‘Stockman Smartquester’: Stockman releases alternative to ‘Obamaquester’

‘Like Dr. Frankenstein, Obama is running from his own creation’

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman Friday released his own “Stockman Smartquester” alternative to President Barack Obama’s “sequester” plan which requires $83.4 billion in across-the-board cuts if a spending plan is not agreed to be March 1.

While Obama’s sequester seeks $83.4 billion in spending cuts, the Stockman Smartquester saves even more money, $84 billion from just five programs, without touching essential services.

“Obama proposed sequester, demanded it be part of the debt deal, signed it into law and angrily promised to veto the GOP efforts to repeal it,” said Stockman, “Now, like Dr. Frankenstein, he’s running from his own creation.  It is an intentional untruth to say sequester cuts must come from police officers and schools.  It’s a tiny cut that barely moves the needle on federal spending.  You can meet sequester targets by instead eliminating a small amount of waste, which is what the Stockman Smartquester does.”

“Not only does the Stockman Smartquester save even more money than Obama’s blunt sequester cuts, it cuts spending without touching critical programs like police, schools and NASA,” said Stockman.

“House Republicans have passed two different bills to replace Obama’s plan to cut critical services. Senate Democrats refuse to hold a vote on it and Obama once vowed to veto any plans to stop his sequester,” said Stockman.  “Republicans want responsible spending reductions, but Democrats seem committed to blind, across-the-board cuts to scare people.  I encourage my Democrat colleagues to cease irresponsible blustering and support the intelligent cuts in the Stockman Smartquester.”

The plan, five simple spending cuts which meet Obama’s sequester reduction targets without cuts to essential programs, is outlined below:

The $84.0 billion “Stockman Smartquester” Plan, which saves even more money than $83.4  Obamaquester

Eliminate the government’s “free cell phone” plan that has ballooned into the ObamaPhone giveaway, 41 percent of which goes to people not even eligible:
$2.2 billion in savings

Eliminate ObamaCare’s “Public Health Slush Fund,” which even Democrats want to eliminate:
$10 billion in savings

Require food stamp recipients, the numbers of which have exploded under Obama, to actually be eligible for food stamps:
$26 billion in savings

Eliminate overpayments for ObamaCare exchange subsidies:
$44 billion in savings

Eliminate Obama’s “renewable energy” fund in the Energy Department
$1.8 billion in savings

TOTAL SAVINGS
$84 billion

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Stockman: Pray to end abortions at Beaumont’s ‘Whole Woman’s Health’

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman Wednesday urged Southeast Texans to join him and his staff in 40 days of prayer to end abortions at the “Whole Woman’s Health” facility in Beaumont, Texas.

“The right to life is the great civil rights struggle of our age.  An innocent person’s right to life cannot be violated under any circumstance. No little boy or little girl should be subjected to violence because the government has declared them less than human,” said Stockman.  “We hope 40 days of peaceful, intercessory prayer will change hearts and end the tragedy of abortion.  Even if it saves one life, it is worth it.”

“The only way to stop abortion is through an outreach of love and an effort to legally change laws.  Praying to end abortion at the Beaumont facility is one way to help out,” said Stockman.  “You can do it from your home, your truck or your church.”

“It is a scientific fact life begins at conception.  That’s why future generations will consider abortion the way we do slavery.  They’re all based in the same myth – that some people are less than human,” said Stockman.

Though Beaumont is not in the 36th District, the facility boasts it performs abortions on women “from all over East Texas.”

Stockman and staffers do not plan to advertise the facility’s location by appearing there.  The prayer effort is inspired by the “40 Days For Life” movement, which encourages Christians to pray to end abortion.  The movement is not political or affiliated with the government, and Stockman’s office did not contact or communicate with the group.

Stockman is the original sponsor of the “Sanctity of Life Act” in 1995, a bill that was repeatedly re-introduced by now-retired Congressman Ron Paul.  Stockman is a co-sponsor of the current version, H.R.23, by Congressman Paul Broun.

Stockman is also a co-sponsor of H.R. 61 and H.R. 217, which cut off Title X funds to abortion clinics.

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House tears down Obama Failometer

WASHINGTON -- Officials with U.S. House operations offices ordered Tuesday the removal of Congressman Steve Stockman’s “Obama Failometer” after it had been erected in the corridor of Cannon House Office Building.

The Obama Failometer is a ten-foot-long billboard that uses a fixed mathematical score to calculate four economic indicators from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The figures from the monthly reports are weighted to provide a balanced total score, which ranges from zero to 1,000.  The Obama Failometer is now stored in Stockman’s office.

“Washington needs more free speech,” said Stockman.  “Millions of Americans are waiting for Obama to reverse his course and create jobs.  The Obama Failometer is an objective, mathematical measure of Obama’s failure to create jobs.  It is an important tool to focus attention on black and Hispanic unemployment and spur discourse on actions that create jobs for everyone.”

“The Obama Failometer may not be allowed in Congress but it will be back somewhere, and bigger,” said Stockman.  “Tearing it down created more labor than Obama has.”

“I am disappointed House officials ordered it torn down.  No one should be offended by frank, objective economic statistics,” said Stockman.  The gap between black unemployment and overall unemployment is higher under Obama than under Bush.  Under Obama we are only creating half of the 321,000 jobs a month needed to restore the economy.  Under Obama the percentage of Americans in the civilian labor force is at an all-time low.”

The Monthly Obama Failometer Score is calculated using four factors, monthly jobs created, the monthly civilian labor force participation rate and the gap between black and Hispanic monthly unemployment against the monthly rate for all Americans combined.  They are weighted so a sharp increase or decrease in one factor won’t distort the overall Obama Failometer Score.

The Obama Failometer is constructed of paper and foam board and affixed to the wall with temporary adhesive tape.  It weighs just a few pounds and does not leave holes or mar paint.

More information on the Monthly Obama Failometer Score and how it is calculated:

FACTORS MEASURED AGAINST GEORGE W. BUSH

Monthly jobs created: The Hamilton Project, a liberal economic policy group, states the economy must create 321,000 jobs a month in order to return the economy to pre-recession employment levels by December 2016, the end of Obama’s term.

Obama promised to not only restore the economy to where it was under Bush, but grow it.  So far Obama has failed to even perform as well as Bush.

This Obama Failometer score portion is calculated by subtracting the number of jobs created in the previous month from the 321,000 jobs claimed necessary by the liberal Hamilton Project and dividing by 1,000 to balance it against other factors.

