SCOTUS isn't the problem

Our rights as Americans do not come from the court – but if you listen to the President of the United States, you’d think otherwise.

Since President Trump’s historic appointments of strong conservative judges and justices, the media and liberal elites clutch their pearls each time the Court hands down a common-sense decision grounded in the Constitution. The fearmongering that’s playing out on screens and in Democrat fundraising emails is having a real-world impact, with Americans’ approval of the high court at a record low of 38%.

It's undeniable that our current Court bends conservative; President Biden would not be making SCOTUS reform a lame-duck priority if the gavel was striking in his direction. But, in a desperate attempt to salvage a legacy tarnished by record inflation, a wide-open southern border, his disastrous pullout from Afghanistan, and rampant crime, Biden is suggesting a radical overhaul of the Supreme Court.

Biden has correctly identified the need to ensure our government is accountable to We the People, but he’s picked the wrong bogeyman.

Instead of expanding and packing the Court, we must examine how the Court’s decisions are reported in the press and put the onus on Congress, the legislative body, to enact the changes that voters want to see. This isn’t a new idea; it’s what the founders intended.

Fortunately, a recent decision out of the Supreme Court lays the groundwork for Congress to return to the separation of powers that has allowed the world’s strongest democracy to thrive for more than 200 years.

In June, the Court issued a landmark ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises, et al v. Raimondo, overturning the Chevron deference. When the Court established the Chevron deference in 1984, it directed judges to defer to the agency’s interpretation of a law. This essentially gave the executive branch legislative authority, allowing unelected bureaucrats to make decisions impacting the American people. Predictably, this led to a bloated administrative state that put regulations and control over the Constitution.

Overturning the Chevron deference was the right decision for three primary reasons: it reinforces the proper role of the legislative and executive branches; respects the founders’ intent when they signed the Constitution; and ensures that individuals making decisions with the effect of law are elected, not appointed.

Disappointingly, instead of reporting the news from the position of restoring the balance of powers and putting the administrative state in check, many news outlets jumped on Washington Democrats’ “this-is-the-end-of-government-as-we-know-it” bandwagon. By framing the decision as an “outrageous abuse,” to use Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s words, even the savviest newsreader may not realize that this decision is in their best interest. It preserves the Constitution and requires Congress to be clear in its intent when passing legislation – a win for every single American.

Only Washington Democrats could equate specificity and the separation of powers with the end of democracy. And we see this behavior every time the Court issues an originalist decision, from Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to Trump v. United States.

In a post-Chevron era, the burden is now on Congress to be better. We need to pass specified laws with clear intent, so that both the American people and bureaucrats know exactly how and why a law is to be implemented. We no longer have the luxury of allowing someone else to make our decisions for us, and that is a good thing. The training wheels are off, and it’s time for Republicans and Democrats alike to meet this moment by improving the way we approach legislation. Similarly, the media must choose education over sensationalism by accurately reporting on the “why” behind the Court’s decisions, instead of holding tight to what Washington Democrats believe the impact of a ruling could be.

If our God-given rights are under attack, it is incumbent upon Congress to enact legislation that reinforces and strengthens them. The Supreme Court is not failing us; the institutions around it, from the media to Congress, are.

Buddy's briefing

In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are discussing an upcoming Naloxone training event that I am hosting next week. Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal drugs that can save lives in the face of the fentanyl crisis we are currently experiencing.

ICYMI: poultry icon abit massey's legacy may live on through this latest honor

Late Gainesville poultry icon Abit Massey’s legacy may live on through the U.S.

Department of Agriculture National Poultry Research Center in Athens being renamed

after him.

A bipartisan bill taking that step has been introduced by Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter,

R-Pooler, and Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D-Albany, according to a press release issued

Monday, Aug. 12.

Massey is already deeply missed,” Carter said in a statement. “His dedication to our

agricultural industry cannot be overstated, rightfully earning him the nickname ‘Dean of the poultry industry.’ No one supported Georgia farmers more than Massey, and this renaming will help preserve his memory and influence for generations to come.”

