2000 Ron Paul 96:1
Mr. PAUL.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition
to the James Madison Commemoration Commission
Act secure in the belief that were
James Madison on the floor today, he would
share my opposition to this bill. Congress has
no constitutional authority to use taxpayer
funds to promote the life and thought of any
individual. Congressional actions exceeding
the limitations on congressional power contained
in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution
undermine the very principles of limited
government to which James Madison devoted
his life. In fact, few have been as eloquent in
pointing out how liberty is threatened when
Congress exceeds its enumerated powers:
2000 Ron Paul 96:2
If Congress can do whatever in their discretion
can be done by money, and will promote
the General Welfare, the Government is no
longer a limited one, possessing enumerated
powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular
exceptions.—Letter to Edmund Pendleton,
January 21, 1792 (Madison, 1865, I,
page 546)
2000 Ron Paul 96:3
Of course, Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly
endorse the goals of promoting public awareness
and appreciation of, the life and thought
of James Madison. In fact, through my work
with various educational organizations, I have
probably done as much as any member to
promote the thought of James Madison and
the other Founding Fathers. James Madison’s
writings provide an excellent guide to the principles
underlying the true nature of the American
government. In addition, Madison’s
writings address many issues of concern to
friends of limited government today, such as
the need for each branch of government to respect
the Separation of Powers, the threat
posed to individual liberty by an interventionist
foreign policy, and the differences between a
Republic and a pure Democracy.
2000 Ron Paul 96:4
However, the continuing growth of the federal
government and Congress’ refusal to
abide by its constitutional limits suggest that
the people most in need of familiarization with
the thought of James Madison are those who
would support this bill.
2000 Ron Paul 96:5
Mr. Speaker, S. 3137 exceeds the constitutional
limits on Congressional power, and thus
violates the principles of limited government
upon which our constitutional system was
based. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to pay
appropriate tribute to James Madison by rejecting
this unconstitutional bill.