The BLS reports the economy created 157,000 jobs in January, 164,000 fewer than needed to restore the economy.  This portion of the February Obama Failometer Score is 164.

Civilian labor force participation rate:  The civilian labor force participation rate, the ratio between those 16 and over in the labor force against the national population of those 16 and over, is an important measure of economic health.  After puttering along during the Bush administration, including through the “Bush years” of the recession, under Obama it has plunged sharply.

This Obama Failometer score portion is calculated by subtracting the monthly civilian labor force participation rate from the average Bush administration rate and multiplying by 100 to balance it against other ractors. According to data from the BLS, under Bush the average monthly civilian labor force participation rate was around 66.2 percent.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the monthly civilian labor force participation rate for January was a paltry 63.6 percent, close to the record low and a gap against Bush of 2.6 percent.  This portion of the February Obama Failometer Score is 260.



FACTORS MEASURED AGAINST OBAMA’S OWN RHETORIC

Black unemployment:  No one has suffered more economically under Obama than black Americans. Obama’s election and re-election has meant crippling poverty for the black community.

This Obama Failometer score portion is calculated by taking the monthly unemployment rate for blacks and subtracting the monthly unemployment rate for all Americans, and multiplying it by 100 to balance it against other factors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the black unemployment rate for January was a depressing 13.8 percent, while the national overall rate was 7.9 percent.  That is a gap of 5.9 percent.  This portion of the February Obama Failometer Score is 590.

Compare Obama’s performance to Bush’s.  The highest monthly unemployment rate ever for blacks under Bush was 12.1 percent.  Obama’s lowest rate was 12.7 percent in January, a figure he largely inherited.  His next lowest was 13.5 percent in March 2009. He has never performed as well as Bush’s worst black unemployment rate.

Bush’s average black unemployment rate was 9.7 percent and an overall national average of 5.2 percent, a 4.5 percent gap that gives Bush a score of 450.

Hispanic unemployment:  Despite winning the Hispanic vote, Obama’s liberal policies have caused widespread damage to the Hispanic community.  Thanks to Obama, they continue to lag behind the national average in many economic factors.

This Obama Failometer score portion is calculated by taking the monthly unemployment rate for Hispanics and subtracting the monthly unemployment rate for all Americans, and multiplying it by 100 to balance it against other factors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the Hispanic unemployment rate for January was a stunning 9.7 percent, while the national overall rate was 7.9 percent.  That is a gap of 1.8 percent.  This portion of the February Obama Failometer Score is 180.

The Hispanic unemployment rate hit its all-time historic low of 4.7 percent during Bush's last term.  It is almost twice that rate under Obama.

THEREFORE, FEBRUARY’S OBAMA FAILOMETER SCORE IS 1194.

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Stockman’s “Obama Failometer” will prominently measure, track and display Obama’s failed economic policies

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman has created the first-ever objective measure of the failure of President Barack Obama’s liberal economic policies, which will be publicly displayed in Congress’ Cannon House Office Building.

“The Obama Failometer is the Astrodome Scoreboard of failed liberal policies,” said Stockman.  “Instead of celebrating home runs it measures how badly Obama is striking out.”

The Obama Failometer is a ten-foot long board that assigns a score to the president’s overall economic performance.  It will be permanently displayed at the entrance to Congressman Stockman’s office at 326 Cannon on Capitol Hill and updated monthly.

Measuring economic failure on a scale of 1 to 1,000, the inaugural Obama Failometer Score has already pegged off the charts at a crippling 1,194.

The Obama Failometer is an objective economic score based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, measured against benchmarks provided by the BLS.  It measures Obama’s economic performance against both President George W. Bush and his own rhetoric.

The Obama Failometer Score is calculated using four factors, monthly jobs created, the monthly civilian labor force participation rate and the gap between black and Hispanic monthly unemployment against the monthly rate for all Americans combined.  They are weighted so a sharp increase or decrease in one factor won’t distort the overall Obama Failometer Score.

The inaugural Obama Failometer Score is a crippling 1,194.  Here is how the Obama Failometer Score is calculated:

FACTORS MEASURED AGAINST BUSH

Monthly jobs created: The Hamilton Project, a liberal economic policy group, states the economy must create 321,000 jobs a month in order to return the economy to pre-recession employment levels by December 2016, the end of Obama’s term.

Obama promised to not only restore the economy to where it was under Bush, but grow it.  So far Obama has failed to even perform as well as Bush.

This Obama Failometer score portion is calculated by subtracting the number of jobs created in the previous month from the 321,000 jobs claimed necessary by the liberal Hamilton Project and dividing by 1,000 to balance it against other factors.

The BLS reports the economy created 157,000 jobs in January, 164,000 fewer than needed to restore the economy.  This portion of the February Obama Failometer Score is 164.

Civilian labor force participation rate:  The civilian labor force participation rate, the ratio between those 16 and over in the labor force against the national population of those 16 and over, is an important measure of economic health.  After puttering along during the Bush administration, including through the “Bush years” of the recession, under Obama it has plunged sharply.

This Obama Failometer score portion is calculated by subtracting the monthly civilian labor force participation rate from the average Bush administration rate and multiplying by 100 to balance it against other ractors. According to data from the BLS, under Bush the average monthly civilian labor force participation rate was around 66.2 percent.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the monthly civilian labor force participation rate for January was a paltry 63.6 percent, close to the record low and a gap against Bush of 2.6 percent.  This portion of the February Obama Failometer Score is 260.

FACTORS MEASURED AGAINST OBAMA’S OWN RHETORIC

Black unemployment:  No one has suffered more economically under Obama than black Americans. Obama’s election and re-election has meant crippling poverty for the black community.

This Obama Failometer score portion is calculated by taking the monthly unemployment rate for blacks and subtracting the monthly unemployment rate for all Americans, and multiplying it by 100 to balance it against other factors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the black unemployment rate for January was a depressing 13.8 percent, while the national overall rate was 7.9 percent.  That is a gap of 5.9 percent.  This portion of the February Obama Failometer Score is 590.

Compare Obama’s performance to Bush’s.  The highest monthly unemployment rate ever for blacks under Bush was 12.1 percent.  Obama’s lowest rate was 12.7 percent in January, a figure he largely inherited.  His next lowest was 13.5 percent in March 2009. He has never performed as well as Bush’s worst black unemployment rate.

Bush’s average black unemployment rate was 9.7 percent and an overall national average of 5.2 percent, a 4.5 percent gap that gives Bush a score of 450.

