The First Marijuana Hearing Of The New Congress Has Been Scheduled

Congressional Democrats are already moving ahead with plans to consider broad changes to federal marijuana laws in 2019.

Whereas the Republican-controlled House for the past several years had blocked votes on most cannabis-related measures, the chamber's new Democratic majority on Wednesday announced it has scheduled a hearing for next week to examine the difficulties that marijuana businesses face in opening and maintaining bank accounts.

Titled, “Challenges and Solutions: Access to Banking Services for Cannabis-Related Businesses,” the hearing will take place on February 13 before a subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee.

Although a growing number of states are moving to legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use, cannabis remains federally prohibited. As a result, and despite a 2014 guidance memo released on the topic by the Obama administration aimed at clearing up the issue, many financial services providers remain reluctant to work with the industry out of fear of violating money laundering or drug laws.

"When we introduced this bill six years ago, we warned that forcing these businesses to deal in cash was threatening public safety. No hearing was given," Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA) said in an email, referring to marijuana banking legislation he and Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) have filed for the past several Congresses.

He lamented that Republican leadership didn't schedule a hearing on the proposal even after a security guard at a Colorado dispensary was killed during a robbery.

"Chairwoman Waters has made it one of her first priorities to address this urgent and overdue issue, demonstrating that she understands the threat to public safety and the need for Congress to act," Heck said of the committee's new leader. "We have a bipartisan proposal to allow well-regulated marijuana businesses to handle their money in a way that is safe and effective for law enforcement to track. I am eager to get to the work of refining it and passing it into law."

That a hearing on the issue was in the works was first noted earlier this week by Politico, and Marijuana Moment reported that the full committee is also actively planning to vote on a marijuana banking bill in the coming months.

The newly scheduled marijuana hearing is a signal that Democrats intend to move cannabis legislation this year, and is likely to be the first in a series of committee-level actions across the House on the issue.

"The upcoming hearing presents a real opportunity for the Democratic Party to assert their leadership by finally beginning the conversation on how we end the failed policy of marijuana criminalization," Justin Strekal, political director for NORML, said.

While two limited medical cannabis research bills were able to advance out of House committees last year, they never made it to the floor for votes. Meanwhile, Republican leaders consistently prevented members from offering marijuana-related amendments—including ones on banking issues—to larger legislation.

In contrast, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) suggested in a memo to party leaders late last year that they pursue a step-by-step approach to legalize marijuana in 2019. His plan recommends that Financial Services and other committees first begin holding hearings on incremental reforms like banking access, research expansion and medical cannabis for military veterans before passing bills on those issues as part of a lead up to ultimately approving broader legislation to formally end federal marijuana prohibition by the end of the year.

A House bill to protect banks from being punished for working with state-legal marijuana businesses that Heck and Perlmutter introduced garnered 95 cosponsors in the last Congress, and 20 senators signed onto a companion bill, but neither were given hearings or brought up for votes.

"Depriving state-legal cannabis businesses of basic banking services and forcing them to operate entirely in cash presents a significant safety risk, not just to those businesses and their employees, but to the public," Don Murphy, director of federal policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, said in an email. "Support for addressing the cannabis banking problem is strong and bipartisan, and it appears Congress may be ready to adopt a real, commonsense solution. Members concerned about public safety should be jumping at the chance to express their support for this legislation."

Congress has held only a handful of hearings on marijuana reform issues in recent years, and never before has any come at a time when broad cannabis reform legislation seemed to be conceivably on its way to passage.

"This hearing is historic for cannabis policy reform advocates, business owners and the banking sector, and could directly lead to the first in what is hopefully a series of positive changes in the 2019 legislative cycle," Morgan Fox, media relations director for the National Cannabis Industry Association, said in an email. "Allowing banks to work with cannabis businesses more easily will benefit public safety, increase transparency, provide more financing options for small businesses and communities that have been targeted by prohibition, and help companies thrive so they can further displace the illicit market."

Outside of the two committee markups of cannabis research legislation last year, which were not preceded by formal hearings on the relevant issues, Senate panels have on a few occasions held lengthy discussions on marijuana.

In 2013, for example, the Senate Judiciary Committee convened a hearing to dig into the fact that a growing number of states were legalizing marijuana in contrast with federal law.

The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, which is not a formal standing committee of the body, hosted a discussion on federal marijuana enforcement in 2016. Its two cochairs, Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), have long been among Congress's most vocal opponents of cannabis reform, though Feinstein began to shift her position last year.

Also in 2016, the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism held a hearing on the risks and potential benefits of medical cannabis, but it did not lead to votes on any marijuana legislation.

Meanwhile, pressure to address cannabis banking has been growing. Several top Trump administration officials have indicated they support clarifying the issue.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, for example, suggested in testimony before a House committee early last year that he supports letting marijuana businesses store their profits in banks.

“I assure you that we don’t want bags of cash,” he said. “We do want to find a solution to make sure that businesses that have large access to cash have a way to get them into a depository institution for it to be safe.”

In a separate hearing Mnuchin revealed that addressing the issue is at the “top of the list” of his concerns.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that the growing gap between state and federal marijuana laws “puts federally chartered banks in a very difficult situation... It would great if that could be clarified."

And last month, Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting called on Congress to "act at the national level to legalize marijuana if they want those entities involved in that business to utilize the U.S. banking system."

Meanwhile, although many major financial institutions are staying away from the cannabis industry, federal data does show that an increasing number of banks are beginning to work with marijuana growers, sellers, processors and related businesses.

It hasn't yet been announced who will be testifying at next week's cannabis banking hearing before the Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Subcommittee.

