John Hostettler On The Record

erowe1

erowe1

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In this thread I'll try (probably in dribs and drabs) to post a bunch of examples from Hostettler's 12-year voting record in the House where he voted against some unconstitutional and/or big government bill that the bulk of the GOP supported.
 
Probably the best place to start is his vote against the authorization to use force in Iraq. He was one of only six Republicans to do so, along with Ron Paul, Jimmy Duncan, Jim Leach, Amory Houghton, and Connie Morella. Of those six, only Paul, Duncan, and Hostettler are constitutional conservatives (in fact, in almost all of Hostettler's dissents I think you'll see these 3 voting together).
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml

While this vote helped to marginalize Hostettler from the party establishment, he isn't shy about it. In fact he wrote an important anti-Iraq War book, called Nothing for the Nation. Ron Paul recently made a plug for this book that Matt Hawes posted on the CFL blog.
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=5668

Here's what Ron Paul says about it:
In “Nothing for the Nation,” my friend and former colleague John Hostettler, who was one of the few Republicans to oppose the Iraqi War, not only demolishes the “official” justifications for attacking Iraq, but he demonstrates why true conservatives should have joined John and myself in opposing the war. I urge all Campaign for Liberty members, and anyone who wishes to understand how America was neoconned into the Iraq war, to read John’s book.
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Hostettler also appeared in a panel debate called, "What is a conservative foreign policy?" at last years CPAC, where he represented the noninterventionist position. Unfortunately, I have never been able to find a video of that debate. But here's a blog about it by Hostettler's cohort in the event, Doug Bandow:
http://conservablogs.com/bandow/?p=1576
 
Another big one, and probably the single vote that more than any other factored into his loss in 2006, is his vote against Hurricane Katrina relief. He was one of eleven to do so (Barton (TX), Flake, Foxx, Garrett (NJ), Hostettler, King (IA), Otter, Paul, Sensenbrenner, Tancredo, Westmoreland).
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll460.xml

If you google "Hostettler Katrina" you'll see endless links to articles and blogs hammering Hostettler for that vote. It was a major point his 2006 Democrat opponent, Brad Ellsworth, used in defeating him.
 
Hostettler has a consistent record of voting against giving up national sovereignty to international organizations and treaties.

He was one of only 27 Republicans to vote against CAFTA:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR03045:@@@L&summ2=m&
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll443.xml

He was one of only 24 Republicans to vote against the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR04759:@@@L&summ2=m&
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2004/roll375.xml

He was one of only 27 Republicans to vote against the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR02739:@@@L&summ2=m&
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll432.xml

He was one of 27 Republicans to vote against the US-Chile Free Trade Agreement:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR02738:@@@L&summ2=m&
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll436.xml

He was on of only 33 Republicans to vote for withdrawal from the World Trade Organization (a bill Ron Paul sponsored):
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:HJ00090:@@@L&summ2=m&
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2000/roll310.xml

He was one of only 71 Republicans to vote against Fast Tracking free trade agreements:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d105:HR02621:@@@L&summ2=m&
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1998/roll466.xml
 
He was one of 22 Republicans to vote against a bill to provide for programs and activites to prevent underage drinking.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/109/house/2/votes/521/

I see things like this as especially helpful because he's a staunch social conservative, and a fundamentalist Baptist. But votes like this show that he doesn't take a nanny-state approach to regulating behavior that he may take a strong stance on in his own personal and family life.
 
One of 28 Republicans to vote against the US-Oman Free Trade Agreement.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/109/house/2/votes/392/

One of 15 Republicans to vote against the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act (a bill to fund stem cell research that does not involve harm to embryos).
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/109/house/2/votes/380/

One of 27 Republicans to vote against a constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/109/house/2/votes/378/

One of 3 Republicans to vote against the Health Centers Renewal Act (again, with Flake and Paul).
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/109/house/2/votes/378/
 
Rather than keep going back through the WaPo records, the two issues I see as the ones where the Republicans did the most damage on the domestic side of things during the Bush presidency were No Child Left Behind and Medicare Part D.

