Recent news reports have publicized the little-noticed provision in the recently-passed financial reform package that the Securities and Exchange Commission has used to deny requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act. Paul’s bill would repeal the provision in the newly-passed legislation the SEC has used to deny FOIA requests.

“It is unfortunate, yet not unexpected, that legislation touted as fixing problems with the banking system actually makes them worse and provides more cover and power for organizations that failed us like the SEC and the Fed,” Paul said in introducing the bill. “I expect in the coming weeks and months that many more harmful provisions like this will come to light and it will take quite a bit of work to undo the damage from this massive and misguided legislation.”

Related posts:

1. Audit the Fed: A Major Triumph for Transparency and Accountability Audit the Fed Attached as an Amendment by Ron Paul...
2. Audit the Fed: Vote on House Floor Today! As the House debates the financial regulatory reform bill, the...
3. Ron Paul Introduces Bill to “End the Mandate” Congressman Paul has officially introduced his legislation to repeal the...

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Photoshop Contest

Send your entries to grassroots@ronpaul.com or post them as a comment to this post.

The winning entry will get a RonPaul.com t-shirt, a bumper sticker, and copy of Bruce Fein’s book “American Empire Before the Fall“. Deadline: Sunday 11 pm ET

Related posts:

1. Ron Paul: It’s TIME to come home! Ron Paul comments on the TIME cover and speaks out...
2. American Empire: Before the Fall The Campaign for Liberty’s first-ever book, American Empire: Before the...

Date: 07/29/2010

Photoshop contest

Who can come up with the best “What Happens if We Stay In Afghanistan” counterpropaganda TIME cover? Send your entry to grassroots@ronpaul.com or post it as a comment to this post.

The winning entry will be posted at this site and will get a RonPaul.com t-shirt, bumper sticker, and copy of Bruce Fein’s book “American Empire Before the Fall“.

Related posts:

1. What Happens if We Stay? Photoshop Contest Send your entries to grassroots@ronpaul.com or post...

Dear Supporter,

Connecticut’s Republican primary is on August 10, right around the corner, and I wanted to make sure you knew about two great candidates that that I have endorsed. Neither guy is a favorite of the Party machine, but both have worked very hard and have a deep commitment to Liberty.

My friend and former advisor Peter Schiff is campaigning hard for United States Senate. He has raised millions of dollars and is well positioned to shock people on Election Day.

In fact, there is a money bomb going on today at www.SchiffforSenate.com. Peter has pledged to match the donations that come in today from his own wallet, so please consider making a contribution AND make sure to get the polls and vote on August 10th.

I am also proud to announce that I have endorsed Rick Torres for Congress in the Connecticut’s 4th district. Rick is a real Liberty lover and has a tremendously inspiring story. Here is a video he made about his background.

Again, please consider supporting Rick in any way you are comfortable – whether it is financially, with your time as a volunteer and, most importantly, with your vote.

Big things are happening across the Country, and Connecticut has a great opportunity to tell Washington that we demand free markets, sound money and common sense, Pro-America foreign policy.

I hope you will join me in supporting Peter Schiff and Rick Torres.

In Liberty,

Ron Paul

Related posts:

1. Peter Schiff Money Bomb: Send a powerful message to the political elites! Ron Paul sent out the following email today: Dear Supporter,...
2. Ron Paul Endorses Stephen Bailey for Congress Congressman Ron Paul has endorsed Republican Stephen Bailey for United...
3. Ron Paul Endorses John Hostettler for Senate and Brian Miller for Congress Ron Paul has endorsed former Congressman John Hostettler in the...

Ron Paul: “I am proud to endorse Stephen Bailey for United States Congress.

Stephen Bailey will do the work to fight for lower taxes and spending and for more freedom in Washington. We need people like Stephen voting with me in Congress.

Stephen Bailey is a dynamic leader who understands our Constitution and will fight against out-of-control government to restore our Liberty. He has the courage to stand up against the bailouts and government takeovers being forced on us by Washington insiders.

As a self-made man, Stephen understands the challenges that we face. As an Air Force Veteran, he understands that we need a strong national defense and a common sense foreign policy that puts America first. And most importantly, Stephen understands that solutions lie in our Constitution and the great American traditions of freedom.

The American people need more than just another vote. We need a man of principle who will always stand up for what is right. We need a citizen politician who will represent US. Stephen Bailey is just that kind of individual.”

Said Liberty PAC director Jesse Benton,

“We believe that Stephen Bailey is the best candidate in this race and is best poised to win in both the primary and general elections. We hope the people of Colorado will send this fine conservative leader to D.C. at a time when he is sorely needed.”

Liberty PAC is Congressman Paul’s leadership Political Action Committee. Its mission is to identify and support candidates that believe in Liberty, limited government, fiscal responsibility and a common sense, pro-America foreign policy.