Source

Mrs. Ocasio-Cortez goes to Washington

In January a new congress will be sworn in. Among those new House members will be Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-14th New York Congressional District). She has no prior voting record to judge but she has stated her views. She appeals to a lot of the left wing demographics: minority groups,feminists,socialized medicine groups and those that want free stuff. She has other things going for her too. Perhaps the most important. Perhaps that which got her elected. She is one of the people. She made their drinks for them. Engaged in conversation with them. They relate to her. Another thing the Founding Fathers had someone similar to Cortez in mind when they wrote the Constitution. One of the people would serve in Congress as representatives. The United States Constitution was written during a time when a lot of Monarchs and other despots in European countries claimed right to be the rulers through "divine right" or that God chose them to lead. The concept of the people choosing their own representatives was so radical at the time that it wasn't taken seriously. However when the United States won the American Revolutionary War that very Constitution was put in effect and that effect has resonated around the world. She has drive and sincerity. She does give the impression she cares about her constituents. Another thing is she is not one of them. She is not part of the establishment. She is not a member of the elite.


Now let's just add this up: no prior experience in serving in the government. Appeals to a large number of people. Talks to their constituents. Is constantly dogged by the media. Whom does that remind you of?

Trouble brewing for the establishment

From Campaign For Liberty:

The Washington, D.C. media is warning that 2018 “spells trouble for the GOP establishment.”

Big Government U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) has already announced his retirement.

More retirements are rumored to be in the works.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been severely wounded politically after watching his handpicked establishment candidate go down to defeat in Alabama on Tuesday.

But the media still doesn’t get why the American people are angry?

The last time GOP leaders delivered an offensive domestic policy victory to its base was the tax cuts of 2003. Many voters can’t even remember one!

But every week, it seems the GOP establishment breaks a new promise.

I get the anger. And I share it!

The truth is, we should be angry.

We were promised our newly elected President and Congress would repeal ObamaCare “root and branch” -- not cook up one failed substitute after another.

We were promised Audit the Fed -- not more of the same as the Federal Reserve steers us off another financial cliff.

We were promised REAL, fundamental tax reform -- but Congress is looking to pass a plan that raises just as many taxes as it cuts!

We were promised fiscal responsibility and spending cuts -- not spending hikes that have sent our national debt soaring over $20 TRILLION.

We were promised things would be different this time!

We were told The Swamp’s days were numbered!

But the “Do-Nothing Congress” headed by scaredy-cat House Speaker Ryan and Senate Majority Leader McConnell has so far delivered. . .

Virtually nothing.

No matter how you slice it, 2016 was a LOUD-AND-CLEAR message from the American people that we’re FED UP with the status quo in Washington, D.C.!

Yet, The Swamp apparently thinks its “safe” to go back to their old games -- and you and I won’t notice!

It’s up to you and me to prove them WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

That’s why I’m counting on you to sign your “KEEP YOUR PROMISES” Grassroots Directive to your Congressman and U.S. Senators TODAY!

And if you’d like, you can take advantage of the extra space I’ve left for you to write the message of your choosing.

I know it’s probably frustrating you and I even have to do this. . .

But it’s absolutely critical you voice your frustration today.

If we don’t, we could miss one of the best opportunities we’ve had in years to bring our country back from the brink.

But the good news is, after the entire political world was turned upside down in 2016, politicians in BOTH parties are still incredibly wary of the power of grassroots patriots like you.

They don’t trust national media “experts” who’ve done nothing but constantly make fools of themselves -- or party big-wigs who’ve accomplished nothing but record-low approval ratings.

They know that continuing to anger good folks like you could spell their political demise. . .

It’s time to show them you and I mean business.

It’s time to show them they can either KEEP THEIR PROMISES or find new jobs.

That’s exactly the message your Grassroots Directive is designed to deliver.

As you’ll see, it urges Members of Congress to KEEP THEIR PROMISES TO:

>>>REPEAL ObamaCare! For seven years, we’ve been told ObamaCare would be gone if the American people would give Republicans control of Congress. But instead they keep offering one compromise after another! This is flat-out UNNACCEPTABLE!

>>>Audit the Fed. You and I have spent the last several months gathering House cosponsors and even forcing a House hearing. Now, is the time for Speaker Ryan to bring the bill to the floor and pass it onto the Senate!

>>>Cut taxes. You should decide how the money you earn is spent. Not some bureaucrat in Washington, D.C. With tax reform on the move, many in BOTH parties are already attempting to water it down.

>>>Cut spending. The last debt ceiling deal with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer only punted the next fight until the end of the year. Instead of raising the debt ceiling again, it’s time for Congress to finally CUT SPENDING!

And as I mentioned, if you’d like, you can take advantage of the extra space I’ve left for you to write the message of your choosing.

The action of good folks like you can be THE difference if I can generate enough of a tidal wave of support.

But with all of these battles -- and the brewing fight over the possible expiration of FISA’s UNCONSTITUTIONAL Section 702, which allows all sorts of domestic surveillance on American citizens -- I hope you’ll consider a generous contribution today.

The more resources I can raise, the LOUDER our message will be in Washington, D.C.

There’s absolutely nothing I want more right now than to BREAK through the Big Government bubble and light a grassroots fire under this Congress.

But I’m counting on you to help Campaign for Liberty make it happen.

So in addition to signing your “KEEP YOUR PROMISES” Grassroots Directive, please be generous.

Even if all you can do right now is $10 or $20, it would make a tremendous difference.

But if you can afford more -- like $50, $100, $250, or $500 -- please give as much as you can.

The only way you and I don’t miss the opportunities we have in front of us today are if Members of Congress understand their days are numbered if they don’t deliver.

So please sign your “KEEP YOUR PROMISES” Grassroots Directive and agree to your most generous contribution at once!

For Liberty,

Ron Paul
Chairman

P.S. The “Do-Nothing Congress” headed by scaredy-cat House Speaker Ryan and Senate Majority Leader McConnell has so far delivered . . . virtually nothing.

That’s why I’m counting on you to sign your “KEEP YOUR PROMISES” Grassroots Directive to your Congressman and U.S. Senators and agree to your most generous contribution of $10, $20, $50, $100, $250, or $500 TODAY!

And if you’d like, you can take advantage of the extra space I’ve left for you on your Grassroots Directive to write the message of your choosing.

Republicans Block Congressional Marijuana Votes

House Republican leadership is blocking floor consideration of several marijuana amendments on issues ranging from military veterans’ access to medical cannabis to water rights for cultivators.