On NCLB, Hostettler was one of 33 Republicans to vote no.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll497.xml

Here's a quote that I found from him from 1995 on federalism and education:
This principle, known as federalism, forms the core of the Constitution I took an oath to uphold. Some may be interested to learn that the United States Constitution does not delegate to Congress the power to legislate on every issue facing our nation. The powers of Congress are specifically listed in Article I, Section 8. There are only 18 powers, and 6 pertain to the ability to maintain a national defense. The other powers range from the power to coin money to the power to establish the federal court system.

Federalism

By U.S. Rep. John Hostettler, June 1995

In my view, the Constitution does not grant to the federal government the power to dictate to parents, states, and/or local education authorities, public education policy. Indeed, we did not even have a United States Department of Education until 1978.

In my opinion, the Department of Education was established as an act of political cynicism, a simple power grab by the powers that be in Washington dressed to look like a commitment to the public education system. Given the current state of public education, I am sure that parents wish that those in Washington had been a little less committed.
Click to expand...
That quote is second-hand from here:
http://nochildleft.com/2006/jan06king.html
Unfortunately, the orginal source of Hostettler's house.gov page is no longer available.

Also related to that, see the great little write-up on him by Bill Lussenheide from the Constitution Party in the comment he left at this IPR blog (which also mentions that Hostettler wrote in Chuck Baldwin for president in 2008):
http://www.independentpoliticalrepo...ostettler-to-attend-constitution-party-event/

And he was one of only 19 Republicans to vote against Medicare Part D.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll332.xml
 
Here's a big one. I'm surprised I didn't catch it earlier.

Hostettler was one of only 10 Republicans to vote against the creation of the Dept. of Homeland Security (with Cannon, Duncan, Flake, Moran, Paul, Petri, Tancredo, Taylor, and Thomas).
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll367.xml
 
John Hostettler On The Record


John Hostettler
Representative
Indiana District 8
Republican
Status: Former Legislator


Voted YES on H.R. 6166 Military Tribunals
We Oppose. Under this bill, a defendant's rights would be curtailed: he would be denied the right of habeas corpus; he could be detained indefinitely; and evidence obtained through coercion could be used against him--so long as the coercion falls outside the administration's definition of torture.

Voted NO on H.R. 5631 Iran Military Operations
We Support. The power to declare war belongs to Congress, not to the president, and such power should not be in the hands of one man. The amendment would bar any funds to initiate military operations in Iran unless it is in accordance with Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress alone the power to declare war.

Voted YES on H.R. 5384 Agriculture Appropriations
We Oppose. Federal aid to farmers and federal food aid to individuals are not authorized by the Constitution.

Voted YES on H.R. 4939 Supplemental Appropriations
We Oppose. Even if the spending were constitutional, the funding should be voted on as part of the regular appropriations process and not introduced after the fact as "emergency" spending, ignoring fiscal responsibility.

Voted YES on H.R. 3199 Patriot Act Reauthorization
We Oppose. The Patriot Act tramples on the constitutionally protected rights of U.S. citizens.

Voted YES on H.R. 3010 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations
We Oppose. This bill would provide an increase in spending, and social-welfare programs are unconstitutional.

Voted YES on H.R. 2123 Head Start Funding
We Oppose. This bill would further federalize the educational system, and federal aid to education is unconstitutional.

Voted YES on H.R. 3 Surface Transportation
We Oppose. This bill increases transportation spending and is fiscally irresponsible.

Votyed YES on H.R. 3199 Patriot Act Reauthorization
We Oppose. The Patriot Act tramples on the constitutionally protected rights of U.S. citizens.

Voted YES on H R 2745 Henry J. Hyde United Nations Reform Act
We Oppose. UN "Reforms." On the surface, this United Nations "reform" bill (H.R. 2745) appears to be a "conservative" get-tough response to UN corruption. It would withhold up to 50 percent of U.S. dues to the UN unless the UN makes certain operational changes, and many "conservatives" voted for it. In reality, the legislation calls for strengthening the UN in the name of "reform." Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) warned in his June 13 Texas Straight Talk column that the "reform" bill supports creation of a "Peace-building Commission," which "will serve as the implementing force for the internationalization of what were formerly internal affairs of sovereign nations."

Voted YES on H R 1268 Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.
We Oppose. Supplemental Appropriations. The final version (conference report) of this supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 1268) would add another $82 billion to the federal budget.