And Bishop said in a statement: “Earlier this summer, Georgia lost a giant of the poultry and agriculture industry. I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Abit Massey over many years and was witness to his visionary leadership that has left an indelible mark on our state and country. This bill rightfully honors the man and his legacy.”

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Athens, whose district includes Hall County, couldn’t be reached for immediate comment. He has not signed on yet as bill co-sponsor.

Massey family members reacted in gratitude to the gesture.

“We are so grateful to congressmen Bishop and Carter and the other members of the

Georgia delegation,” said his wife, Kayanne Massey. “It’s a true honor for Abit to be

considered in this way.”

And son Lewis Massey said, “This bill reflects Dad’s lifetime commitment to excellence in the poultry industry. We appreciate this recognition very much, and we know the discussion on the bill will honor his legacy.

“Given Dad’s humility, I imagine he would be deeply honored by this bill while shifting

focus to the center’s scientists and technologists who work daily to address health

threats and ensure food safety.”

Massey, who died June 14 after battling cancer, Massey served as the president of the Georgia Poultry Federation after joining the organization in 1960 until retiring in 2009, when he became president emeritus.

A 1949 University of Georgia graduate, he maintained strong ties to the school,

including serving as president of University of Georgia Alumni Association and UGA

Research Foundation.

He was recognized with the 1986 UGA Alumni Merit Award, the U.S. Poultry & Egg

Association’s 2012 Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award and the inaugural

Medallion of Honor for Service to the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental

Sciences.

Read the full article here.

Read the full press release here.

Ga-01 flooding resources

EMERGENCY AND FLOODING INFORMATION: Flooding, as a result of Tropical Storm Debby, has been tremendous and devastating. GEMA has a great resource for information on how to stay safe around flooding that you can find here. There is information relating to the Georgia State of Emergency Declaration, as well as the process for receiving federal funding, that can be found here.

INSURANCE INFORMATION: If you have homeowners, renters, or flood insurance you should file a claim as soon as possible. If a federal natural disaster is declared, FEMA will not be able to duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance when it is made available. Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance. Do not make assumptions and check your policy. If you are having issues with your insurance company, submit an insurance complaint to Georgia Consumer Services here.

AVAILABLE RESOURCES: Below are some resources that may be helpful to you in the coming days and weeks ahead.

Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMHSA)
- Call (404) 635-7200 or 1-800-TRYGEMA (1-800-879-4362)
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Southeast
- Call (912) 427-5711
Bryan County
- Call (912) 653-5252
Bryan County Fire and Emergency Services
- Call (912) 756-1982
City of Pembroke
- Call (912) 653-4414
City of Pembroke Police Department
- Call (912) 653-4414
City of Pembroke Fire Department
- Call (912) 653-4400
City of Richmond Hill
- Call (912) 756-5645
City of Richmond Hill Police Department
- Call (912) 756-3345
City of Richmond Hill Fire Department
- Call (912) 756-3749

You can find further information relating to this Hurricane season, including checklists, pet plans, and evacuation plans on my website, here.

Our offices stand ready to assist you in any way that we can. Please do not hesitate to call our Brunswick Office (912) 265-9010, our Savannah Office (912) 352-0101, our Washington, D.C. Office (202) 225-5831, or send me an email through my website.

OUR WORK IN WASHINGTON: I sent President Biden a letter asking him to declare a State of Emergency for Georgia before Hurricane Debby made landfall, and thank goodness, he listened. In addition, I am working with FEMA, state, and local officials to secure a major disaster declaration for our district.

I also spoke to WTOC about how we can get FEMA funded, and help you. You can watch the full segment by clicking here or on the image above.

NAloxone prevention and awareness

On August 20th, I will be hosting a Naloxone training event to help educate folks on the powerful opioid reversal tool, naloxone. This has, and will continue to, save countless American lives as we face the threat of deadly fentanyl pouring into our country. 200 Americans die everyday from fentanyl poisoning and this is one way that we can all work together to stop it. Click here, or the image below, to register to attend this valuable training session.

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