Despite passionate pleas and support from members of both parties, particularly on the veterans issue, the House Rules Committee on Tuesday night ruled that the marijuana amendments were not in order and would not receive votes by the full chamber this week.

Earlier in the day, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), the veterans amendment’s lead sponsor, testified before the committee that it was “a critical area of literally life and death.”
Many military veterans use cannabis to treat physical pain caused by war wounds or to manage the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

But under a current internal U .S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) administrative directive, government doctors are not allowed to fill out recommendation forms that would let veterans legally receive medical cannabis under state law.

Blumenauer’s measure, which he sought to attach to legislation funding the V.A. and other departments for fiscal year 2018, would simply prevent the government from spending money to enforce the current ban in states where medical cannabis is legal.

Citing statistics showing that an average of 22 military veterans a day commit suicide and that death rate from opioid overdoses among V.A. patients is nearly double the national average, he said, “It’s essential that veterans be allowed to access this as a treatment if it’s legal in their state.”

Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse of Washington State, a Rules Committee member, also voiced his support.
“I’m one of those people that have seen firsthand the benefit that people can derive from medical marijuana. We’re not just talking smoking joints here,” he told his fellow committee members. “There’s a lot of different derivatives that can be used that help people alleviate pain. It seems to me that if that’s available and it works we should make it available to our veterans as well, as long as it’s in accordance with state law.”

But those pleas, and the fact that the amendment was adopted by the House last year by a vote of 233 to 189, or that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a similar measure this month with a bipartisan margin of 24 to 7, were not enough to convince Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX), to allow a floor vote.

Eighteen lawmakers — nine Democrats and nine Republicans — cosponsored the veterans cannabis proposal, more than any of the other 333 amendments filed before the committee. A total of 72 of those were approved for floor consideration.

After the news about the amendment being blocked broke late Tuesday night, Blumenauer’s office sent a press release pointing out that the measure had “stronger support in the House and Senate than ever before.”
“All we want is equal treatment for our wounded warriors,” the congressman said in the statement. “This provision overwhelmingly passed on the House floor last year – and bipartisan support has only grown. It’s outrageous that the Rules Committee won’t even allow a vote for our veterans. They deserve better. They deserve compassion.”

Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV), one of the cosponsors of the veterans amendment, pledged to “keep fighting.”

Amnd. to remove barriers for #veterans to access med. #marijuana won't get vote after @RulesReps blocks. It would pass. I'll keep fighting.

— Dina Titus (@repdinatitus) July 26, 2017
Blumenauer also took to Twitter to restate his commitment to keep pushing the issue.
Our vets are dying from opiate overdoses at alarming rates. You better believe we're going to keep fighting to get them safer alternatives.
— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) July 26, 2017

The Rules Committee also did not allow three amendments addressing water rights for marijuana and hemp cultivators to advance to the floor.

Whereas spending bills have in years past been brought to the floor under open rules that allow votes on almost any germane amendment, House Republicans last year began locking down the process after controversy surrounding riders concerning gun policy and the right of transgender people to access public bathrooms threatened the passage of some bills.

As a result, amendments on cannabis businesses’ access to banks and Washington, D.C.’s ability to spend its own money legally regulating marijuana sales were blocked from floor consideration last summer.
The veterans access issue isn’t necessarily dead for the year. Advocates hope that because the provision was inserted into the Senate’s version of V.A. funding legislation with such a strong bipartisan vote that the conference committee that later merges the two chambers’ bills together into a single proposal will adopt the language.

However, a conference committee stripped the veterans cannabis provision out of last year’s bill even though it had been approved by strong bipartisan majorities in both chambers. This time, there won’t even be a House vote on the measure.

The Senate version of the bill that covers the U.S. Department of Energy and water regulations contains an amendment protecting hemp growers’ water rights, a result of a voice vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee last week.

Meanwhile, that panel is expected to consider an amendment to continue blocking the U.S. Department of Justice from interfering with state medical cannabis laws on Thursday.

Source

If you are a constituent of Congressman Pete Sessions and you are less than thrilled with his blocking this amendment perhaps you should let him know. You call him at

Washington, DC Office
2233 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4332
Phone: 202.225.2231
Fax: 202.225.5878
Or you can email and let him know your displeasure.

Pro-marijuana bills gaining momentum in Congress

Rep. Matt Gaetz calls himself a "constitutional conservative." Joining other Republicans in rolling back environmental regulations wasn't enough for the 34-year-old freshman congressman from a conservative district in Florida. Not long after arriving on Capitol Hill, Gaetz introduced a bill that would get rid of the Environmental Protection Agency altogether.

That bill generated headlines but remains stuck in committee, and now Gaetz is looking to make another splash with a completely different issue: marijuana. Earlier this week, his office tweeted infographics listing different diseases that are treated with medical marijuana and posted another graphic detailing the social costs of marijuana prohibition on Facebook. The posts suggested that Gaetz and Rep. Darren Soto (D), a fellow Floridian, are preparing to introduce legislation that would take marijuana off the federal government's Schedule I list of drugs considered too dangerous to be legal for any purpose, including medicine.

Expanding access to marijuana is certainly not on the GOP's agenda, and has never been a top priority among congressional Democrats either. So, why is a self-described conservative sticking up for medical weed?

For years, even liberal lawmakers told marijuana advocates that while reform may be a good idea, the political will to make it happen did not exist, at least at the federal level. That is all starting to change now that legalization is becoming increasingly popular in the polls and more states are moving ahead with reforms, despite the Trump administration's pledges to crack down on illicit drugs, potentially including marijuana.

Gaetz is expected to propose placing marijuana on the government's Schedule II list, where it would still be considered to have a "high potential for abuse" but also accepted medical uses. Opioids such as fentanyl and morphine are currently categorized as Schedule II drugs. Marijuana is, of course, far less dangerous than morphine. Justin Strekal, the political director at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said placing marijuana on Schedule II is timid compared others proposed reforms, but it's an encouraging sign.