Voted YES on H R 3550 Transportation Equity Act
We Oppose. Surface Transportation. This bill (H.R. 3550) would authorize $284 billion in federal aid for highway, mass transit, and safety and research programs.

Voted YES on H R 3289 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan
We Oppose. Supplemental Spending for Iraq & Afghanistan. The final version (conference report) of H.R. 3289 would appropriate $87.5 billion in supplemental fiscal 2004 spending for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is the largest supplemental that Congress has ever passed. Of this total, military operations would receive $65.8 billion. Iraq reconstruction would be funded by grants totaling $18.6 billion, while reconstruction in Afghanistan would receive $1.2 billion.

Voted YES on S. 2578 Debt Limit
We Oppose. The supposed need for increasing the debt ceiling by $450 billion demonstrates that the federal government is still on a trajectory of out-of-control spending. Instead of raising the legal limit on what the federal government may borrow, Congress should cut spending.

Voted YES on H R 3717 Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act
We Oppose. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This bill would merge two FDIC insurance funds and increase the amount of FDIC-protected money in individual bank accounts from $100,000 to $130,000. As is the case with most agencies created by Congress, FDIC is just another example of an unconstitutional activity of the federal government.

Voted YES on H R 2646 Farm Security Act
We Oppose. Farm Bill. The final version (conference report) of H.R. 2646 amends and extends the major farm income support, land conservation, food assistance, trade promotion, rural development, research, forestry, and energy programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When combined with estimated spending already authorized prior to enactment of this law, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that "H.R. 2646 will bring total spending for the above programs to $73.7 billion in 2002 … and $869.3 billion over the 2002-2012 period. Of these totals, food assistance programs account for $51.3 billion in 2002 … and $626.8 billion over the 2002-2012 period." Constitutionalists have denounced H.R. 2646 because it repudiates free-market principles and authorizes vast amounts of unconstitutional spending.

Voted YES on H R 3210 Terrorism Risk Protection Act
We Oppose. Terrorism Insurance. This bill (H.R. 3210) would authorize a three-year federal loan program to help the casualty and property insurance industry cover future terrorist-related losses. The loans would pay 90 percent of claims arising from acts of terrorism next year that result in more than $1 billion in insured claims. The loans would be repaid through assessments on insurance companies to repay insured claims for up to $20 billion. Loans for insured claims beyond $20 billion and up to $100 billion would be repaid through surcharges on commercial policyholders. This bill would also restrict terrorist-related lawsuits to federal court, ban punitive damages in such suits, and limit non-economic damages and attorneys fees.

Voted YES on H R 3167 NATO Expansion. Gerald B.H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act
We Oppose. NATO Expansion. This bill’s self-described purpose (H.R. 3167) is: "To endorse the vision of further enlargement of the NATO Alliance articulated by President George W. Bush on June 15, 2001, and by former President William J. Clinton on October 22, 1996…." In this bill the House "… reaffirms its [Congress’] previous expressions of support for continued enlargement of the NATO Alliance contained in the NATO Participation Act of 1994, the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996, and the European Security Act of 1998…." This bill also authorizes a total of $55.5 million in military aid for fiscal 2002 for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania. However, Congress should be acting to preserve our national sovereignty by getting our nation out of NATO. NATO was established as a subsidiary of the United Nations by the North Atlantic Treaty (April 4, 1949), which stated in its Article 1: "The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, … to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations."

Voted YES on H.R. 3162 Anti-Terrorism Authority
We Oppose. This bill expands the list of crimes deemed terrorist acts; increases the ability of law enforcement to secretly search homes and business records; expands the FBI's wiretapping and surveillance authority; and provides for nationwide jurisdiction for search warrants and electronic surveillance devices, including the legal extension of those devices to e-mail and the Internet.

Voted YES on H R 2926 Air Transportaion Safety and System Stabilization Act
We Oppose. Airline Bailout. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, the House voted on a bailout for the airline industry known as the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act (H.R. 2926). This Act would provide $5 billion in cash, and up to $10 billion in loan guarantees, for air carriers.

Voted YES on H R 4811 Foreign Operations Appropriations
We Oppose. Fiscal 2001 Foreign Aid Giveaways. This bill would waste $13.3 billion for international giveaways and export subsidies. Although the bill represents a $451 million cut from fiscal 2000, one dime in foreign aid is one dime too much.