Related posts:

1. Ron Paul Endorses Mike Lee for U.S. Senate Congressman Ron Paul has endorsed Mike Lee in the Republican...
2. Ron Paul Endorses John Hostettler for Senate and Brian Miller for Congress Ron Paul has endorsed former Congressman John Hostettler in the...
3. Ron Paul Endorses Peter Schiff and Rick Torres Ron Paul sent out the following email today: Dear Supporter,...

Ron Paul: Madam Speaker, I rise in reluctant support for S. 1789, the Fair Sentencing Act. My support is reluctant because S. 1789 is an uncomfortable mix of some provisions that reduce the harms of the federal war on drugs and other provisions that increase the harms of that disastrous and unconstitutional war. I am supporting this legislation because I am optimistic the legislation’s overall effect will be positive.

Congress should be looking critically at how we can extricate America from the four decades of destruction that has ensued since President Richard Nixon announced the federal war on drugs in 1972. As a medical doctor with over 30 years’ experience, I certainly recognize the dangers that can arise from drug abuse. However, experience shows that the federal drug war creates many additional dangers, while failing to reduce the problems associated with drug abuse. Like 14 years of federal alcohol prohibition in the 1920s and ’30s, America’s federal drug war has failed to ameliorate the problems associate with drug use, while fostering violence and disrespect for individual rights.

While imperfect, I am optimistic that the Senate bill being considered today will reduce the harms of the federal drug war. I also hope consideration of this legislation will enliven interest in ending the federal war on drugs.

It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is today considering this compromise legislation from the Senate instead of Rep. Bobby Scott’s HR 3245, the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act. I am an original cosponsor of Rep. Scott’s bill, which passed the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary on July 29, 2009—one year ago tomorrow. Rep. Scott’s legislation is a short and simple bill that repeals a handful of clauses, sentences, and subparagraphs of federal drug laws to eliminate the 100 to one drug weight basis for sentencing disparity for crack cocaine violations in comparison to powder cocaine violations.

I will vote for the Senate legislation today because it rolls back some of the enhanced mandatory minimum sentences for crack cocaine that the federal government created in 1986. These enhanced mandatory minimum sentences have caused people convicted for small amounts of crack cocaine to serve much longer sentences in prison than people convicted for the same amount of powder cocaine.

While the Senate legislation reduces the drug weight basis for mandatory minimum sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine convictions for many individuals to only 18 to one compared to the total elimination of the disparity in Rep. Scott’s bill, the Senate bill does make a step in the right direction. The Senate bill eliminates entirely the mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine and reduces significantly the mandatory minimum sentence for many people convicted of crack offenses by raising the number of grams of crack cocaine a person must possess for each mandatory minimum sentence level to apply. In addition, the Senate bill allows courts to show compassion for individuals with compelling cases for leniency by reducing sentences for some people convicted of controlled substances violations who a court determines meet requirements including having minimum knowledge of the illegal enterprise, receiving no monetary compensation from the illegal transaction, and being motivated by threats, fear, or an intimate or family relationship.

Unfortunately, while the Senate bill reduces some of the most extreme and unjust mandatory minimum sentences in the federal drug war, it also contains expansions of the federal drug war that I fear may yield results destructive to individual liberty and public safety. In particular, the Senate bill significantly increases maximum allowed monetary penalties for violations of federal restrictions on controlled substances and increases sentences for people convicted of controlled substances violations whose circumstances include certain aggravating factors.

Some people will argue that the increased penalties in the Senate legislation are desirable because they target people who are high up in the illegal drug trade or who took particularly disturbing actions, such as involving a minor in drug trafficking. But, the history of the federal drug war has shown that ramping up penalties always results in increasing rather than decreasing the harms arising from the federal drug war. Such enhanced penalties increase the risks of the drug trade thus causing illegal drug operations to be more ruthless and violent in their tactics. Enhanced penalties also can result in even more inflated prices for illegal drugs, leading to more thefts by individuals seeking funds to support their drug use. High monetary fines for drug trafficking also tend to provide police and prosecutors with a perverse incentive to focus on nonviolent drug crimes instead of violent crimes.

Each successive ramping up of the federal war on drugs has made it more evident that this war is incompatible with constitutional government, individual liberty, and prosperity. It is time for Congress to reverse course. I am optimistic that S. 1789—even with its faults—may signal that Congress is ready to begin reversing course. It is imperative that the House of Representatives pursue a dialogue on how we can end the federal war on drugs—a war that has increasingly become a war on the American people and our Constitution.

Related posts:

1. Ron Paul: Let’s repeal the War on Drugs – just like we repealed Prohibition During a speech in support of the “Fair Sentencing Act”...
2. Ron Paul: Let the people decide on tobacco usage Date: 6/12/2009 Ron Paul: Thank you, Madame Speaker. I...
3. Ron Paul: A National ID Card? Outrageous! Congressman Ron Paul explains on Fox News why he is...

