Congressman Shadegg has introduced a couple bills that will help real Americans, not the auto industry. Nice to see there are still some good ideas coming out of Washington. Here is his release:

Shadegg Opposes Auto Bailout, Proposes Taxpayer Bailouts

Shadegg: “I believe taxpayers should decide which businesses survive and which need to be restructured to remain competitive.”

Washington, DC— Congressman John Shadegg today issued the following statement last night after voting against the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act (H.R. 7321) and instead, introducing two economic alternatives:

“If anyone needs a bailout in this economy it’s the American taxpayer. Politicians shouldn’t be picking winners and losers; the American people should.

“I voted against the massive auto industry bailout, not because I don’t care about America’s auto industry, or the workers in that industry, but because I believe taxpayers should decide which businesses survive and which need to be restructured to remain competitive.

“The American people, those in the auto industry, and those in every other industry need help right now. While I would favor permanent tax relief, I also believe a substantial tax holiday will do more to stimulate our economy than another taxpayer-funded bailout. Average Americans, not politicians, should determine which companies deserve to be rewarded and which do not. The banking industry bailout enacted just weeks ago has proven that Washington is clueless when it comes to the American economy. And, it’s been a spectacular failure.

The bills I introduced today would stimulate the economy and be a tremendous boon for every struggling American family. Under the first proposal, individuals making less than $125,000, or couples making up to $250,000, in 2008 would owe no income taxes. Taxes withheld to date would be refunded to these taxpayers to use as they see fit. Those making over these amounts would pay income tax at 5% below the otherwise applicable rate. The alternate bill, would suspend both payroll and income taxes for the first six months of 2009.

These plans would return, on average, roughly $5,700 to $6,400 to each taxpayer. Either would cost dramatically less than the bloated $7 trillion bailout packages peddled by congressional Democrats and the Bush Administration.

“The federal government has demonstrated utter incompetence in solving our nation’s economic problems over the past three months. It’s time to put the control of our economy back in the hands of the American people.”

The boys at RedState.com are calling on conservatives to join them in encouraging Congressman John Shadegg to stay in the U.S. House to continue the conservative fight:

We at Redstate wholeheartedly concur with those who circulated the letter – Reps. Pence, Hensarling, and Hoekstra – and with the other 130+ House GOPers’ call for Mr. Shadegg to run for reelection and to remain in office. These are critical times for our nation, and Washington needs leaders of his caliber.

The Arizona Republic and East Valley Tribune have coverage here and here.  Look for a growing crescendo of support for Shadegg to stay in the House.  National conservative leaders are worried that losing someone of Shadegg’s caliber will hurt the overall movement. 

Breaking from Roll Call:

130 Colleagues Urge Shadegg to Stay

Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008; 7:29 pm

Motivated by a letter signed by more than 130 of his House GOP colleagues urging him to forgo retirement and run for re-election, Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) could be reconsidering his decision to call it quits upon the conclusion of his current term, a well-placed Republican source said late Thursday.

The letter, spearheaded by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), comes in response to Shadegg’s surprise decision, announced Monday, not to seek an eighth House term. Pence, a former chairman of the Republican Study Committee — a caucus of conservative House Republicans — followed Shadegg in that post.

“As your colleagues, your fellow conservatives, and your friends, we sincerely ask that you reconsider your decision to retire from Congress,” reads the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Roll Call. “John, you continue to inspire, embolden, and lead. The Republican Conference needs you here, the Conservative Movement needs you here, and the country needs you here. Please reconsider.”

The letter was circulating on Capitol Hill on Thursday, although Shadegg had yet to officially receive it, according to the source, who nevertheless said that the “unprecedented” nature of so many Members appealing for Shadegg to reconsider was giving him pause.

“Never before have more than 130 members signed a letter asking a fellow Member to stay,” the source said. “I’m sure [Shadegg] takes that seriously.”

Shadegg raised more than $1 million in 2007 to close the year with $864,000 on hand, and had given every indication that he was going to run for re-election this year in his Republican-leaning, suburban Phoenix 3rd district. In the wake of his retirement announcement Monday, a half-dozen Republicans were contemplating running for his seat. Attorney Bob Lord, who had banked more than $500,000 at the end of 2007, is the likely Democratic nominee.

