🧵 1. McConnell’s attacks on Donald Trump & Rick Scott are indefensible
Those running for Senate GOP leadership posts need to weigh in on this & commit never to sabotage Republican candidates & colleagues—particularly those who are less than two weeks away from a close election
2. We must have clarity from the candidates running to replace McConnell on where they stand on these attacks. They must be clear on how they plan to lead the conference, and on the role of its members
3. The Senate Republican leader is supposed to help Republicans, not undermine them
Sadly, we’ve had too much of the latter
That must end now
4. Remember: McConnell’s superpac has withheld campaign support from Ted Cruz and Rick Scott this election season, an incomprehensible move for a Senate GOP “strong leader” who wants to keep Texas and Florida and gain a majority in the Senate
🧵 1/ Until the 1930s, state and local governments outspent the federal government—combined. In 1900, states and localities handled most public services, from schools to roads. Federal spending was a measly 2.7% of GDP, while state and local was higher.
2/ This wasn’t just numbers—it was principle. States and localities were closer to the people, responsive to local needs—and indeed most needs. The federal government stepped in mainly for things like defense and trade. Limited scope, limited spending. That’s how the Founders designed it.
3/ The tide turned with the New Deal in the 1930s. Federal spending surged past state and local combined and didn’t look back. World Wars and Great Depression policies centralized power, disregarding the Constitution’s strict limitations on federal authority. By 2019, feds spent 55% of all government funds, states and locals just 45%.
đź§µ 1/ No state should dictate to political parties the process by which they nominate candidates
Ever
It ends badly for everyone—especially for conservatives
2/ Utah does this—through a law known as “SB54”
It has been disastrous for political parties—especially the Utah Republican Party
3/ If you live in a state that denies political parties their right to choose their own candidate-selection procedures, you should ask your lawmakers to change that
I first met Jim Comey 22 years ago when I was an assistant U.S. attorney in Salt Lake City
2/
Mr. Comey paid a visit to the U.S. attorney’s office in Utah in response to an invitation from my former boss (and longtime friend and mentor), then-U.S. Attorney Paul Warner
3/
1/ The REINS Act is a potential game-changer for restoring constitutional balance
It would prevent major regulations (those imposing compliance costs of at least $100M) from taking effect without being passed by Congress—not just rubber stamped by unelected bureaucrats!
2/ Under the Constitution, only the people’s elected lawmakers are authorized to make federal law
Congress & the Supreme Court have neglected that requirement for decades
The REINS Act would fix this problem, which costs Americans trillions of dollars a year
3/ Essentially everything you buy becomes more expensive as businesses struggle to comply with the tens of thousands of pages of new federal regulations issued annually