Hispanic unemployment:  Despite winning the Hispanic vote, Obama’s liberal policies have caused widespread damage to the Hispanic community.  Thanks to Obama, they continue to lag behind the national average in many economic factors.

This Obama Failometer score portion is calculated by taking the monthly unemployment rate for Hispanics and subtracting the monthly unemployment rate for all Americans, and multiplying it by 100 to balance it against other factors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the Hispanic unemployment rate for January was a stunning 9.7 percent, while the national overall rate was 7.9 percent.  That is a gap of 1.8 percent.  This portion of the February Obama Failometer Score is 180.

The Hispanic unemployment rate hit its all-time historic low of 4.7 percent during Bush's last term.  It is almost twice that rate under Obama.

THEREFORE, FEBRUARY’S OBAMA FAILOMETER SCORE IS 1194.

Obama can set the Failometer to zero by outperforming Bush on the economy and fulfilling his 2008 and 2012 campaign promises to help blacks and Hispanics gain economically.

So far Obama has failed miserably.  The Obama Failometer provides an objective, visual measure of Obama’s abysmal failure.

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Stockman urges Obama to learn from today’s refutation at the National Prayer Breakfast

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36) today on President Barack Obama to order a transcript of this year's National Prayer Breakfast keynote address, frame it and hang it in the Oval Office.

The National Prayer Breakfast, an annual D.C. event that gave us President Ronald Reagan’s “Evil Empire” speech, made history again this year with a highly accomplished black doctor directly refuting liberalism and ObamaCare in front of the President.

“President Obama urged us to take to heart what we heard today.  I hope he will take his own advice for once,” said Stockman. “Because what he heard was an accomplished, productive surgeon telling him he is destroying health care, destroying our economy and destroying personal responsibility.”
“Instead of bringing people together, Obama has spent four years trying to cut Americans up into warring factions,” said Stockman.

Dr. Benjamin Carson, a celebrated pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, gave a 25-minute long keynote address that directly refuted the key tenants of President Barack Obama’s liberal agenda – with Obama sitting just feet away.

Dr. Carson attacked political correctness as “horrible” and dangerous. Dr. Carson credited personal responsibility, not government assistance, for taking from a childhood of poverty to a lifetime of success.

Dr. Carson attacked fiscal irresponsibility, instead urging restrained spending.  “One of our big problems right now...our deficit is a big problem.  Think about it — and our national debt — $16 and a half trillion dollars,” said Dr. Carson as Obama watched.  Obama increased the federal debt by $5.8 trillion in his first term, the worst ever increase in a presidential term.

Dr. Carson went on to press for a flat tax, rejecting Obama’s call for higher taxes on higher earners. 

”When I pick up my Bible, you know what I see — I see the fairest individual in the universe — God — and he’s given us a system. It’s called tithe,” said Dr. Carson.  Carson went on to extol their fairness of the flat tax, under which everyone pays the same rate.

Dr. Carson also diametrically opposed ObamaCare, attacking the idea of government bureaucracy funding health care and instead recommending private health savings accounts.

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Stockman: U.S. must reject international plan to control the Internet

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36th) issued the following statement Feb. 6 after FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell testified to a joint meeting of the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Foreign Affairs:

This week Federal Communications Commissioner Robert McDowell testified before a rare joint meeting of three congressional subcommittees.

Commissioner McDowell issued a stark warning.  The right of Americans to freely access information is threatened by an international plan to place control of the Internet in the hands of the International Telecommunications Union.

In 2014 the ITU will hold a “plenipotentiary meeting” to draw up a new international agreement on Internet regulations and controls.

The likely plan, pushed by countries Russia, Saudi Arabia and totalitarian states like China and Iran would give an international body unrestricted control over the Internet, allow foreign phone companies to charge mandatory fees and create an international registry to track your use of the Internet.

Information is power, power to the people.  Free minds require a free Internet.  Not only are the free exchange of information and the free market in technology development in danger, so is your right to freely express yourself and access information.

As Commissioner McDowell testified before Congress, “allegations that these claims are exaggerated no longer have credibility.”

The United States can and should take action to thwart this threat.  President Obama’s diplomatic appointees must make a free and open Internet a top administration priority.

Congress must adopt a bold and uncompromising position against further international controls of the Internet.  As Commissioner McDowell testified, when the United States Congress speaks on Internet policies the rest of the world follows our lead.

I urge President Obama to make it clear any further international controls, regulations or fees over the Internet will not be accepted by the United States government.  I urge Congress to speak with one voice against any ITU proposal to internationally regulate, control or charge for the Internet.  Both President Obama and the Congress must recruit allies in the private and public  sectors to lead an international campaign against international government control over the Internet.

As Commissioner McDowell notes, any compromise, dithering or failure to boldly lead on this issue cannot be accepted.  Nothing short than the freedom of expression and the freedom to exchange ideas are under threat.  I urge my colleagues to lead today.

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Stockman: Obama has time for Beyonce, but not for budgets

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36th) issued the following statement Monday after President Obama once again failed to fulfill his legal requirement to propose an annual federal budget:

I am not surprised President Obama has failed to meet today’s legal deadline to submit a proposed budget.  Failure to propose a budget seems to be an annual Obama tradition.

While the House has fulfilled our budget obligations every year, President Obama has spent more time with Beyonce than with his budget staff.  Jobless families are fed up with how Obama always makes his tee time in Hawaii, but can’t make it to a budget meeting down the hall.

President Obama’s failure to once again propose a budget on time, and Senate Democrats’ failure to hold a budget vote in four years, is one of the reasons the economy is failing.  Their failure to come up with a long-term budget creates fiscal uncertainty that hurts job creators and farmers.  You can’t get a loan, expand your business or plan for future growth if you can’t tell the bank what the government has planned for your industry this year.

The House has done our jobs responsibly and on time, but President Obama and Senate Democrats are too busy flying around the world and going to celebrity parties to do their jobs.  They are hurting the economy.  They are hurting consumers.  They are hurting those who grow our food and build our economy.

If President Obama can’t be bothered to do his job, perhaps it’s time to legally remove the President from the budget process.

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Stockman challenges Obama: Come to Texas so I can teach you how to create jobs

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman issued the following statement Feb. 1 after the Obama administration announced unemployment rate had risen to 7.9 percent:

Today’s news the unemployment rate has risen to 7.9 percent is our monthly reminder Obama is failing.  He inherited an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent.  After four years and a Congress that gave him everything he demanded in a $1.2 trillion “stimulus” bill, the only thing that grew was human suffering.

