans will be required by federal law to purchase health insurance policies.... and will face federal fines and even imprisonment if they refuse. And they will pay for them through a combination of higher taxes, higher premiums or lower wages."
“What's really dangerous about this bill is that Congress has the power to order Americans to purchase insurance – or any other product – is contrary to the fundamental concept of individual liberty and antithetical to the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment. If this precedent were to be upheld, the federal government will have assumed authority over every aspect of individual choice in the care of ourselves and our families and can logically be extended to what foods we choose or to what physical activities we engage in. Once the precedent is established that government may usurp individual decisions in the marketplace, what limitation remains on its power to order any other of our decisions as consumers? In the next recession it could be possible for the Federal Government to order what kind of car Americans are to buy, where to buy it and when."
“Luckily, we still we still have the Bill of Rights which protects our freedom from such usurpations. It will fall to the Supreme Court to hold this act accountable to the Constitution and it will fall to “We the People” to hold those responsible for it accountable at the polls.”
About today's current political climate:
"People are reawakening because they are beginning to realize that their lifestyles could change, they could lose their property and that their very existence is being threatened."
"It is troubling to see 40 years of bad policies that are destroying California are now being implemented at the Federal level to destroy America. California should be the morality playground for most of the country to watch as these policies are implemented."
"There is a clash today between those having different views of government....those that want the all knowing government to take care of them and those that want less government involved in their lives."
"We the People have let government get out of control."
"We must engage our fellow citizens as they begin to awaken realizing they made a mistake and we must encourage them to vote in the next election."