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News & Analysis | REG•WATCH Blog | Press Room
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Firefighters and Religious Groups Oppose Sunsets
The amount of organizations in opposition to sunset legislation has been continuously mounting. These efforts have advanced as groups are compiling unique letters to send to Congress addressing how a sunset commission would affect their programs and concerns. Voices of apprehension include organizations that span all areas of public interest and faith communities. This encouraging manifestation of written opposition shows that federal programs across-the-board will be vulnerable if sunset commission legislation moves forward.
The International Association of Firefighters' letter reaffirms the need for debate and evaluation of programs, but asks that this process be done by members of Congress as they were elected to do and not by an unelected commission that is appointed in a partisan manner. "While we are happy to have Congress debate the merits of any programs we support, we believe that this debate should occur through the normal legislative process. We fear that presidentially-appoointed sunset commissions could be used to circumvent the will of Congress, and provide the Administration with a 'back-door' method to eliminate programs or proposals to which it is opposed, such as the FIRE Act."
An interreligious working group on domestic human needs noted that the sunset bill could have alarming negative consequences including expanding executive power, cutting those affected by programs out of the evaluation and budget process, and threatening public accountability by appointing unelected officials to supersede congressional oversight. Instead, members of Congress must insist on "budget policies that lift up the most vulnerable, promote economic justice for all, and strengthen our life and future together as a nation and as part of the global community."
Posted by Amanda Adams
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