"A Republican from Florida directing their office staff to make little memes about medical marijuana [on social media]…that's a good thing to see," Strekal told Truthout.

Will Jeff Sessions Target Legal Weed?

Gaetz, who previously ushered limited medical cannabis measures through the Florida legislature, is not the only lawmaker working on weed policy. Congress recently saw the creation of a bipartisan "Cannabis Caucus" along with a flurry of proposed marijuana reforms, including two bills that would legalize marijuana nationwide. Voters in eight states approved ballot measures legalizing either recreational or medical weed in last November's election, and legislation to decriminalize or legalize marijuana is on the move in cities and states across the country.

These efforts come amid widespread speculation over how Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the outspoken marijuana prohibitionist that President Trump picked to roll out his "law and order" agenda at the Justice Department, will proceed.

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and both Sessions and the White House have sent mixed messages about federal marijuana enforcement, raising fears about a possible crackdown in states where the drug is legal for recreational use. On Thursday, Sessions issued a memo asking a new crime reduction task force created by the White House to review federal policies on marijuana enforcement and report back to him by July, providing advocates with a time frame in which to expect further policy moves by the Trump administration.

Under President Obama, the Justice Department adopted a policy that generally prevented federal raids on marijuana businesses that comply with state laws, while continuing to target unlicensed marijuana operations. As a result, the number of federal prison sentences for marijuana violations has dropped dramatically since 2012, according to NORML. Still, 3,000 people -- the overwhelming majority of them people of color -- received federal sentences in 2016 alone.

Sessions has called the Obama-era policy "valid" and may choose not to scrap it, but advocates warn that the attorney general has plenty of leeway to disrupt state-legal markets as long as marijuana remains prohibited at the federal level. The uncertainty has left states with legal marijuana programs anxious. On Monday, the governors of Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington sent a letter to the Justice Department asking Sessions to consult with them before making any changes to the policy established under Obama.

States that have legalized weed are now considering so-called "sanctuary" legislation to protect their legitimate marijuana businesses from the Trump administration. Last week, California Rep. Reggie Jones-Sawyer introduced a bill in the state's legislature that would bar state and local agencies from teaming up with federal law enforcement to take action against legitimate marijuana businesses, unless they receive a court order. Medical marijuana has been legal in California for years, and last year voters approved a ballot initiative for recreational use.

"I want to stop law enforcement from impeding on one of the best businesses we can start for the next millennium," Jones-Sawyer told reporters last week.

The Trump administration has indicated that it is not interested in going after medical cannabis, and Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow recreational marijuana businesses to reclassify their products as medical products "due to change in local, state or federal law enforcement policy."

"In the grand scheme of things, I think Sessions is [a] new catalyst for urgency for states and Congress to take action," Strekal said.

Congress Considers a Flurry of Marijuana Bills

In Congress, the legislation currently receiving the most attention is the Marijuana Revenue and Regulation Act, a bill recently introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colorado) that would remove marijuana from drug scheduling entirely and set up a basic federal taxation and regulatory structure, allowing states to establish their own polices free from interference by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The bill is part of a package from the Cannabis Caucus that would shield individual consumers from federal prosecution and remove tax and criminal penalties that have made it difficult for marijuana businesses to access banking and other financial services.

Perhaps the most important legislation for marijuana advocates is a bill and a separate pair of budget amendments that would protect states with legal weed from federal prosecution. The proposals are designed to stop Sessions from targeting states with legal weed, even if Trump's crime task force decides that a crackdown is a good idea.

A budget amendment preventing federal prosecution of state-legal medical marijuana activities passed last year, but another amendment protecting recreational marijuana narrowly failed. Strekal said the recreational measure, which was also introduced by Rep. Polis, has a much better chance this year now that more states have passed legalization measures. However, as a budget rider, it's only good for one year. That leaves Congress with more work to do if legalized states are to be protected from the Trump administration over the course of his term.

"We absolutely expect to see advancement of legislation in Congress, but will it be the end of prohibition in this Congress? Probably not," Strekal said. "But we are cautiously optimistic about a swelling of political will behind this."

Source

Audit The Fed heads to the House floor

From Campaign For Liberty:

Your signed petitions, emails, and phone calls are working!

Late yesterday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed my Audit the Fed bill by a voice vote!

Just like I hoped, the massive tidal wave of support you helped generate just as Campaign for Liberty President Norm Singleton testified before the House Committee last week, showed the American people are rallying behind efforts to DRAIN THE SWAMP by auditing the Federal Reserve!

While this is surely good news, our battle isn't over.

Fed apologists are going to ramp up their pressure as this battle heads to the House floor.

The best way to overcome them is to continue to keep up the pressure and generate as many House cosponsors as we possibly can -- as quickly as we can!

So if you haven't already done so, please sign your petition urging your U.S. Representative to cosponsor Audit the Fed right away.

And please also consider contributing generously -- whether that's $250, $100, $50, $25 or even $10 -- to help Campaign for Liberty turn up the heat on the U.S. House.

The good news is, your action is proven to work!

So please -- by all means -- let's keep it up!

In liberty,

Ron Paul

Make politicians keep their promises

From Campaign For Liberty:

Washington, D.C. is still reeling from the results of last Thursday and Friday when RyanCare -- AKA "ObamaCare-lite" -- was pulled from the House floor due to lack of support and grassroots anger.

Now, all the politicians we heard promise us they were going to repeal ObamaCare seem strangely happy that they didn't get the job done.

Instead of learning the lesson that they must listen to the grassroots patriots who elected them, House Speaker Paul Ryan states, "We're going to be living with ObamaCare for the foreseeable future."

And the White House is openly claiming they want to start wheeling and dealing with Big Government statists like Chuck Schumer (D-NY)! And Schumer has indicated he is eager to deal with the Republicans if that is what it takes to save ObamaCare.

I'm more worried than ever about what's coming next.

That's why I'm counting on you to sign your "NO MORE BETRAYALS" petition to your U.S. Representative and Senators today.

As you'll see, these petitions tell your elected officials in no uncertain terms that you expect them to DELIVER on the promises to repeal ObamaCare that so many made on the campaign trail in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016.

