From ballooning national debt and spending on the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid entitlement programs to the thousands of regulations imposed each year to efforts to strip Americans’ gun rights to enhanced spying on American citizens, government continues to grow and become more intrusive in our lives. So where are the pro-liberty legislators trying to protect us from these depredations?
From ballooning national debt and spending on the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid entitlement programs to the thousands of regulations imposed each year to efforts to strip Americans’ gun rights to enhanced spying on American citizens, government continues to grow and become more intrusive in our lives. So where are the pro-liberty legislators trying to protect us from these depredations?
While defenders of liberty in Congress are far too few for our liking, the Republican Liberty Caucus’ 2015 Liberty Index of Congress provides some insight into who is — and who is not — guarding our freedoms against the ravages of tax hikers, socialists, paternalistic do-gooders and other statists. The index, compiled by RLC of Virginia Chairman Clifford Thies, scores members of Congress based on their votes in two categories: Economic liberties and personal liberties.
The top performer in either chamber was Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., who scored a rare “double-100” in the two categories.
At the other end of the spectrum, the worst score of just 8 — the only single-digit score in the House — went to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who has lately gained attention for being booed at her own party’s convention and forced to resign her post as chairman of the Democratic National Committee over an email scandal that revealed efforts by the supposedly neutral DNC to coordinate and strategize with Hillary Clinton’s campaign against Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
While it is not surprising Republicans scored much higher, on average, than Democrats in the economic liberties category, their significantly higher scores in personal liberties might be less expected.
“In recent years, the federal government has become increasingly arbitrary and even despotic,” Thies warned.
This is why we should keep in mind as the November elections approach that it is critical to elect representatives who will stand up for our economic and our personal freedoms.
— The Orange County Register