Voted NO on H R 4392 On Agreeing to H. Amdt. 738 to H R 4392
We Support. Disclose Intelligence Spending to Congress. Representative Tim Roemer (D-IN) offered this amendment to require the CIA director to submit an unclassified report every year to Congress on total spending on intelligence operations.

Voted YES on H R 853 On Agreeing to H. Amdt. 709 to H R 853
We Oppose. Automatic Funding of the Welfare State. Representative George Gekas (R-PA) offered this dangerous amendment to automatically renew funding for any of the regular 13 appropriations bills at the previous year’s spending level if they are not en-acted into law by the new fiscal year. According to Representative Jim Walsh (R-NY), under the amendment, Congress would "yield more power to the President by putting the government out on automatic pilot."

Voted NO on H R 3908 On Agreeing to H. Amdt. 642 to H R 3908
We Support. DEA Funding Cuts. Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) offered this amendment to the fiscal 2000 supplemental appropriations bill. It called for a $293 million cut in Drug Enforcement Administration funding, a $186 million cut in funding for drug-fighting by the Defense Department, and another $1.1 billion cut in economic aid to Colombia. The amendment also would halt funding for military construction outside the U.S. and would end funding for military operations in Kosovo and East Timor, unless the funds were used to bring the troops home. In floor debate, Paul described his amendment as dealing with a "monster" of "careless foreign military interventionism."

Voted YES on H R 3908 Making Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
We Oppose. Money for Foreign Intervention. The fiscal 2000 supplemental appropriations bill provides $13.2 billion for a number of measures, including funding for operations in Kosovo and East Timor ($5 billion), aid to combat drugs in Colombia ($1.7 billion), and Defense Department funding ($4 billion).

Voted NO on On Agreeing to H. Amdt. 612 to H CON RES 290
We Support. 2001 Budget by Conservative -Action Team. Representative John Sununu (R-NH) proposed this substitute budget amendment on behalf of the Conservative Action Team. This amendment would freeze non-defense discretionary spending, increase defense spending, and provide for $270 billion in tax cuts.

Voted YES on H R 3064 District of Columbia Appropriations Act
We Oppose. Labor/HHS/Education Spending. This $317 billion appropriations bill is the main funding measure for the federal welfare state during fiscal 2000. This bill would amount to an increase over the bloated fiscal 1999 appropriation of nearly nine percent. This increase still wasn’t enough for President Clinton; some of his Democratic supporters joined stalwart opponents of the welfare state in voting against the bill.

Voted YES on H R 2 Student Results Act
We Oppose. Federal Education Grants. This legislation would fund Title I spending — which dispenses grants to primary and secondary schools — to the tune of $9.9 billion. This represents a 28 percent increase over fiscal 1999! Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) explained that, "like most federal programs, Title I was launched with the best of intentions, however, good intentions are no excuse for Congress to exceed its constitutional limitations by depriving parents, local communities and states of their rightful authority over education. The Tenth Amendment does not contain an exception for ‘good intentions’!"



Freedom Index Low Time Score: 68% (Lifetime: 80%)

https://thenewamerican.com/freedom-index/legislator/h000807/



________


• Voted YES on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)

• Voted YES on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)

• Voted YES on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)

• Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)

• Voted YES on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)

• Voted YES on End offshore tax havens (Oct 2004)

• Voted YES on increasing fines for indecent broadcasting. (Feb 2005)

• Voted YES on banning Internet gambling by credit card. (Jun 2003)

• Voted YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)

• Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)

• Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)

• Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)

• More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty. (Sep 1994)

• Voted YES on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)


https://www.ontheissues.org/in/John_Hostettler.htm
 
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Matt4Liberty said:
With those votes, how is his freedom score that high? Sounds close to zero to me.
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He does have some number of good votes. But it is the bad ones listed above that are of huge significance and why we are where we are today; rather than to vote to reduce the size of government, his votes greatly enhance it.
 
Matt4Liberty said:
With those votes, how is his freedom score that high? Sounds close to zero to me.
Click to expand...

Because only the bad votes are being shown, and only from a bad year.
Almost like the person doing the cherry picking has an agenda to mudsling against one of the better pro-America and pro-liberty politicians.
 
How did you find this old thread? There should be more stuff on Hostetler buried in the forums from the time of his 2010 Senate campaign.
 