In December of 2015, congressional Republicans passed an ObamaCare repeal bill -- using the reconciliation process -- through both houses of Congress and placed it on President Obama's desk.

President Obama, of course, vetoed that bill.

But it was meant to show the American people how serious Congress was about ending ObamaCare.

At virtually any moment congressional leaders decide to, they can pass this same bill again -- and relegate ObamaCare to the trash-heap of history.

But they won't do it unless you and I force them to act and FAST.

You see, I'm afraid they're perfectly happy that ObamaCare remains on the books today. Too many senators and representatives seem willing to abandon the effort to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with healthcare freedom where you're in charge and the free market is restored.

And the more time that passes, the more likely it is the American people will simply "forget" they've broken their promises.

That's why your continued action is so critical.

First, please sign your "NO MORE BETRAYALS" petition to your U.S. Representative and Senators.

Second, if you possibly can, please agree to your most generous contribution of $250, $100 or $50.

Or, if that's too much, please agree to $25 or even $10.

With your help, Campaign for Liberty is going to keep the heat on Congress for the repeal of ObamaCare we were promised!

But we're counting on your continued support and action.

For liberty,

Ron Paul
Chairman

P.S. Instead of learning the lesson that they must listen to the grassroots patriots who elected them, House Speaker Paul Ryan states, "We're going to be living with ObamaCare for the foreseeable future."

And the White House is openly claiming they want to start wheeling and dealing with Big Government statists like Chuck Schumer (D-NY)!

That's why I'm counting on you to sign your "NO MORE BETRAYALS" petition to your U.S. Representative and Senators today and agree to your most generous contribution of $250, $100, $50, $25 or even $10 right away!

Don't let ISP's invade your privacy

From Fight For The Future:

BREAKING: Congress has scheduled a vote TOMORROW to eliminate Internet privacy rules and allow ISPs to sell your data to advertisers without your permission. It already passed the Senate. This is our last chance to stop it.

Just last week, the Senate voted to gut internet privacy rules that prevent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from selling your sensitive personal information to advertisers without your consent. [1]

The measure passed the Senate by only two votes. It was close, and there was significant public outcry which means we still have a chance to stop it.

Now the bill moves to the House of Representatives, and we just got word that they scheduled a vote on it TOMORROW. [2] They’re trying to ram it through quickly without discussion or debate. We need to stop them.

Call Congress right now. Tell them to vote NO on repealing the FCC broadband privacy rules.

We’ll connect you with your lawmakers and give you a simple script of what you can say. Here’s the number: (415) 360-0555

Can’t call right now? Help us sound the alarm and get out the word about this urgent assault on all of our Internet privacy rights.

Even creepier, they’ll be able to install software on your phone to track you, and inject undetectable “cookies” into your Internet traffic to record everything you’re doing online. [3]

If this bill passes the House, companies like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T will be able to constantly (and secretly) collect our online activity and sell our browsing history, financial information, and real-time location, and sell it to advertisers without our permission.

We have less than 24 hours to create enough outcry to delay the vote or stop this bill entirely. There’s so much at stake. Will you call right now?

Call this number and we’ll connect you directly to your representatives: (415) 360-0555

We’ll keep you posted. Thanks for all you do,

-Laila and Evan at Fight for the Future

P.S. We just announced we’re going to put up billboards with the names of every member of Congress who votes for this attack on our privacy. Help us put them up in more districts by chipping in!

Or you can email your representative by clicking here.

Republican congressman introduces legislation that would take marijuana out of the hands of the federal government

The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act would allow states to determine their own marijuana policies.

Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher of California is proposing a law that would only allow states to determine marijuana policies, resolving the current conflict between state and federal marijuana laws.

Four states — Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington — have laws that allow the production and sale of marijuana for adult use. Four additional states — California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada — are in the process of establishing similar regulations. Under federal law, marijuana is a schedule 1 drug, meaning it “has a high potential for abuse . . . has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States [and] there is a lack of accepted safety for use of drug or other substance under medical supervision” [21 U.S.C 812(b)(1)]. Thus, a conflict.

“This is commonsense legislation that is long overdue,” Robert Capecchi, director of federal policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, said in a press release. “It is time to end marijuana prohibition at the federal level and give states the authority to determine their own policies.”

“States throughout the country are effectively regulating and controlling marijuana medical or broader adult use,” Capecch said. “Federal tax dollars should not be wasted on arresting and prosecuting people who are following their state and local laws.”

In July, medical marijuana failed to make the GOP platform after a vigorous debate to embrace the growing acceptance of marijuana. The conflict between state and federal marijuana laws was not an issue under the previous administration, but with the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general, there are concerns he may crack down on states’ marijuana policies.

Source

This is a good bill. If you agree contact your Congressional Representative and let them know to fully support The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act. This could end persecution at the fedeal level so I say we back it. Th more of us they hear from the better so contact your Congressperson right away.

Audit The Fed more promising than ever

From Campaign For Liberty:

Senator Rand Paul and Representative Thomas Massie have reintroduced the Audit the Fed bill (S. 16/H.R. 24)...

And now, we finally have a President who supports Audit the Fed!

We are only 6 votes away from defeating the Senate's filibuster, and there are 10 Senators who voted against Audit the Fed facing an electorate in 2018 who voted for Donald Trump...

All this means we have our best opportunity ever to finally pass Audit the Fed!

But we can take nothing for granted.

Federal Reserve apologists are on high alert and are already working overtime to make sure Audit the Fed does not reach President Trump's desk.

They know Audit the Fed would EXPOSE the Fed's corruption and cronyism.

So I've instructed my staff to double-down.

I've developed a multi-pronged plan to counterpunch the Fed's army of lobbyists and derail their scheme to scare and intimidate Representatives and Senators from cosponsoring Audit the Fed.

And I need your help to implement the first two parts of our plan:

FIRST >>> Campaign for Liberty must generate as many petitions from concerned grassroots Americans like you. Our goal is to bury Congress with a mountain of pro-Audit the Fed petitions by the time the first House and Senate hearings discussing Audit the Fed occur.