The rising unemployment rate makes Obama’s decision to disband his Jobs Council even more insulting.  Obama wants us to accept unemployment and poverty as the new normal.  Under Obama our only reliable export is failure.

Obama’s stubborn policy of raising taxes on job creators and issuing wasteful regulations means the private sector isn’t growing fast enough to restore our economy.  We can’t afford four more years of Obama’s failed liberalism.

Not only did the unemployment rate rise, the Obama administration once again ‘revised’ past monthly unemployment numbers to show they were higher than previously reported.  Additionally, job growth was less than anticipated and far less than in past months.

Since Obama has completely given up on restoring prosperity, Texas is ready to lead.  I am challenging Obama to come down to Texas, where I will teach him how to create jobs.

Texas also inherited an economy from George W. Bush.

Unlike Obama’s economy, ours is booming.  Spending cuts, small government and light regulations are the fuel that have the Texas economy roaring.

Texas did it by cutting taxes, while Obama ground America’s to a halt by raising taxes.

Texas fueled jobs by expanding our oil and gas industry, while Obama has siphoned off jobs by slashing oil and gas production on federal lands and aggressively attacking private development with regulations.

Liberals love to blame slower growth in government spending for low job numbers, but the Texas cut spending by $11 billion and job growth exploded.  Government spending is a barrier to prosperity.

While Obama is burying the United States in massive deficits, Texas is sitting atop an $8 billion budget surplus.  Not only is Texas not running deficits, unlike Obama’s government we can pay off our debts.

Texas has a healthy, booming economy because we saw what Obama was doing, and did the opposite.  While Obama is giving up on job creation, Texas is busy trying to fill jobs.

Americans are flocking to Texas to find jobs that don’t exist in Obama’s vision of America.  I am challenging Obama to come to Texas, so I can teach him how to create jobs.  He may contact my office at 202-225-1555 so we can coordinate a travel schedule.

Will he accept my offer, or will he continue to ignore the economy?

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Stockman: Obama disbands Jobs Council so he can focus on partisan attacks

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36th) released the following statement Jan. 31 after President Barack Obama announced he was disbanding the White House Jobs Council:

When President Obama took office in 2009 he inherited an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent.  Today it is 7.8 percent.  We learned yesterday the economy shrank last month because the private sector isn’t growing fast enough.  Four years and $1.2 trillion in debt-generating “stimulus” spending later, we’ve gone nowhere and appear to be sliding backward.

Rather than address our worsening economic crisis, President Obama shut down his Jobs Council today so he won’t be distracted by the economy.  Obama has given up on the economy because it takes his “laser focus” away from splitting Americans into warring factions.  Instead of jobs, Obama is focused on taking away gun rights, funneling taxpayer money to groups that bankrolled his election and expanding the cost of government.

While I will never waver in my defense of fiscal responsibility and gun rights, I am working hard every day to bring back prosperity.  In just three weeks on the job I am already working to make sure Texas ports continue to fuel the state’s miraculous economy.  I am working to pass the REINS Act to protect job creators from unpredictable and pointless regulations, which is one of the biggest barriers right now to new job creation.  Obama opposes us.  I am working to get the Keystone pipeline approved and completed to bring oil to Texas for our refineries, but Obama’s wavering is killing jobs.  I am working to pass the Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act to spur new energy jobs, but Obama is not leading.  In just three weeks I have taken more action to create actual jobs than Obama has in four years, and there will be much more action on my part.

Millions of families are struggling with unemployment and underemployment, but Obama doesn’t care.  Obama doesn’t care that families are losing their homes.  Obama doesn’t care that families must choose between buying groceries or buying medicine.  Obama doesn’t care when it means taking attention away from waging hyper-partisan warfare.

Americans want us to take action to restore the economy.  They want us to cut taxes and eliminate wasteful regulations.  But rather than listen, Obama has turned his back on the American people.
By disbanding his Jobs Council and instead focusing on petty politics, Obama has made it clear his vision for America isn’t one of prosperity and peace, but one of permanent government dependency, more debt and an unceasing focus on division and retribution.

Obama considers the plight of millions to be a bothersome distraction from bitter personal attacks and corrosive partisan warfare.  Americans are looking to President Obama for leadership, not sideshows.  Instead of expanding his political attacks while disbanding his Jobs Council, he should instead do the job Americans elected him to do.

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Stockman: Feds must commit to port and channel dredging, security

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36) released the following statement Jan. 30:

Today I and other Houston-area members of Congress were briefed by port officials on urgent issues facing the Port of Houston and other Texas ports.  I could not agree with them more.

Security and safe passage in ports and shipping channels should be a critical federal issue.  We must make sure ports are dredged, because just one accident can close a port and inflict heavy economic damage on Texans. Ports must have full access to security resources in order to adapt to threats and defend ourselves from another terrorist attack on a vital economic engine.

My top local priority is making sure Texas ports are secured and the channels clear. Our timber, rice, cattle and petrochemical jobs depend on being able to quickly and safely ship from ports like Houston, Cedar Bayou, Beaumont and Orange.

Hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake. These ports are fueling the Texas economic miracle. I look forward to working with friends and colleagues like Gene Green, Henry Cuellar, John Carter, Kay Granger and John Culberson to do what is right for Texas.

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American Tradition Partnership Vows to Continue Fighting Corruption

Grassroots group recruiting new Executive Director, committed to “legal vindication” 
Helena, MT – American Tradition Partnership’s legal battle with the State of Montana over the state government’s illegal and unconstitutional actions isn’t over yet – and ATP’s thousands of members stand firmly behind the group’s mission.

“It is important to note,” declared Doug Lair, ATP’s State Coordinator for Montana, “ATP has a strong record of defending free speech rights for all Americans, and we intend to continue doing so. It’s our moral duty to see that the Montana officials who have violated the 1st Amendment and other Constitutional rights of our members pay the price for their actions and restore ATP's good standing.” 

For months, ATP has been the target of baseless speculation around illegally obtained - and likely tampered - internal documents stolen from a fundraising consultant. A recent court order highlighted the coordination between the Commissioner of Political Practices and media outlets to use those documents to “embarrass certain candidates on the eve of the 2012 election.” (Order, Sixth Jud. Dist. Ct., 12/17/2012)

“Behind every attack on free speech is an official who doesn’t want to be held accountable,” added Lair. “And behind every massive ‘green’ subsidy, is a morally bankrupt politician looking to trade taxpayer funds for votes. It’s no wonder that the progressive political establishment and the complicit corporate media have aligned to try and silence ATP.”