Matt4Liberty said:
With those votes, how is his freedom score that high? Sounds close to zero to me.
Click to expand...

sparebulb said:
With numbers like that, he could run for Speaker.
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Because it's just the "negative" votes, not the "positive" votes.

And sometimes it's good to check out the individual votes and see whether you agree with that organizations preferred vote. While they may call it a "negative" vote, you might call it a "positive" vote.

For example, the FreedomWorks scorecard is way out of whack. I don't know what is going on with them. Either they have abandoned the scorecard or someone sabotaged it. They currently have Massie, Rand and Mike Lee as "0%" for this session, on what appears to be a single vote on some swamp bill.

Swordsmyth said:
Because only the bad votes are being shown, and only from a bad year.
Almost like the person doing the cherry picking has an agenda to mudsling against one of the better pro-America and pro-liberty politicians.
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Yep.
 
Brian4Liberty said:
Because it's just the "negative" votes, not the "positive" votes.

Yep.
Click to expand...

Yeah, ain't it crazy? That some of us actually look at policies/direction of what actually brings this country down? It's like, somebody announces a political run, a couple of others run with it, and the people automatically coalesce like flies on... well, you know.

Good vote bad vote: It's like spending $49.99 that I don't have just to save a nickel :tears: :mad:
 
PAF said:
Yeah, ain't it crazy? That some of us actually look at policies/direction of what actually brings this country down? It's like, somebody announces a political run, a couple of others run with it, and the people automatically coalesce like flies on... well, you know.

Good vote bad vote: It's like spending $49.99 that I don't have just to save a nickel :tears: :mad:
Click to expand...

Sure. Only the negatives.

Oh, wait. Some animals are more equal:

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?563599-Robert-F-Kennedy-Jr-On-The-Record
 
Brian4Liberty said:
Sure. Only the negatives.

Oh, wait. Some animals are more equal:

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?563599-Robert-F-Kennedy-Jr-On-The-Record
Click to expand...

Fair enough. But aside from me not voting for the guy, RFK has no voting record to refer to. Seems to me RFK was speaking out about the MIC, Lobbyists and Captive Agencies, etc, which few others are doing.

Your guy actually voted in favor of them. But hey, don't let me sway you and/or others from not holding them accountable, I'm just here to post the [negative] record.

Anyway, it's hard to believe, on RPF of all places, where I get grief for holding them accountable :mouthopen:




John Hostettler
Representative
Indiana District 8
Republican
Status: Former Legislator


Voted YES on H.R. 6166 Military Tribunals
We Oppose. Under this bill, a defendant's rights would be curtailed: he would be denied the right of habeas corpus; he could be detained indefinitely; and evidence obtained through coercion could be used against him--so long as the coercion falls outside the administration's definition of torture.

Voted NO on H.R. 5631 Iran Military Operations
We Support. The power to declare war belongs to Congress, not to the president, and such power should not be in the hands of one man. The amendment would bar any funds to initiate military operations in Iran unless it is in accordance with Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress alone the power to declare war.

Voted YES on H.R. 5384 Agriculture Appropriations
We Oppose. Federal aid to farmers and federal food aid to individuals are not authorized by the Constitution.

Voted YES on H.R. 4939 Supplemental Appropriations
We Oppose. Even if the spending were constitutional, the funding should be voted on as part of the regular appropriations process and not introduced after the fact as "emergency" spending, ignoring fiscal responsibility.

Voted YES on H.R. 3199 Patriot Act Reauthorization
We Oppose. The Patriot Act tramples on the constitutionally protected rights of U.S. citizens.

Voted YES on H.R. 3010 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations
We Oppose. This bill would provide an increase in spending, and social-welfare programs are unconstitutional.

Voted YES on H.R. 2123 Head Start Funding
We Oppose. This bill would further federalize the educational system, and federal aid to education is unconstitutional.

Voted YES on H.R. 3 Surface Transportation
We Oppose. This bill increases transportation spending and is fiscally irresponsible.

Votyed YES on H.R. 3199 Patriot Act Reauthorization
We Oppose. The Patriot Act tramples on the constitutionally protected rights of U.S. citizens.