Date: 07/28/2010

Related posts:

1. Ron Paul: Let the people decide on tobacco usage Date: 6/12/2009 Ron Paul: Thank you, Madame Speaker. I...
2. Ron Paul Introduces Bill to “End the Mandate” Congressman Paul has officially introduced his legislation to repeal the...

Date: 07/27/2010

Related posts:

1. Ron Paul vs. the Naysayers Antiwar.com: Ron Paul vs. the Naysayers (02/26/2010) Ron Paul’s Victory:...
2. Ron Paul: End the War in Afghanistan NOW! Ron Paul spoke on the House floor today in support...
3. Support the Troops: End the War in Afghanistan! Supporting the War Instead of the Troops by Ron...

Mitt Romney continues to look like an overwhelming early favorite for the 2012 New Hampshire primary but the most surprising thing about our newest set of numbers there may be that Ron Paul’s in third place, outpolling Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin (albeit by small margins.)

Romney leads the way with 31% to 14% for Newt Gingrich, 13% for Paul, 12% for Huckabee, 9% for Palin, 3% for Tim Pawlenty, and 1% for Mitch Daniels.

[...]

Ron Paul’s numbers challenge the general assumptions about his support a little bit. With voters who identify themselves as Tea Partiers he’s in fifth place with only 9%. With voters who don’t identify themselves as such he’s in second place with 15%. His son, Rand Paul, has been to some extent the poster child for the Tea Party on the national level but that’s not equating to support from that quarter for his dad. Paul’s numbers also suggest some appeal to the anti-Palin wing of the party. With GOP primary voters who consider a Palin endorsement to be a negative he’s running almost even, getting 23% to Romney’s 25%. But he polls at only 6% with people for whom Palin support is a plus.

More…

Download the full results [pdf]

1. Ron Paul Wins CPAC Presidential Straw Poll Ron Paul wins this year’s straw poll at the Conservative...
2. Mitt Romney wins SRLC straw poll by one vote over Ron Paul, 439-438 Ron Paul came in a strong second at the Southern...
3. Ron Paul 2012 Poll Results POLL #1: Ron Paul for President 2012? We asked the...

On the Bloated Intelligence Bureaucracy

by Ron Paul

I have often spoken about the excessive size of government, and most recently how waste and inefficiency needs to be eliminated from our military budget. Our foreign policy is not only bankrupting us, but actively creating and antagonizing enemies of the United States, and compromising our national security. Spending more and adding more programs and initiatives does not improve things for us; it makes them much much worse. This applies to more than just the military budget.

Recently the Washington Post ran an extensive report by Dana Priest and William M. Arkin on the bloated intelligence community. They found that an estimated 854,000 people hold top-secret security clearances. Just what are all these people up to? By my calculation this is about 11,000 intelligence workers per al Qaeda member in Afghanistan. This also begs the question – if close to 1 million people are authorized to know top secrets, how closely guarded are these secrets?

They also found that since the September 11 attacks, some 17 million square feet of building space has been built or is being built to accommodate the 250 percent expansion of intelligence organizations. Intelligence work is now done by some 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private contracting companies in about 10,000 locations in the United States.

The former Director of National Intelligence, Adm. Dennis Blair, has asserted that US intelligence now has the authority to target American citizens for assassination without charge or trial. How many of these resources are being devoted to spying on American citizens for nefarious reasons at home rather than targeting foreign enemies abroad?

It has been pointed out how much information we had about the impending attacks on 9/11, but because of layers upon layers of bureaucratic inefficiencies, our intelligence community was unable to act meaningfully on that information. Obviously we needed drastic change. But it was pretty clear that we did not need more bureaucracy, more confusion, more expenditures and more government.

It is even claimed by some leaders that the intelligence community has grown this way by design; that it is advantageous to have more than one set of eyes looking at the same information. With this logic, is there any number of intelligence employees at which we achieve diminishing returns? Can there ever be too many cooks in the kitchen, in their view?

Are there any problems at all that the government wouldn’t attempt to solve by throwing more money at them? Even now, the government is trying to solve our economic problems related to too much government spending and debt, with more government spending and debt.

The problem with our intelligence community before 9/11 was not an inability to collect information. Therefore, the post-September 11 build-up of the surveillance state does nothing to enhance safety. Instead what Americans have gotten in return for the billions of tax dollars spent on security is a surveillance state that reads our e-mails, wiretaps us without warrants, and strip searches grandmothers at airports. This is yet another instance in which Americans would be safer, richer and freer if our government would simply look to the Constitution and respect the boundaries it has set.

Related posts:

1. “Homeland Security” Made America Poorer, But Not Safer Channel: Fox Business Host: David Asman Date: 02/05/2010 Transcript...
2. Ron Paul: A National ID Card? Outrageous! Congressman Ron Paul explains on Fox News why he is...
3. Stop Bleeding the Social Security Trust Fund! Earlier this week, Congressman Ron Paul sent a letter to...