“ATP provided 150,000 public comments to the State Department in favor of Keystone XL – every one signed by real members across the U.S. who put their names and addresses on the dotted line to oppose the anti-jobs agenda of the Sierra Club and its well-funded allies,” added Lair. 

“ATP has an obligation to every member to seek vindication in court and get back to our main mission of stopping Gang Green’s war on American jobs.”

With Ferguson having moved on to work in a Congressional office, ATP has initiated a search for a new Executive Director and will revamp its fundraising efforts with a focus on grassroots Americans who oppose foolish redistributive energy and environmental policies that benefit the few at the expense of many.

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Stockman opposes Senate immigration plan

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36) released the following statement Monday afternoon:

I will not be supporting the Senate’s proposed “immigration reform” should it reach the House.  I cannot and will not support any immigration reform proposal that institutes an amnesty program or does not begin with a comprehensive plan to secure the borders.

The Senate’s proposed plan does not fix our nation’s broken immigration system.  It rewards law breaking and encourages a new flood of illegals, perpetuating the very problems it claims to solve.  Our nation’s failed experiments with amnesty have proven it only encourages more illegals willing to wait it out for their turn at free citizenship.

It insults the many legal immigrants who have spent tremendous time and money seeking legal residence.  The surge of illegals also strains relations with legal Hispanic citizens, many of whom come from families who have been in the United States longer than most white residents.
It also does not crack down on human trafficking.  Our failure to secure our border has led to horrific, tragic stories of innocents brutally smuggled into the United States to serve as slave labor, and thousands of young girls forced into prostitution.  It is largely young Hispanic girls who suffer from this failure.

It also does not even address the tremendous burden illegals have placed on state and local governments.  The crush of illegals have bankrupted local governments, shut down hospitals, overwhelmed schools and crashed local economies, hurting largely Hispanic citizens.  That failure has fueled the growth of violent gangs, like MS-13, that prey upon illegals and target the children of Hispanic citizens.

This is not a serious proposal to fix immigration.  It ignores the issue of border control, insults legal immigrants and fails Hispanic citizens.  It makes border states and communities even more dangerous for both immigrants and residents.

States like Texas, with large and growing Hispanic populations, have an obligation to offer our residents something better than the Senate’s flimsy proposal.  We need an immigration system that allows for safe migration, safe communities and a healthy economy.  This proposal does not, and I will not support it in its current form.

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Stockman statement on federal court ruling against Obama

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36) released the following statement Friday after a federal appeals court ruled today President Obama’s three recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board violated constitutional restrictions on recess appointments.  (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/25/federal-court-obama-broke-law-recess-appointments/)

The three appointments were ruled invalid, and the NRLB no longer has a quorum to conduct business.

“I am not surprised a federal court has ruled President Obama abused his power and engaged in unlawful executive actions.  President Obama sees the rule of law as a curious antiquity.  Millions of Americans gave President Obama this historic opportunity at the Presidency.  Rather than focus on the economy, President Obama has so far squandered their trust on reckless power grabs.  I hope this strong judicial rebuke will humble President Obama and cause him to reconsider his ill-guided actions and agenda.

“No matter their party affiliation or political opinions, all members of Congress should be concerned when the executive branch assumes for itself unchecked, unlawful and unconstitutional new powers.  Each of have a moral duty to consider the long-term impact of our actions, instead of the immediate partisan political benefits. 

“That is why I and Senator Paul have introduced legislation restoring executive actions to their constitutional boundaries.  H.R. 410, the "Restore the Constitution Act," is an important first step toward restoring our constitutional system of separation of powers, which is necessary for a healthy and secure republic.”

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Stockman disappointed in Clinton’s Benghazi testimony

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36,) a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement Wednesday:

I first want to wish Secretary Clinton a full and speedy recovery.  Concussions and blood clots are serious, life-threatening medical issues.  My staff and I have been praying daily for her health and good spirits.

Secretary Clinton testified Wednesday to the House Foreign Affairs Committee as we investigate the
Obama administration’s handling of the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on our consulate in Benghazi, Libya. 

That attack left four Americans dead, Ambassador Chris Stevens, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith and security personnel Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.

These men were someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s best friend.  Their families, and everyone serving overseas so others can be free, deserved full and forthright answers.

Secretary Clinton did not fully and sufficiently answer the Committee’s reasonable questions.  Her testimony was incomplete and evasive.  Given the gravity of the situation, that is unfortunate.

To blame an imagined lack of funding is a weak attempt to deflect blame.  Our ambassador in Paris has a Marine detachment guarding him.  To fail to give that security to our ambassador in an unstable country with an active terrorist presence is an utter failure by the Administration.

Funding for embassy security is more than adequate.  The Heritage Foundation reports:

“Comparing FY 2011 actual funding versus the FY 2012 estimate, there appears to be a reduction in Worldwide Security Protection and Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance. But that reduction does not account for additional funding in FY 2012 from Overseas Contingency Operations funds amounting to $236 million for Worldwide Security Protection (p. 63) and $33 million for Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance (p. 467)... Together, there is a net increase.

“In terms of people, the budget justification reported that Worldwide Security Protection had slightly fewer positions budgeted (1,777 in FY 2011 versus 1,707 in FY 2012) and Embassy Security,
Construction and Maintenance had the same number of positions budgeted (1,014 for both years).

“In its budget request for FY 2013, the Administration requested significantly more funding for embassy security—mostly through the Overseas Contingency Operations budget—but retained the same number of positions, apparently on the assumption that security staffing was adequate. Regardless, that budget, even if approved in its entirety, would have entered into effect after the events in Libya.”

We still need full answers to:

1. what her immediate actions were,
2. what actions she took in the days after the attack,
3. why the State Department knowingly offered false stories on the murders, first blaming an Internet video before admitting it was a known, planned terrorist attack we failed to prepare of, and
4. why Americans serving in such a dangerous area, where they would be targeted by terrorists, were left unprotected by the Obama administration.

As Secretary Clinton exits the State Department for a life of future public service, I had hoped would she leave as her legacy a full accounting of the Obama administration’s actions.

I encourage Secretary Clinton to speak frankly and help the Committee in our investigation of the killings.  For the sake of all those serving overseas we must make sure this never happens again.