Those hearings could begin as early as mid-February, so please sign your to your Representative and Senators.

After you sign your petition, please share this alert with your family and friends, encouraging them to join you in taking action.

SECOND >>> You've been a long-time supporter of mine. And Audit the Fed has been the focus of Campaign for Liberty's efforts since I founded it in 2008.

You know the importance of contacting and mobilizing like-minded liberty lovers. But that costs time, money, and significant resources.

Resources, I'm afraid, Campaign for Liberty just doesn't have lying around.

Campaign for Liberty expended a lot of resources just to get where you and I are right now -- and it will take much more to reach millions of like-minded Americans to aid us in this fight.

So I'm asking you today to please make a generous donation of $10.

Your contribution, of whatever you can afford, will be put to immediate use where it's needed most.

Emails. Facebook. Google. TV, radio, and YouTube ads, if the funds can be stretched that far.

Every dollar we raise will help us flood every outlet to reach millions of Americans and fight back against Janet Yellen's Federal Reserve System.

I know you have already given a lot to this effort, but we have come so far and are so close to finally passing Audit the Fed...

It would be a shame if the banksters won because Campaign for Liberty lacked the resources to beat back their last, desperate attempt to protect Fed secrecy...

Can I count on you?

For Liberty,

Ron Paul
Chairman

P.S. Senator Rand Paul and Representative Thomas Massie have reintroduced Audit the Fed (S. 16/H.R. 24)...

With President-elect Trump on record in support of the bill, you and I have our best opportunity ever to pass Audit the Fed...

But since the Fed's defenders are poised to launch an all-out blitz to bury the bill, you and I cannot take anything for granted.

So please sign your "Pass Audit the Fed" petition to your Representative and Senators.

Voters demanded pot policy changes, it’s time for lawmakers to listen

Voters in eight states decided on Election Day to radically amend their longstanding marijuana policies.

In four states – California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada – voters approved initiatives to regulate the production, use, and retail sale of cannabis to adults. In an additional four states – Arkansas, Florida, Montana, and North Dakota – voters decided in favor of ballot measures to permit the dispensing and use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes.

In each of these jurisdictions, proponents of marijuana policy reform were forced to bring the issue directly to the voters because elected officials steadfastly refused to address it legislatively. In the weeks following the election, little has changed.

Despite these voter mandates, many lawmakers remain reluctant to move forward with the legal reforms that the public has demanded. In some cases, legislators and regulators are outright defying voters’ will by proposing measures to undermine the election’s outcomes altogether.


In Arkansas, where 53 percent of voters approved a constitutional amendment — the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act — state lawmakers immediately passed emergency implementation to delay the law’s enactment, while additional legislation remains pending to prevent the law’s implementation altogether. Separate legislative efforts are also pending to significantly rewrite the law in a manner that is far more restrictive than what voters intended.
A similar scenario is emerging in Florida, where 71 percent of voters endorsed a constitutional amendment providing doctors with the discretion to recommend medical marijuana to patients for whom they believed the benefits “would likely outweigh the potential health risks.” In recent weeks, however, lawmakers and regulators have proposed rules that seek to gut many of the law’s key provisions.

Specifically, newly released regulations seek to: halt the state from licensing would-be medical marijuana providers, forbid doctors from authorizing cannabis for chronic pain patients, and to restrict qualifying patients from obtaining whole-plant cannabis (instead limiting patients’ use to marijuana-infused products only).

Things are little different in North Dakota. Despite the fact that 64 percent of voters passed the Compassionate Care Act in November, leadership in the House and Senate is moving full speed ahead to suspend the law’s enactment.

Voter-initiated plans to regulate the retail production and sale of marijuana to adults have fared little better.

In Massachusetts, a handful of political leaders pushed through emergency legislation during an informal legislative session to delay marijuana sales until July 1, 2018.

The Boston Globe summarized the event this way, “The extraordinary move, made in informal sessions with just a half-dozen legislators present, … unravel[s] a significant part of the legalization measure passed by 1.8 million voters.” Additional measures before lawmakers seek to further undue several other aspects of the law, including adults’ ability to grow marijuana in their private residence.

In Maine, lawmakers have similarly rushed legislation through both chambers to delay the enactment of voter-initiated provisions governing the retail production and sale of marijuana until the spring of 2018. The emergency measure also rolls back specific initiative provisions that permitted on site consumption in specially licensed establishments, as well as the possession of marijuana-infused edible products.

Lawmakers’ decision to disregard the will of their constituents is both arrogant and troubling. Whether or not one supports marijuana law reform, one should find legislators’ attitudes and actions an affront to the democratic process. Americans have been told time and time again that ‘elections have consequences.’ There should not be a ‘marijuana exception’ to this longstanding principle.

Voters made their opinions on marijuana policy clear at the ballot box in November. Lawmakers in these jurisdictions have a responsibility to abide by the will of the people and to do so in a timely manner. Americans have lived with the failings of marijuana prohibition for far too long.

The people’s will should not be compromised, second-guessed, or held hostage by politicians who are unwilling to recognize that they are on the wrong side of history.

Source

That's a good idea. Perhaps our lawmakers need to hear what We The People have to say. You can contact your Congressional Representative and your Senators and bring this to their attention. Give them the link to the source of this article so that they know we mean business.The more of us they hear from the better so let's do it to it.

Let's tell Congressman Paul Ryan that we do want to talk about marijuana reform

Congressman Paul Ryan
It seems that one of the many things that are taboo for discussion in the House is marijuana reform. Why is that? Because Speaker of the House Congressman Paul Ryan doesn't want to talk about it. On the other hand the American people do want to talk about marijuana reform. In fact they want more than mere words from Washington. They want action. This last election confirmed that. With the voters from a state deciding for themselves while ignoring the federal government. There are more states that day by day decide to put it to the people so the people can decide what they want. Obama even admitted it a few days after this last election. It's only a matter of time before it becomes a federal issue so let's contact the Speaker and tell him that We The American People want marijuana legalization and that we want the House to take this issue up. The more of us they hear from the better.

