The closer civil government is to the people, the more responsible, responsive, and accountable it is likely to be. The Constitution itself, in Articles I through VI, enumerates the powers which may be exercised by the federal government. Of particular importance is Article I, Section 8 which delineates the authority of the Congress.
The federal government was established as a government of limited authority. The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution specifically provides that: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Over time, the limitations of federal government power imposed by the Constitution have been substantially eroded. Preservation of our constitutional government requires a restoration of the balance of authority between the federal government and the States as provided for in the Constitution itself, and as intended by those who framed and ratified that document.
I pledge to be faithful to this constitutional requirement and to work diligently to restore to the States and to the people their rightful control over legislative, judicial, executive, and regulatory functions which are not Constitutionally delegated to the federal government.
It is time to renew effective supervision of our public servants, to restore right standards and to take back the government. Congress must once again be accountable to the people and obedient to the Constitution.
I support legislation to prohibit the attachment of unrelated riders to bills. Any amendments must fit within the scope and object of the original bill.
Only those duties, functions, and programs specifically assigned to the federal government by the Constitution should be funded. All federal expenditures which are not specifically authorized by the U. S. Constitution should be phased out and stopped. In addition, all powers, programs, and sources of revenue that the federal government has usurped should be restored to the States and the people.