Voted YES on H R 2745 Henry J. Hyde United Nations Reform Act
We Oppose. UN "Reforms." On the surface, this United Nations "reform" bill (H.R. 2745) appears to be a "conservative" get-tough response to UN corruption. It would withhold up to 50 percent of U.S. dues to the UN unless the UN makes certain operational changes, and many "conservatives" voted for it. In reality, the legislation calls for strengthening the UN in the name of "reform." Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) warned in his June 13 Texas Straight Talk column that the "reform" bill supports creation of a "Peace-building Commission," which "will serve as the implementing force for the internationalization of what were formerly internal affairs of sovereign nations."

Voted YES on H R 1268 Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.
We Oppose. Supplemental Appropriations. The final version (conference report) of this supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 1268) would add another $82 billion to the federal budget.

Voted YES on H R 3550 Transportation Equity Act
We Oppose. Surface Transportation. This bill (H.R. 3550) would authorize $284 billion in federal aid for highway, mass transit, and safety and research programs.

Voted YES on H R 3289 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan
We Oppose. Supplemental Spending for Iraq & Afghanistan. The final version (conference report) of H.R. 3289 would appropriate $87.5 billion in supplemental fiscal 2004 spending for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is the largest supplemental that Congress has ever passed. Of this total, military operations would receive $65.8 billion. Iraq reconstruction would be funded by grants totaling $18.6 billion, while reconstruction in Afghanistan would receive $1.2 billion.

Voted YES on S. 2578 Debt Limit
We Oppose. The supposed need for increasing the debt ceiling by $450 billion demonstrates that the federal government is still on a trajectory of out-of-control spending. Instead of raising the legal limit on what the federal government may borrow, Congress should cut spending.

Voted YES on H R 3717 Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act
We Oppose. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This bill would merge two FDIC insurance funds and increase the amount of FDIC-protected money in individual bank accounts from $100,000 to $130,000. As is the case with most agencies created by Congress, FDIC is just another example of an unconstitutional activity of the federal government.

Voted YES on H R 2646 Farm Security Act
We Oppose. Farm Bill. The final version (conference report) of H.R. 2646 amends and extends the major farm income support, land conservation, food assistance, trade promotion, rural development, research, forestry, and energy programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When combined with estimated spending already authorized prior to enactment of this law, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that "H.R. 2646 will bring total spending for the above programs to $73.7 billion in 2002 … and $869.3 billion over the 2002-2012 period. Of these totals, food assistance programs account for $51.3 billion in 2002 … and $626.8 billion over the 2002-2012 period." Constitutionalists have denounced H.R. 2646 because it repudiates free-market principles and authorizes vast amounts of unconstitutional spending.

Voted YES on H R 3210 Terrorism Risk Protection Act
We Oppose. Terrorism Insurance. This bill (H.R. 3210) would authorize a three-year federal loan program to help the casualty and property insurance industry cover future terrorist-related losses. The loans would pay 90 percent of claims arising from acts of terrorism next year that result in more than $1 billion in insured claims. The loans would be repaid through assessments on insurance companies to repay insured claims for up to $20 billion. Loans for insured claims beyond $20 billion and up to $100 billion would be repaid through surcharges on commercial policyholders. This bill would also restrict terrorist-related lawsuits to federal court, ban punitive damages in such suits, and limit non-economic damages and attorneys fees.

Voted YES on H R 3167 NATO Expansion. Gerald B.H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act
We Oppose. NATO Expansion. This bill’s self-described purpose (H.R. 3167) is: "To endorse the vision of further enlargement of the NATO Alliance articulated by President George W. Bush on June 15, 2001, and by former President William J. Clinton on October 22, 1996…." In this bill the House "… reaffirms its [Congress’] previous expressions of support for continued enlargement of the NATO Alliance contained in the NATO Participation Act of 1994, the NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996, and the European Security Act of 1998…." This bill also authorizes a total of $55.5 million in military aid for fiscal 2002 for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania. However, Congress should be acting to preserve our national sovereignty by getting our nation out of NATO. NATO was established as a subsidiary of the United Nations by the North Atlantic Treaty (April 4, 1949), which stated in its Article 1: "The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, … to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations."

Voted YES on H.R. 3162 Anti-Terrorism Authority
We Oppose. This bill expands the list of crimes deemed terrorist acts; increases the ability of law enforcement to secretly search homes and business records; expands the FBI's wiretapping and surveillance authority; and provides for nationwide jurisdiction for search warrants and electronic surveillance devices, including the legal extension of those devices to e-mail and the Internet.

