I will use the following criteria to decide whether to vote for federal laws, regulations, and programs:
-
Are liberty and privacy protected, preserved, or enhanced?
-
Does the U.S. Constitution say that the
federal government has jurisdiction over the topic being addressed?
-
Does the federal solution decrease state or local control?
-
Are benefits and costs clearly defined?
-
Will the people recognize success if and when it happens?
-
Does legislation clearly state what happens if:
a) legislation is not effective,
b) legislation is no longer needed,
c) success has been achieved?
-
Does legislation address unrelated topics or have unrelated add-ons ("riders")?
-
Are important side-effects and unintended consequences addressed by the legislation?
-
Is there a better solution, especially local, state, or private?
-
Does legislation provide for "complete" solutions: 1) resources are sufficient, 2) necessary elements or conditions exist?
-
Does legislation shift cost 1) away from people who benefit or 2) to future generations?
-
Does legislation require states, counties, or cities to take action without providing federal funding to cover cost?
-
Foreign affairs: are terms of treaties, laws and programs consistent with our country's core principle: liberty?