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Stockman introduces bill to stop Obama’s Executive Orders

Working with Sen. Rand Paul, ‘Restore the Constitution Act’ blocks any Executive Order that violates Constitution

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36) introduced today the “Restore The Constitution Act.”  It is the House companion to Sen. Rand Paul’s “Separation of Powers Restoration and Second Amendment Protection Act.”  Stockman and Paul are working together on the joint effort.

“Last week I promised to thwart Obama’s unlawful orders, first by seeking to block, overturn and defund any action that violates the Constitution,” said Stockman.  “Promise made, promise kept.  No matter his intentions, the Constitution flatly prohibits the President from just making up his own laws.”

“The Orders issued by President Obama are not intended to execute laws passed by the Congress.  President Obama is abusing his authority to write his own unaccountable laws.  Regardless of your position on gun rights, Congress has an obligation to assert its constitutional authority as the only lawful rulemaking body,” said Stockman.

If passed, the Restore The Constitution Act would declare any past, present or future executive action that infringes on the powers and duties of Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, or the Second Amendment to the Constitution or that would require the expenditure of federal funds not specifically appropriated for the purpose of executive action, is advisory only and has no force or effect unless enacted by law.

“Executive action” includes any Executive order, memoranda, proclamation or signing statement.  Any executive action in violation can be challenged in federal court by any member of the U.S. House or Senate, the highest-ranking official of any state or political subdivision or their designee, or any person deprived of liberty or property by an executive action.

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Stockman statement on Roe v. Wade’s 40th anniversary

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36) released the following statement Jan. 22:

Forty years ago today the United States Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide.  They dealt human rights in the United States its biggest judicial setback since the Court’s 1857 Dred Scott ruling.

The right to life is a basic human right.  It is not negotiable or violable.  Sadly, our government has a history of treating entire classes of people with indifference and outright brutality.  We pray the horrors of abortion will be the final time our federal government sanctions and enshrines in law the dehumanization and brutal treatment of defenseless people.

Since that terrible day in 1973 over 55 million children have died in abortion clinics.  55 million Americans dead, more deaths than in all U.S. wars combined.

But the tide is turning.  Support for abortion is dwindling as science proves human life begins at conception. More Americans than ever consider themselves pro-life.

We are winning.  But we are still a long way from total victory over abortion.

That is why we in Congress are fighting to defund Planned Parenthood, pass laws overturning ObamaCare, laws banning the interstate trafficking of minors for an abortion, and pass a constitutional amendment overturning Roe v. Wade and recognizing the scientific fact human life begins at conception.

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Stockman responds to President Obama’s dangerous proposals

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36) issued the following statement Wednesday in response to a raft of Executive Orders and legislative proposals issued this afternoon by the White House:

Gun bans and anti-gun laws have always lead to one thing – more gun violence.

We owe it to innocent people to make this country as safe as possible.  Sadly, in President Obama’s announcement every tragedy he mentioned was either in a state that aggressively restricts the right to keep and bear arms or was in a location that banned guns completely.

The White House has indicated they are willing to use Executive Orders to infringe upon the God-given right to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment from government intrusion.

President Obama announced the specifics of his anti-gun sneak attack today, though he refuses to answer questions regarding his own illegal transfer of weapons to Mexican drug lords.

Among the Executive Orders issued are tracking of your firearms, which creates a de facto national gun registry, and a White House demand for laws regulating the private transfer of firearms.

In other words, if you give your son his first hunting rifle, you may face a prison sentence if you fail to get approval from the government.

Those proposals, along with others floated by the White House as presidential decrees, are cutting attacks on your right as a peaceable person to keep and bear arms for your defense.  The ability to defend one from aggressors is a basic human right.

My staff is reviewing the Executive Orders.  Should President Obama issue Orders infringing upon your basic human right, I am prepared to fight back with peaceable legislative force.

>> I will lead the fight to defeat the President’s dangerous legislative proposals.

>> I will seek legislation overturning the Orders.

>> I will seek legislation barring funds to enforce the Orders.

>> I will seek legislation to cut White House funding should the President issue and enforce such Orders.

>> I will support legal efforts to overturn the Orders in court.

I ask you to contact your representatives in the House and Senate at House.gov and Senate.gov and politely urge them to support efforts to overturn or defund any proposed executive actions and to defeat the President’s dangerous legislative proposals.

Now, I would hope those measures are enough to either deter President Obama or thwart his efforts.

However, if they do not or are unsuccessful I will consider speaking with my colleagues and filing articles of impeachment.

Impeachment is not something to be taken lightly.  It is a grave and serious undertaking that should only be initiated in a sober and serious manner.  It should be reserved only for most egregious of trespasses by the President.

I would consider using Executive Orders to engage in attacks on a constitutionally-protected right and violating his sworn oath of office to be such a trespass.  The President cannot issue executive orders depriving the people of full access to an enumerated constitutional right.

I do not think it will come to that.  The President is not an absolute ruler, and his actions and orders can be checked and balanced by the Congress and the courts – if the Congress is willing.

That is why I ask you to please contact your elected representatives at House.gov and Senate.gov and politely urge them to support legislative efforts to overturn and defund the president’s Orders, and to defeat his legislative proposals.

The right to keep and bear arms is a basic human right that has kept us free for over two centuries. 

With a vigilant citizenry eager to contact their elected officials and make their voice heard, it will continue to be that way.

#  #  #

Stockman warns Obama: Push for gun control will be met with White House budget cuts, possible impeachment

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36th) released the following statement Jan. 14.

The White House’s recent announcement they will use executive orders and executive actions to infringe on our constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms is an unconstitutional and unconscionable attack on the very founding principles of this republic.

I will seek to thwart this action by any means necessary, including but not limited to eliminating funding for implementation, defunding the White House, and even filing articles of impeachment.
The President’s actions are an existential threat to this nation.  The right of the people to keep and bear arms is what has kept this nation free and secure for over 200 years.  The very purpose of the Second Amendment is to stop the government from disallowing people the means to defend themselves against tyranny. Any proposal to abuse executive power and infringe upon gun rights must be repelled with the stiffest legislative force possible.

Under no circumstances whatsoever may the government take any action that disarms any peaceable person – much less without due process through an executive declaration without a vote of Congress or a ruling of a court.

The President’s actions are not just an attack on the Constitution and a violation of his sworn oath of office – they are a direct attack on Americans that place all of us in danger.  If the President is allowed to suspend constitutional rights on his own personal whims, our free republic has effectively ceased to exist.

#  #  #

Stockman introduces Audit The Fed Act

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas) introduced Thursday “The Audit The Fed Act” which would require an audit of the Federal Reserve.