Voted YES on H R 2926 Air Transportaion Safety and System Stabilization Act
We Oppose. Airline Bailout. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, the House voted on a bailout for the airline industry known as the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act (H.R. 2926). This Act would provide $5 billion in cash, and up to $10 billion in loan guarantees, for air carriers.

Voted YES on H R 4811 Foreign Operations Appropriations
We Oppose. Fiscal 2001 Foreign Aid Giveaways. This bill would waste $13.3 billion for international giveaways and export subsidies. Although the bill represents a $451 million cut from fiscal 2000, one dime in foreign aid is one dime too much.

Voted NO on H R 4392 On Agreeing to H. Amdt. 738 to H R 4392
We Support. Disclose Intelligence Spending to Congress. Representative Tim Roemer (D-IN) offered this amendment to require the CIA director to submit an unclassified report every year to Congress on total spending on intelligence operations.

Voted YES on H R 853 On Agreeing to H. Amdt. 709 to H R 853
We Oppose. Automatic Funding of the Welfare State. Representative George Gekas (R-PA) offered this dangerous amendment to automatically renew funding for any of the regular 13 appropriations bills at the previous year’s spending level if they are not en-acted into law by the new fiscal year. According to Representative Jim Walsh (R-NY), under the amendment, Congress would "yield more power to the President by putting the government out on automatic pilot."

Voted NO on H R 3908 On Agreeing to H. Amdt. 642 to H R 3908
We Support. DEA Funding Cuts. Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) offered this amendment to the fiscal 2000 supplemental appropriations bill. It called for a $293 million cut in Drug Enforcement Administration funding, a $186 million cut in funding for drug-fighting by the Defense Department, and another $1.1 billion cut in economic aid to Colombia. The amendment also would halt funding for military construction outside the U.S. and would end funding for military operations in Kosovo and East Timor, unless the funds were used to bring the troops home. In floor debate, Paul described his amendment as dealing with a "monster" of "careless foreign military interventionism."

Voted YES on H R 3908 Making Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
We Oppose. Money for Foreign Intervention. The fiscal 2000 supplemental appropriations bill provides $13.2 billion for a number of measures, including funding for operations in Kosovo and East Timor ($5 billion), aid to combat drugs in Colombia ($1.7 billion), and Defense Department funding ($4 billion).

Voted NO on On Agreeing to H. Amdt. 612 to H CON RES 290
We Support. 2001 Budget by Conservative -Action Team. Representative John Sununu (R-NH) proposed this substitute budget amendment on behalf of the Conservative Action Team. This amendment would freeze non-defense discretionary spending, increase defense spending, and provide for $270 billion in tax cuts.

Voted YES on H R 3064 District of Columbia Appropriations Act
We Oppose. Labor/HHS/Education Spending. This $317 billion appropriations bill is the main funding measure for the federal welfare state during fiscal 2000. This bill would amount to an increase over the bloated fiscal 1999 appropriation of nearly nine percent. This increase still wasn’t enough for President Clinton; some of his Democratic supporters joined stalwart opponents of the welfare state in voting against the bill.

Voted YES on H R 2 Student Results Act
We Oppose. Federal Education Grants. This legislation would fund Title I spending — which dispenses grants to primary and secondary schools — to the tune of $9.9 billion. This represents a 28 percent increase over fiscal 1999! Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) explained that, "like most federal programs, Title I was launched with the best of intentions, however, good intentions are no excuse for Congress to exceed its constitutional limitations by depriving parents, local communities and states of their rightful authority over education. The Tenth Amendment does not contain an exception for ‘good intentions’!"


https://thenewamerican.com/freedom-index/legislator/h000807/
​


________


• Voted YES on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)

• Voted YES on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)

• Voted YES on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)

• Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)

• Voted YES on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)

• Voted YES on End offshore tax havens (Oct 2004)

• Voted YES on increasing fines for indecent broadcasting. (Feb 2005)

• Voted YES on banning Internet gambling by credit card. (Jun 2003)

• Voted YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)

• Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)

• Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)

• Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)

• More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty. (Sep 1994)

• Voted YES on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)


https://www.ontheissues.org/in/John_Hostettler.htm
 
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