ryan susie ethan & lilly

I just sent you (Jason Chaffetz) an email in the hopes that you read it and change your ways. It may seem insignificant – the 422 to 1 vote in congress recently but to me it shows that 99.97% of Congress doesn’t take their oath of office seriously. And maybe they don’t understand it at all.

There was a vote in congress to award a Gold Medal to Arnold Palmer. Admirable – yes. Constitutional – no. Congressman Ron Paul was the only NO vote. This little type of issue comes up every so often in congress but because it’s “for a good cause” everyone except Ron Paul breaks their oath of office and ignores constitutional principles. However this little demonstration of honoring one’s oath of office demonstrates what it takes to be a true representative of the people – even when it is seemingly unpopular.

Jason please read Congressman Paul’s response when the same Gold Medal honor was to be bestowed upon Ronald and Nancy Reagan.

One person out of the entire congress thinks it’s a bad idea to spend tax payer money to award Arnold Palmer with a gold medal and of course Ron stood up as he did in the past.

“I must, however, oppose the Gold Medal for Ronald and Nancy Reagan because appropriating $30,000 of taxpayer money is neither constitutional nor, in the spirit of Ronald Reagan’s notion of the proper, limited role for the federal government.”

“Because of my continuing and uncompromising opposition to appropriations not authorized within the enumerated powers of the Constitution, I would maintain my resolve and commitment to the Constitution–a Constitution, which only last year, each Member of Congress, swore to uphold. In each of these instances, I offered to do a little more than uphold my constitutional oath.”

“In fact, as a means of demonstrating my personal regard and enthusiasm for Ronald Reagan’s advocacy for limited government, I invited each of these colleagues to match my private, personal contribution of $100 which, if accepted by the 435 Members of the House of Representatives, would more than satisfy the $30,000 cost necessary to mint and award a gold medal to Ronald and Nancy Reagan. To me, it seemed a particularly good opportunity to demonstrate one’s genuine convictions by spending one’s own money rather that of the taxpayers who remain free to contribute, at their own discretion, to commemorate the work of the Reagans. For the record, not a single Representative who solicited my support for spending taxpayer’s money, was willing to contribute their own money to demonstrate their generosity and allegiance to the Reagan’s stated convictions.” ~ Ron Paul