One Major Victory for Conservatives
Score one major victory for conservatives over President Obama and his Secretary of State (at the time), Hillary Clinton.
During the final round of U.S. Senate amendment votes to the budget, an interesting thing occurred. It surrounded several foreign policy proposals.
The long-castigated idea from the Obama administration that would include the United States in a new United Nations Arms Trade Treaty met rigorous opposition.
Conservatives Came Out Victorious
It was left up to Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) to introduce an amendment that actually has the political teeth to prevent the United States from getting involved in any United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
Sen. Inhofe cited the Second Amendment as his primary reason for his lawmaking motivation. The amendment squeaked by on a vote of 53-46 vote.
The amendment was reminiscent of President Woodrow Wilson’s League of Nations idea shortly after World War I that ended up being defeated in the Senate and led directly to Wilson’s crippling stroke as he toured the country advocating its passage.
The Passage of The Treaty of Versailles
After its defeat, it culminated in the passage of the Treaty of Versailles which was considered the primary roots for the Second World War 20 years later.
Although this vote will not lead to another World War, it successfully stops the United States from being dictated to by the rest of the world that includes many terrorist countries.
From the first mention of such a treaty, the Republicans have been critical of President Obama’s decision to pursue it. Even though Obama has repeatedly stated he himself “… would not vote for anything that would violate the Second Amendment.”
Really?
The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, had the U.S. gone ahead with the signing, would regulate international arms sales.
Senator Inhofe stated, “We’re negotiating a treaty that cedes our authority to have trade agreements with our allies in terms of trading arms. This is probably the last time this year that you’ll be able to vote for your Second Amendment rights.”
Naturally, liberal Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) had an opposite view of the treaty. He presented an alternative amendment clarifying that under current U.S. law, treaties don’t trump the Constitution and that the United States should not agree to any arms treaty that violates the Second Amendment rights.
His amendment passed by voice vote. Whatever good that did is a mystery.
His senate colleague, Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) considered the Inhofe vote ” – irresponsible to be considering major foreign policy decisions at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.”
Oh really? The Second Amendment provides the right for all Americans to bear arms. A side note for any readers that have been living in a cave.
In other Senate votes on the budget, here are a sample of the lawmaker’s handiwork:
– Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) amendment 184, to expedite exports from the United States through reform of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 in such a manner that greenhouse gas emissions produced outside the United States by any good exported from the United States are not subject to the requirements of that Act, passed by voice vote.
– Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) amendment 382, to increase funding for interstate bridges and pay for it with funding that would have gone to for foreign assistance and the Department of Energy loan guarantees, failed 26-72.
– Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) amendment 526, to require photo ID to vote in federal elections, 44-54
– Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) amendment 338, to end subsidized mobile phone service, failed 46-53.
– Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) amendment 471, to reduce aid to Egypt to pay for the East Coast Missile Defense Shield, 25-74.
– Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) amendment 702, to raise a point of order to prohibit funds to the United Nations while any member nation forces involuntary abortions, 38-61
– Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) amendment 673, to raise a point of order on a bill that would limit the Second Amendment, failed 50-49 to waive the budget act (60 votes are required).
– Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) amendment 521, to fund the payment in lieu of taxes program for federal lands, passed by voice vote.
– Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) amendment 416, to prevent non-defense spending by the Department of Defense, failed 43-56.
– Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) amendment 709, to force the Senate to consolidate duplicative government programs, passed 62-37.
– Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) amendment 154, to require the Congressional Budget Office to include macroeconomic feedback scoring of tax legislation, passed 51-48.
