While we were monitoring all the happenings at the federal level, late last week we came across an attempt by Baltimore County executive Johnny Olszewski to try and weaken the investigative powers of the county Inspector General (IG). Under the guise of "IG oversight," Olszewski wanted to establish an oversight board for the IG. The newly-created board would be filled with political appointees. IGs are the front line of defense for taxpayers at all levels of government and the LAST thing that should be done is to politicize the position. Without independent watchdogs to hold County (and all) officials accountable, profligate spending and corrupt dealings will replace sound, transparent governance. Olszewski pulled the legislation earlier this week and said that he is forming a working group. There is no need for a working group. Just leave the IG alone. Our full statement is
here.
Profile in Courage – Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas)
Even though we’re already into July, I wanted to share last month’s Profile in Courage, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). Usually, it is pretty easy (and lazy) to figure out which policy proposals a politician will support or not support. All that needs to be done is to look at the little letter next to their name and that will tell you a lot about their voting record and the kind of rhetoric they will use. This is not so with Rep. Cuellar. On everything from spending increases to energy taxes/exploration issues to workers’ rights, Rep. Cuellar has demonstrated he is more interested in knowing what he is voting for than making friends on his side of the aisle. Rep. Cuellar learned from an early age that success requires hard work and dedication. The Congressman was one of eight children born to migrant farmer parents in a culture where “sweat equity” is the only way to get ahead. His parents were immigrants who had little and knew no English, but were able to provide for their family by traveling thousands of miles from Texas to Idaho to find ranching and gardening work. Watching his parents work hard, the future public servant realized early on the importance of education to climbing the ranks of American society. Rep. Cuellar enrolled in Laredo Community College and after a few years of stellar grades made his way to prestigious Georgetown University. Cuellar became an educator shortly after graduating, teaching International Commercial Law to students at Laredo State University (close to where he grew up).
A pivotal part of keeping the national debt at bay is encouraging economic growth and efficient tax collection. Lawmakers have often proven downright hostile to pro-growth policies and have championed measures making it difficult to produce energy. Rep. Cuellar hasn’t hesitated in pushing back against these harmful proposals, urging Congressional leadership to lower energy taxes and reduce barriers to oil and gas exploration. Rep. Cuellar has also opted to buck party lines by opposing the PRO Act. Under this disastrous piece of legislation, a contractor would be considered an employee unless the service they are performing is “outside the usual course of the business of the employer.” But as the Authors Guild explains, “a journalist writing for a newspaper, magazine, blog, etc. is generally performing a service that is core to the ‘usual course of business of the employer.’” As a result, countless freelancers would be reclassified as employees and become too costly for newspapers and media companies to continue to work with. According to the American Action Forum, the PRO Act would add billions of dollars in annual compliance costs on employers and harm millions of small businesses. Cuellar has bravely endeavored to explain why the PRO Act would harm workers and threaten thousands of jobs. To quote the Congressman: “This bill would destroy small businesses and thousands of Texas jobs in our communities who are struggling to stay alive during this pandemic.” That is certainly an unpopular opinion for a Democrat. But, Rep. Cuellar knows a thing or two about workers’ rights and isn’t afraid to tell it like it is.
A BRIDGE Act Too Far
Last week, TPA spearheaded a coalition letter with 22 other groups expressing concerns with the BRIDGE Act as introduced by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Angus King (I-Maine). The bill would increase the size and scope of the federal government for broadband deployment, while limiting the constitutionally delegated power of states. Any lawmaker who values limited government and the free market should stand up against this proposal. The truth is that Internet speeds have been getting faster and more affordable across the nation. the rate regulations contained in the legislation would stifle innovation and suppress investment is with. Whether or not localities may create their own government-run networks is an issue that should be left to state and municipal governments. However, the BRIDGE Act pre-empts state laws that prohibit municipal broadband networks. Because these networks represent locally built infrastructure, they are creatures of state, not federal law. Attempting to dictate local construction policies is nothing short of an unconstitutional overreach from Congress. The federal government should not interfere with local policy in this way.