We defeated the National Internet SalesTax Mandate

From Campaign For Liberty:

The tax-hikers are furious at you!

That's because -- thanks to our dedicated supporters -- Campaign for Liberty has prevented the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate from passing in the Lame-Duck Congress.

Thank you!

As you know, Congress' lame-duck session is a dangerous time -- when Liberty is most vulnerable to attack!

When Congressmen don't have to worry about re-election, they're most vulnerable to trading votes for personal gain.

But Campaign for Liberty and its supporters overwhelmed Congress with a barrage of phone calls and tens of thousands of fax-petitions.

With your help Campaign for Liberty made it impossible for Congressmen to ignore their constituents.

The National Internet Sales Tax Mandate is backed by some of the most powerful special interests in the country, making Campaign for Liberty's success is all the more remarkable.

And Campaign for Liberty was the only organization to mobilize opposition against this tax.

On Friday, I heard from a Congressional staffer whose boss shares our opposition to the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate:

"Campaign for Liberty has been crucial in the battle to stop the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate. Please make sure your members know how crucial their efforts were in stopping this new tax!"

Even in the face of behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealing, Campaign for Liberty managed to prevent the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate from even hitting the House or Senate floors!

But none of this would have been possible without the support of Liberty-minded individuals like you.

This is an enormous victory for Liberty, and one that sends a message to Big Government cronies trying to sneak legislation through back channels.

While this is certainly a cause for celebration, it's equally important we don't let our guard down.

There will always be Big Government shills trying to make their fortunes by restricting our liberties, and while we may have sent them packing this time...

...They are still skulking in the shadows, waiting for the next opportunity to chip away at our Constitutional rights and line their pockets.

That's why I want to say "Thank You!" But I also hope that you will continue to stand with Campaign for Liberty.

Without Liberty-minded individuals like you, Big Government lobbyists would be the ones celebrating today.

It has been a long, hard road but thanks to hard-working activists like you, we earned victory over the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate.

I hope we can count on your support in the future.

Thank you for all that you've done.

In Liberty,

Norm Singleton
President

P.S. With the support of Liberty-minded individuals like you, Campaign for Liberty has claimed victory over the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate!

Campaign for Liberty overwhelmed Congress with a barrage of phone calls and tens of thousands of fax-petitions.

As the only voice on Capitol Hill decrying the National Internet Sales Tax Mandate, Campaign for Liberty made it impossible for Congressmen to ignore their constituents.

Although this is a huge victory for Liberty, it is important that we don't rest on our laurels.

With Big Government lobbyists already plotting their next assault on our Constitutional rights, I hope you'll consider chipping in $25 or $10 to help us prepare for the coming battles in 2017.

Congressional drug prohibitionist arrested for possession of cocaine

WASHINGTON — In September, Rep. Trey Radel voted for Republican legislation that would allow states to make food stamp recipients pee in cups to prove they’re not on drugs. In October, police busted the Florida Republican on a charge of cocaine possession.

“It’s really interesting it came on the heels of Republicans voting on everyone who had access to food stamps get drug tested,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told BuzzFeed Tuesday. “It’s like, what?”

The House over the summer approved an amendment by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) that would let states drug test people on food stamps. The amendment passed by voice vote, meaning members’ individual yeas and nays were not recorded. Radel later voted in favor of a broader food stamps bill that included Hudson’s measure.

In support of his drug testing legislation, Hudson cited the many state legislatures around the country that had considered similar requirements for other means-tested programs in recent years.

“This is a clear and obvious problem in our communities as nearly 30 states have introduced legislation to drug test for welfare programs,” Hudson said. “We have a moral obligation to equip the states with the tools they need to discourage the use of illegal drugs.”
Most of the state legislation was authored by Republicans. Oftentimes, state Democrats responded by suggesting lawmakers should be subject to tests as well. If the government’s going to make sure recipients of taxpayer-funded benefits are clean, the argument went, then why not also make sure the recipients of taxpayer salaries are clean, too?

In June, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) made that very suggestion when he questioned why recipients of crop insurance and other government benefits weren’t also targeted for drug tests like people on food stamps.

“Why don’t we drug test all the members of Congress here,” McGovern said shortly before the drug-testing measure passed. “Force everybody to go urinate in a cup or see whether or not anybody is on drugs? Maybe that will explain why some of these amendments are coming up or why some of the votes are turning out the way they are.”

The fate of the food stamp drug testing provision is in the hands of a House-Senate conference committee hashing out differences between food stamp and farm legislation that passed the two chambers. It’s got a chance. Last year, Congress passed a law to let states drug-test some unemployment insurance recipients.

Radel apologized Tuesday for his cocaine bust and said he’d seek treatment.
“I struggle with the disease of alcoholism, and this led to an extremely irresponsible choice,” he said.

Source

Fuck him. Throw him to the wolves. I'm tired of hypocritical assholes like him. He comes off so self righteous only to a be a sinner himself and the worst kind. Like Lamont Hill said this asshole had no problem taking food out of the mouths of you and your children. He has no problem denying you food because you used medical marijuana to save your life and now that you've come up positive for drugs you are cut off from food stamps. A program you need to feed yourself and your family. This prick asks for love and compassion when it comes to him but he has no problem imposing draconian measures on the rest of us. This clown needs punishment. I say we contact our Congressperson and the Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and let them know of our disgust and that We The People are not going to take it anymore.

CONGRESS JUST VOTED TO STRIP ALL POWER FROM OBAMA FOR THE REST OF HIS PRESIDENCY!

It will take a lot of work to clean up the mess created by Obama. The House of Representatives just gave President-elect Trump a head start.With fewer than 10 weeks left as President, President Barack Obama’s time in the White House is about to be finished.

It couldn’t happen soon enough!

Now, Obama’s team is rushing to pass countless last-minute regulations to implement even more of Obama’s radical agenda. Presidents are infamous for controversial, last-minute decisions.