"The Federal Reserve is too big to be allowed to operate in secrecy. Congress has a right to know how the Fed operates and where the money is going.  The Constitution clearly gives Congress the authority to regulate our monetary system, yet we are not allowed to even see the books.  An audit of the Federal Reserve is a first step toward restoring our Constitutional Republic,” said Stockman.

An “Audit The Fed” bill previously sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) passed the House 327-98 in July 2012.  A Rasmussen poll shows 80 percent of Americans support it.

The bill is HR 33.

GOA: Stockman Introduces Legislation to Repeal School Gun Ban!

    “I have one concern -- protecting children from dangerous predators. By disarming qualified citizens and officials in schools we have created a dangerous situation for our children.” -- Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX)

    Dear friend,

    We told you that Rep. Steve Stockman would be the most aggressive defender of our gun rights on Capitol Hill.

    He proved us right on Thursday, when he introduced the Very First pro-gun bill in the Congress, in the face of a tidal wave of anti-gun hysteria.

    Congressman Steve Stockman has introduced H.R. 35, the Safe Schools Act of 2013 -- a bill to allow principals, teachers, and staff to possess firearms in order to defend their students.

    Before 1996, American kindergartners didn’t have to fear that if a crazed gunman burst into their classroom, they would be nothing but sitting ducks.

    Before then, they didn’t have to worry that federal law openly advertised that there would be no one to protect them.

    “In the 22 years before enactment of ‘gun free school zones,’ there were two mass school shootings,” Stockman said. “In the 22 years since enactment of ‘gun free schools,’ there have been 10 mass school shootings.

    “Not only has that bill utterly failed to protect our children, it appears to have placed them in danger,” said Stockman.

    Indeed, it has.

    Within a couple of years of the reenactment of the Gun Free School Zones Act, the Columbine tragedy occurred. And the series of copycat school massacres has shocked and saddened our country ever since.

    Clearly, the gun ban is not working. And it’s past time to try a new approach.

    It’s time to go on the offensive! It’s time to repeal gun control, rather than talk about “enforcing the gun laws on the books.”

    We don’t want to enforce gun control laws -- that’s what makes innocent people, including children sitting in their classrooms, less safe.

    Anti-gun zealots who have enacted one unsuccessful gun ban after another have come up with a slew of reasons why our nation’s lawmakers should be protected by an army of heavily armed guards, but our children should be vulnerable.

    There is a word for this -- it’s “hypocrite.” It is time to protect our children with the same tools and the same zeal we use to protect our congressmen.

    It is time to pass the Stockman bill and give real protection to our children.

    Contact your Representative. Ask him to cosponsor H.R. 35, the Stockman repeal of the gun-free school zone ban.

    Click here to contact your congressman.

STOCKMAN TO VOTE NO ON SPEAKER BOEHNER

STOCKMAN TO VOTE NO ON SPEAKER BOEHNER

Congressman-elect Steve Stockman (R-Texas 36th) released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

"I will not vote for or support Congressman Boehner’s bid to remain Speaker of the House.
"This is not something I do lightly, but out of bedrock conservative principle and a dire need to save this nation from its current course. We cannot tolerate betrayal of conservative principle and economic reality.

“I have known Congressman Boehner since I first came to the House in 1995. He is a decent man. But I have sharp disagreements with the manner in which he has handled President Obama and House conservatives. While he is all too eager to favorably negotiate with a liberal White House that has outmaneuvered him at every turn, he has been harsh and punitive in dealing with conservatives.

“He has given President Obama billions in increased taxes, while unceremoniously booting conservatives from key committees without so much as the courtesy of a face-to-face meeting. Past Republican leaders, such as Tom DeLay, at least had the decency to directly tell you they were punishing you for voicing conservative principles.

"The 'fiscal cliff' spending package negotiated by Congressman Boehner was the final, unacceptable straw. It raises taxes on more than 80 percent of families with combined incomes between $50,000 and $200,000 by an average of $1,635, while dealing special-interest tax breaks to Hollywood leftists, algae growers and millionaire wind corporations. It raises $41 dollars in taxes for every $1 in spending reductions, with no agreement to halt planned new spending of any theoretical tax revenues. The Congressional Budget Office finds it will add nearly $4 trillion to our job-killing deficit.

“Each time our nation's fiscal policies have been up for debate, Congressman Boehner has told Americans they'll get spending cuts 'next time.' Enough is enough. There cannot be another 'next time' for fiscal responsibility, or Congressman Boehner. His acquiescence has only emboldened the liberal drive for more expensive government. Congressman Boehner has allowed Obama use to class warfare rhetoric to split the Congress.

"In short, Congressman Boehner signed our country on to a fiscal suicide pact.

"Unless there is drastic change to the United States' taxation and spending trajectories our government will become insolvent and our economy will collapse. Obama’s 50.8 percent of the vote is not a mandate for higher taxes and more spending that majorities of Americans oppose.

"Removing Congressman Boehner is only the first step on a long journey back to our constitutional foundations. I didn't come to Congress to collect a pension. I came to Congress to restore limited government. I look forward to this fight and I will continue to uphold my conservative principles and my sworn oath to the Constitution."

BACKGROUND:

Congressman Stockman was a member of the 1994 "Republican Revolution" freshman class of the 104th Congress, serving one term from 1995 to 1997. Congressman Stockman returns to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013 with a vision of limited government and strong support for American families, robust military and a balanced budget.

On November 8, 1994, with enthusiastic grassroots support of some 2,100 volunteers, Congressman Stockman put an end to the 42-year congressional career of the dean of the House, Texas Congressman Jack Brooks. This earned Congressman Stockman the title of “Newsmaker of the Year for 1994″ and the nickname “Giant Killer.”

During the first 100 days, Congressman Stockman fought to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, starting with Congress itself. As sponsor of the Drier/Stockman package of opening day reforms, Congressman Stockman dramatically pared down the hierarchy of the House by eliminating three full house committees, 23 subcommittees and cutting committee staff by one-third saving taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Congressman Stockman voted to cut taxes, his own pay and pension, and the number of congressional committees. Congressman Stockman never asked for nor received a federal earmark to benefit his district. Instead, he believed the best “earmark” he could do for his district was to leave a balanced budget for the next generation.

