Porno scanners were illegally installed by the TSA

#TSA ignoring both the existing law and a court order. Solution? The Write the Laws Act Retweet

Do you hate the thought of being visually stripped and ogled by strangers watching you on their “porno scanners?” Do you worry about possible radiation from invasive machines? TOUGH! Step in and raise your arms citizen. The same goes for your spouse… your kids… your grandmother.

To make matters worse, the process for federal rulemaking was completely ignored in this instance. Federal agencies are required to do things like publish findings and solicit public comment before imposing a rule. We think that’s constitutionally insufficient (as we’ll explain below). But it is the present law. And even a lawsuit didn’t compel the TSA to follow it.

So what can we do about this? Two things…

First, Downsize DC signed a coalition letter to Congress, led by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). This letter instructs the House Oversight Committee to review the TSA’s unlawful decision to mandate whole body scanning for airline passengers. It also asks Congress to suspend funding for whole body scanning until the Oversight review is completed.

Second, please write Congress telling them to sponsor and pass Downsize DC’s “Write the Laws Act” (WTLA). Remember, WTLA would…

• Require Congress to approve every rule created by Executive Branch agencies such as the TSA
• Prohibit Executive Branch agencies like the TSA from enforcing rules that have not been approved by Congress

In other words, WTLA would restore the Constitutional “separation of powers” between the Executive and Legislative Branches…

• Congress could no longer delegate its rule-making power to Executive Branch agencies
• Executive Branch agencies could no longer exercise the power to legislate (let alone mandate)

You can copy or edit the following sample letter to Congress…

The TSA is a perfect example of why we need the Write the Laws Act (WTLA). The TSA is, at present, mandating whole-body scanning for airline passengers. It took this action in spite of the fact that a court order prohibited it pending a formal public rule-making procedure. In other words, the TSA has…

* Usurped the Legislative Branch’s rule-making power * Rebelled against the Judicial Branch’s power to block unlawful government actions

It’s up to you to fix this problem. You can best do that by introducing, co-sponsoring, and passing Downsize DC’s “Write the Laws Act.” It requires all rules that citizens must obey to be written and approved by Congress, with no details left to unelected bureaucrats.

Rand Paul has introduced this bill in the U.S. Senate. I want to see it introduced in the U.S. House, as well.

I look forward to seeing that you have introduced or cosponsored this legislation.

–END OF SAMPLE LETTER–

• Send your letter to Congress using Downsize DC’s Educate the Powerful System.
• Help us recruit 100,000 supporters by forwarding this email to your friends — ask them to join you — to do as you did — in asking their reps to introduce the “Write the Laws Act.”
• Help us meet our goal of having 10,000 financial supporters. You can contribute or start a monthly pledge using our secure form.

Thank you for being a DC Downsizer,

Perry Willis Downsize DC