Late last year, House Republican leaders tried to persuade Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) to reverse the retirement announcement he had made early in the fall, but he has yet to do so.

— David M. Drucker

One of the great economists of our time, Walter Williams, has a great column in the Washington Times.  Some excerpts:

In each new Congress since 1995, Rep. John Shadegg, Arizona Republican, has introduced the proposed Enumerated Powers Act (HR 1359). The bill, yet to be enacted into law, reads: “Each Act of Congress shall contain a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act. The failure to comply with this section shall give rise to a point of order in either House of Congress. The availability of this point of order does not affect any other available relief.”

Just a few of the numerous statements by our Founders demonstrate that their vision and the vision of Mr. Shadegg’s Enumerated Powers Act are one and the same. James Madison, in explaining the Constitution in Federalist Paper No. 45, said, “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce.”

I’m sure that if Founders such as Madison, Jefferson or John Adams were campaigning for the 2008 presidential elections, expressing their vision of the federal government’s role, today’s Americans would run them out of town on a rail. Does that hostility reflect constitutional ignorance whereby the average American thinks the Constitution authorizes Congress to do anything upon it can get a majority vote on or anything that’s a good idea? Or, are Americans contemptuous of the constitutional limitations placed on the federal government?

I salute the bravery of Mr. Shadegg and the 28 co-sponsors of the Enumerated Powers Act. They face a monumental struggle. Congress is not alone in its constitutional contempt, but is joined by the White House and particularly the constitutionally derelict U.S. Supreme Court.

Good to know that Arizona continues to have conservative, Constitutionally-minded representation.

The Conservative Leadership Conference has been underway since Thursday.  While Sonoran Alliance isn’t “live blogging” from the site, other good conservative bloggers are.  The Arizona connection is that the Honorary Chairman of the CLC is Congressman John Shadegg.  The engine behind CLC is the indefatigable, conservative-extraodinare Chuck Muth.  It’s been his goal to build a “CPAC for the West.”

Edward Morrissey’s “Captain Quarter’s” blog (one of the big –time national blogs in the conservative movement) is live blogging on the speeches and presentations at CLC.  His coverage of the previous couple days has been exhaustive and worth the read.

Here is his take on Congressman Shadegg’s speech this afternoon.  And he’ll have coverage of J.D. Hayworth’s speech later this afternoon.

John Shadegg addresses the CLC after an introduction by Rep. Dean Heller (R-NV), who sat on yesterday’s 2008 prognostication panel with me. Heller calls Shadegg a “true exception” to the stereotype of politicians who lose their way once they get to Washington. I met with Rep. Shadegg earlier this morning, and I found him very approachable, humble, and gracious, so that description seems particularly apt…
[Shadegg] also complimented the CLC organizers for sticking to their guns and holding the conference this far outside of DC…
When they reached DC in 1994, people warned that the Beltway would change them, and not the other way around. Shadegg says they were proven right; they became the party of Jack Abramoff and earmarks. The culture of corruption eroded their credibility and their efficacy. Freshman Republicans were told to spend 98% of their time raising money, and to load up on earmarks for their home districts.
“There is no amount of money in the world that will elect a party without principles.” By 2006, the Republicans became the Washington they intended to defeat in 1994.
We still have to clean our own house first. Republicans need to exemplify a standard of conduct that will allow them to regain the trust of the electorate. That means abandoning incumbents who act unethically. It means real reform, real transparency, and a thorough house-cleaning that will set an example the Democrats simply won’t meet.
Shadegg hits Democrats especially hard on earmark reform. They have championed a process that will only make earmarks transparent after they spend the money. Without transparency, earmarks and their corrosive effects cannot be stopped. They will still have the ability to manipulate the voters and Congress through the exploitation of taxpayers funds.
Shadegg is a very effective speaker, and he has everyone’s attention. I haven’t heard him speak in person before, and I’m very impressed. Sean Hackbarth called the speech “further confirmation that the Republicans chose the wrong leadership,” and although I think John Boehner has done a good job, it’s hard not to draw that conclusion.