Now, the Republican-lead U.S. House of Representatives just took a major stand against Obama. They voted 240-to-179 to allow Congress to stop and un-do any last minute rules and regulations approved by Obama.

As the bill’s sponsor Rep. Darrell Issa explained, this bill stops Obama’s last-minute, shameful regulations forever:

“This bipartisan bill is about reviving the separation of powers to ensure our laws are written by the Representatives we actually vote for – not unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats who are on their way out the door. Presidents of both parties have made habit of enacting scores of last-minute regulations, with little oversight, to sneak in as much of their agenda as possible before the clock runs out on their time in office. The bill helps ensure this President, and any future president, will be held in check and that their policies have the proper level of scrutiny by both Congress and the American people. I’m pleased to see the House pass this important measure and look forward to its quick passage by our colleagues in the Senate.”

This is a massive victory for conservatives, trying to make the transition to a Trump administration easier to enact pro-growth, pro-job creation policies:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent a letter Wednesday to congressmen alerted them to the cost of regulations put on the books by administrations on their way out the door:

A recent report issued by the Regulatory Studies Center at the George Washington University entitled The Final Countdown; Projecting Midnight Regulations found that executive branch agencies typically issue a significantly greater number of rules during the final months of an administration in a rushed effort to implement remaining policy objectives. Midnight regulations issued by prior administrations have proven highly problematic and required subsequent correction. The ability of Congress to disapprove these rules under the CRA is limited by tight deadlines for action that make separate debate and votes on a rule-by-rule basis impractical.

FreedomWorks CEO Adam Brandon says he’s pleased with the House vote and he committed his Washington-based logistics and policy hub for Tea Party and conservative activists to working with Capitol Hill conservatives to return law-making authority to Congress.

Source

Don't let them bust medical marijuana dispensaries support the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment

For the past two years, Congress has passed annual spending bills which included a provision protecting those who engage in the state-sanctioned use and dispensing of medical cannabis from undue prosecution by the Department of Justice. However, members of Congress have yet to taken action to reauthorize this provision and therefore the law is set to expire at the end of the month.

The amendment, known as the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, maintains that federal funds can not be used to prevent states from “implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana.”

Just last month, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld the amendment, opining that federal officials are not permitted to engage in the criminal prosecution of those who are involved in activity related to medical marijuana absent evidence that the defendants are in clear violation of state law. However, this protection ceases to exist if the provision is not renewed — putting hundreds of thousands of patients and providers at risk.

Please enter your zip code below to contact your federally elected officials and urge them to move quickly to reauthorize the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment and to keep these important patient protections in place.

To sign petition

Don't let the Feds resume arrests of medical marijuana patients

From Americans For Safe Access:

As a medical cannabis advocate, you are probably aware that the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) budget has been helping defendants win in federal court. Beginning with the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana ruling last October, to dropping the case against Harborside this May, to the McIntosh victory in the 9th Circuit last month, the amendment has been protecting safe and legal access for patients. The amendment was passed in 2014 and 2015 thanks in part to the support and efforts of medical cannabis activists like you!

Earlier this year, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted overwhelming to include it in next DOJ budget. However, the amendment is set to expire at the end of September and the House has yet to vote on it. If the amendment expires, the federal prosecutions against those obeying their state medical cannabis laws could resume once again.

You can help by sending an email to your representative thanking them for voting yes last year or to encourage those who voted no to take another look at the issue. Also contact your Senators and tell them to extend these protections for another year.

Tell your elected leaders to defund the DEA

Recently the DEA held a Kangaroo court of a discussion concerning rescheduling marijuana from Schedule 1,where the drugs in this category have no medicinal value although with marijuana we know that is not true,to the less restrictive Schedule 2. The DEA was lobbied by the people of the United States of America whom demanded that marijuana be rescheduled to Schedule 2. I don't know if the DEA decided to pull a fast one from the beginning or this was a recent development but they decided against rescheduling. Jesse Ventura discusses the decision by the DEA and how they fucked with us. I'm sure they got a good laugh with their little game of "let's yang their chains and see what happens." I want us to have a good laugh too. The best way we can do that is to contact our Congressperson and Senators and demand the DEA be defunded. If they want to deny people marijuana in defiance of the wishes of the people then the people do not want to pay their salaries. Why should the people pay their tormentors? The DEA,along with the rest of the federal government work for us,The People. Let's remind them of that. The more of us they hear from the better so let them know.

Pressure the House Republicans to impeach IRS Commissioner John Koskinen

From Freedom Works:

Recently, the Republican Party adopted your call to impeach Obama’s crony IRS commissioner into the Republican Party platform. While historic, this is just talk. And talk is cheap. It’s time Republicans put up or shut up. They must force John Koskinen to pay for his crimes. That’s why I’m asking you to contact House Republicans today. Tell them it’s time to impeach John Koskinen.

House Republicans have put this off for far too long. Every day John Koskinen is at the IRS is another day conservatives must live in fear.

John Koskinen has broken multiple laws, multiple times. And I’ve had enough of it. He’s destroyed evidence. He’s lied under oath. He’s done all this to cover up Lois Lerner’s part in the IRS’ targeting of conservatives. This is unacceptable. Contact House Republicans right now. Tell them it’s time to impeach John Koskinen.

Thank the Congressman for starting the impeachment process against John Koskinen

From Freedom Works:

This week hasn’t been good for Obama and his cronies at the IRS. House conservatives took the first step on the path to impeaching IRS Commissioner John Koskinen and voted to protect you from being unfairly targeted by the IRS.

This happened because principled conservatives, like you, rose up and demanded Congress rein in the IRS. And true conservative congressmen like Jim Jordan, Tim Huelskamp, Barry Loudermilk, and Ron DeSantis fought to make sure this happened. Please, take :30s to thank these conservative champions by signing our special “thank you” card today.

In Washington, conservatives have few allies. And, that’s why it’s so important we say thank you to the men and women who stand up and fight for our values each and every day. Thank them right now by signing our special “thank you” card here.

For Freedom,

Adam Brandon
President & CEO, FreedomWorks