While the intent to deliver high speed service to unserved areas to close the digital divide is a noble one, the BRIDGE Act would fail to meet even that need. The bill only actually mandates 50 percent of its disbursements be used for unserved areas. The rest is designated for areas that might have high speed internet, but whose upload and download speeds aren’t symmetrical. To give any sort of priority to these areas over the unserved ones is a gross oversight and will leave in place the same inequalities that already existed. The bill will also create confusion for private networks that are not run by the government at the municipal level. It requires a standard of speed for all new networks, but allows states to put requirements on top of it. This will create a patchwork of regulations that will be impossible to comply with in any affordable manner..
Closing the digital divide is a worthy goal. The BRIDGE Act will not do that. Congress needs to pursue solutions that empower the free market to innovate and provide high-speed service.
BLOGS:
MEDIA:
June 24, 2021:
County17.com ran TPA’s op-ed, “Biden needs a new regulatory agenda.”
June 24, 2021:
The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “Republicans antitrust crusade opens door to Chinese and Russian hacking.”
June 24, 2021:
The Livingston Parish News (Denham Springs, La.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “FDA advisor exits show need for reform.”
June 24, 2021:
Townhall.com ran TPA’s op-ed, “Global Minimum Tax Means Maximum Economic Pain.”
June 28, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about taxes and infrastructure.
June 28, 2021: I appeared on KRC 550 AM (Cincinnati, Ohio) to talk about antitrust legislation and social media.
June 28, 2021:
nwitimes.com ran TPA’s op-ed, “A day at the beach and the consequences of vaping prohibition.”
June 28, 2021:
The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “Biden should ditch effort to expand Medicaid.”
July 29, 2021:
Politico’s Morning Tech mentioned TPA’s coalition letter on the BRIDGE Act.
June 30, 2021:
The Epoch Times quoted TPA in their story, ”Budd Amendment to Strip Earmarks from Transportation Bill Denied House Vote.”
June 30, 2021: The
Sioux City Journal (Sioux City, Iowa) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Good broadband intentions may lead to horrible policies.”
June 30, 2021: WBFF quoted TPA, “Despite pandemic rules lifting July 1, Baltimore City government meetings remain virtual.”
June 30, 2021:
The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)ran TPA’s op-ed, “‘Bridge Act,’ a federal broadband proposal, would deprive Iowans of local control.”
July 1, 2021: I appeared on 93.1 WACV (Montgomery, Ala.) to talk about the SCOTUS donor ruling and infrastructure.
July 1, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about the digital sales tax in Maryland.
July 1, 2021: I appeared on WBOB 600 AM (Jacksonville, Fla.) to talk about gas prices and the economy.
July 1, 2021: WBFF quoted TPA in their story, “Decades of inaction could cost taxpayers $657 million to become ADA compliant.”
July 2, 2021:
My Journal Courier (Jacksonville, Ill.) ran TPA’s op-ed, “Commentary: Lindsey Stroud - Consequences of vaping prohibition.”
July 2, 2021:
The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Md.) quoted TPA in their story, “Olszewski proposes inspector general oversight board, limit investigations after council members criticized ‘aggressive’ tactics.”
July 5, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) quoted TPA in their story, “Trash troubles continue for Baltimore City: 'It's just festering'.”
July 5, 2021: I appeared on WBAL 1090 AM (Baltimore, Md.) to talk about the Baltimore County Inspector General.
July 5, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about electric vehicle funding in the infrastructure bill.
July 5, 2021: The
Washington Examiner ran TPA’s op-ed, “We need an endgame for COVID-19 policies.”
July 7, 2021:
Inside Sources ran TPA’s op-ed, “Pro-Needle Exchange but Anti-Vaping? The Hypocrisy of American Healthcare Policy.”
July 8, 2021: WBFF Fox45 (Baltimore, Md.) interviewed me about legislation affecting the Baltimore County Inspector General.
July 8, 2021: I appeared on WBOB 600 AM (Jacksonville, Fla.) to talk about infrastructure spending and Trump’s social media lawsuit.
July 8, 2021: The
Washington Examiner (Washington, D.C.) quoted TPA in their article, “Struggles of GETTR app illustrate dilemma facing Team Trump.”
July 8, 2021:
The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “Critics decry BRIDGE Act’s effort to promote government broadband networks.”
July 9, 2021:
The Center Square ran TPA’s op-ed, “Critics worry BRIDGE Act could result in broadband overbuilds and widen digital divide."
Have a great weekend!