Congressman Stockman's opening day reforms required Congress to operate under the same laws as everyone else and eliminated many of the “perks” the former Democrat-controlled Congress had enjoyed. They also required Congress, for the first time, to open Congressional proceedings each day with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Congressman Stockman worked tirelessly to protect the US Constitution. In less than 100 days, he pushed welfare reform legislation, a $500-per-child tax credit for families, a balanced budget amendment and regulatory relief legislation. He was known as one of the most ardent defenders of Constitution in Congress and was named “The Taxpayer’s Best Friend.”

Some of the awards and commendations awarded Congressman Stockman were the “Taxpayers Best Friend Award” by Citizens for Tax Reform; a consistent “100 percent” rating by the American Conservative Union; “Taxpayer’s Hero Award” by Citizens Against Government Waste and “Pro-Family Congressman” of the year by the American Family Association.

# # #

Ferguson: Vote NO on Speaker Boehner

John Boehner cannot remain as Speaker of the House.

The 'fiscal cliff' spending package negotiated by Congressman Boehner was the final, unacceptable straw. It explodes spending on Gang Green's pet projects while dealing special-interest tax breaks to Gang Green's bankrollers such as  algae growers and millionaire wind corporations.

It raises $41 dollars in taxes for every $1 in spending reductions, with no agreement to halt planned new spending of any theoretical tax revenues. The Congressional Budget Office finds it will add nearly $4 trillion to our job-killing deficit.

All to hand a few special interest giveaways to Gang Green.

This is unacceptable.  American Tradition Partnership's large and growing grassroots membership urges Congress to remove John Boehner as Speaker.

Please call your Republican Congressman RIGHT NOW at 202-224-3121.  Tell them to vote NO on John Boehner as Speaker.

The vote will take place tomorrow, so call IMMEDIATELY.

Sincerely,

Donald Ferguson
Executive Director
American Tradition Partnership

P.S.  Please help ATP keep fighting in 2013.  Go here to chip in $10 or more.

ASPCA ordered to pay $9.3 million for harassment, abuse

Feld Entertainment, Inc., the producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, announced today that the company has reached a legal settlement with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in connection with two federal court cases.

Under the settlement, ASPCA has paid Feld Entertainment $9.3 million to settle all claims related to its part in more than a decade of manufactured litigation that attempted to outlaw elephants in the company's Ringling Bros.  Circus. This settlement applies only to the ASPCA. Feld Entertainment's legal proceedings, including its claims for litigation abuse and racketeering, will continue against the remaining defendants, Humane Society of the United States, the Fund for Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, Animal Protection Institute United with Born Free USA, Tom Rider and the attorneys involved.

"These defendants attempted to destroy our family-owned business with a hired plaintiff who made statements that the court did not believe. Animal activists have been attacking our family, our company, and our employees for decades because they oppose animals in circuses. This settlement is a vindication not just for the company but also for the dedicated men and women who spend their lives working and caring for all the animals with Ringling Bros. in the face of such targeted, malicious rhetoric," said Kenneth Feld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Feld Entertainment.

The parties filed dismissal papers today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia as a result of their settlement. The settlement covers only Feld Entertainment's claims against ASPCA for attorneys' fees and damages in the initial Endangered Species Act (ESA) case filed in 2000 by the animal rights activists and the resultant racketeering (RICO) case brought by Feld Entertainment in 2007. Discovery in the initial lawsuit uncovered over $190,000 that these animal activist groups and their lawyers paid to Tom Rider who lived off of the money while serving as the "injured plaintiff" in the lawsuit against the circus.

"Our firm has been defending Feld Entertainment against this onslaught of misguided litigation brought by animal activist groups for years. As their attorneys, it is gratifying to finally have a settlement that begins to make up for the harm inflicted on this company, the family who owns it, and its employees," said John Simpson of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., lead counsel for Feld Entertainment in all of the cases covered by the settlement with ASPCA.

Background of Case

The original complaint was filed in July 2000 by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Animal Welfare Institute, the Fund for Animals and Tom Rider, who is a former Ringling Bros. employee. The case was dismissed in 2001 but was reinstated in 2003 after an appellate court ruled that if Tom Rider could prove that he was injured by Ringling Bros.' treatment of the elephants, the case could proceed. The Animal Protection Institute joined the case in 2006.

The trial began on February 4, 2009 and lasted approximately six weeks. The case is ASPCA, et al., v. Feld Entertainment, Inc., No. 03-2006 (D.D.C.)(Hon. Emmet G. Sullivan presiding).

On December 30, 2009, the U.S. District Court ruled in Feld Entertainment's favor (published as ASPCA v. Feld Entertainment, Inc., 677 F. Supp. 2d 55 (D.D.C. 2009)). In its ruling the Court stated that, "the Court finds that Mr. Rider is essentially a paid plaintiff and fact witness who is not credible, and therefore affords no weight to his testimony regarding the matters discussed herein, i.e., the allegations related to his standing to sue." ( www.ringlingbrostrialinfo.com/uploadedFiles/ASPCA%20Memorandum%20Opinion.pdf )

That decision found that the plaintiffs' litigation was based on the untruthful testimony of a paid plaintiff and witness who the Court found received at least $190,000 in payments as his sole source of income over an eight year period by animal special interest groups, including ASPCA, their lawyers and an entity founded and controlled by those lawyers, the Wildlife Advocacy Project.

The Court also ruled, "that ensuring Mr. Rider's continued participation as a plaintiff was a motivating factor behind the payments to him, and that these payments were a motivating factor for his continued involvement in the case." The Court also ruled against the other plaintiffs in the case: "because the organizational plaintiffs have not established an injury in fact, traceable to FEI's actions that can be redressed by the Court, the organizational plaintiffs have no standing to sue under Article III of the United States Constitution."

Furthermore, the Court ruled that "based upon his failure to complain, the Court finds that Mr. Rider either (1) did not witness elephant mistreatment when he was employed by FEI or (2) any mistreatment he did witness did not affect him to the extent that he suffered an aesthetic or emotional injury." The Court's December 2009 ruling was affirmed in its entirety by the Court of Appeals on October 28, 2011.

Based upon what was revealed in ASPCA, et al., v. Feld Entertainment, Feld Entertainment brought suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against ASPCA, HSUS and other animal rights activists and their lawyers alleging violations of the RICO statute and Virginia Conspiracy Act, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process. The court denied the defendants' motions to dismiss that case on July 9, 2012. ( http://www.ringlingbrostrialinfo.com/uploadedFiles/First%20Amended%20Feld%20Entertainment%20RICO%20Complaint.pdf )

Via press release

Taiwanese news animation tackles Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech