An open letter to the elected Representatives of our State and Federal Governments

With leadership being defined by its actions…I would recommend the following initiatives be considered with regards to the $12 trillion national debt and the State of Tennessee’s $1 billion budget deficit.

Short Term Budget Initiatives

1. All State and Federal departmental funding will be converted to a results-based budgeting process.
2. All State and Federal spending will be indexed to reflect current revenues. Prior to any new spending; there must be proportional reductions in current spending.
3. All State and Federal programs will be reviewed by the Legislature & Congress; any program failing to meet its stated performance objectives will be eliminated and/or department-head fired.
4. With 80% of all jobs now stemming from Small Business; reduce and/or eliminate all obstacles that prevent growth, i.e. taxes, government mandates, excessive regulation, etc.
5. ARRA funds will only be used to offset short term reductions in revenue due to the elimination of taxes/mandates etc. from the Small Business sector.

The underlying principle…government must never grow beyond the limits of that which is produced (revenues) in down or recessionary markets. Successfully run businesses implement daily items 1, 2, & 3.

Long Term Initiatives designed to produce Success vs. Excess

1. Make permanent items 1through 3 above.
2. Term Limits:   House members six 2-year terms ~ Senate members two 6-year terms ~ House/Senate three 2-year terms & one 6-year term.
3. Tort Reform…loser pays, caps on damages, and make exempt from civil litigation all educators and administrators.
4. Replace the IRS with a Fair-Tax or Flat-Tax…adheres to “uniform throughout.”
5. Given the modern-day advancements in communication technology, State and Federal Government’s will direct the private sector to implement that which is required to maintain, inform and involve the people with the evolution, progress, and enactment of any and all legislation.
6. When produced, all surplus revenues will be returned to the tax payers.
7. Constitutional Representation:   Government does not have the authority to mandate and/or collect taxes for the purpose of redistribution i.e. central planning. Government’s only authority is to write laws that direct the courts to up-hold for the protection of life, liberty, and property and to lay and collect taxes which are uniform throughout and limited to Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, the Enumerated Powers.
8. Both State and Federal Governments will enact a version of the Enumerated Powers Act; a bill sponsored in the U.S. House by John Shadegg, AZ that states:     All bills introduced in the U.S. Congress include a statement setting forth the specific constitutional authority under which the law is being enacted. This measure will force a continual re-examination of the role of the national government, and will fundamentally alter the ever-expanding reach of the federal government.

The underlying principle…the day has come & gone whereby politicians will arbitrarily make decisions on our behalf…after all, they are doing the people’s business and we have a right to know! Government is not the solution, government is the problem. Ronald Reagan

Far too many of our elected officials have fallen prey to the notion that under the pretense of taking care of us, government has the authority to ignore the U.S. Constitution; State mandated Workers Comp serves as a great illustration.

In the State of Tennessee there is no right to work in the contracting industry; those who choose to work in the industry must demonstrate their ability to hold harmless landowners and contractors from any liabilities that may arise due to health care or disability issues. This may be demonstrated by purchasing, in the private sector & across State lines, health care and/or disability insurance.

Lastly, I would like to bring to your attention Lesley Swann, State Coordinator for the Tenth Amendment Center. With 43% of American voters now describing their political views as independent & conservative sends a clear message to all politicians that we elect you to represent our interests in government, not to decide for us in government. I would encourage all elected officials and those who wish to become our representatives in government to visit the Center’s website and sign the Tenth Amendment Pledge.

Mark DeVol
Candidate U.S. House TN-3

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