Bill Would Lower U.S. Contribution to U.N. by $240 Million

Talon News ^ | 07/09/03 | Jimmy Moore

[bedolido]

WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- Rep. J. D. Hayworth, a Republican Congressman from Arizona, and seven co-sponsors have submitted a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would lower the amount of money the United States sends to the United Nations by more than $240 million per year.

Hayworth's bill, H.R. 2303, would make the contribution by the U.S. to the U.N. equal to the largest contribution from any of the other four permanent, veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council.

"Our veto power should cost no more than that of the other permanent members, China, France, Russia, or the United Kingdom," remarked Rep. Hayworth. "Even though their combined Gross Domestic Product nearly equals that of the U.S., we contribute about $115 million more to the U.N. regular budget than those four countries combined. That doesn't make sense, and Congress should put a stop to it."

Currently, the law requires the United States to contribute a fixed 22 percent of the U.N.'s administrative budget. In 2003, the U.S. contribution to the U.N. budget was $341 million. Under the Hayworth proposal, the U.S. payment would be lowered to $100 million annually, matching France's 6.5 percent contribution to the budget. France is the second highest contributor to the U.N.

"The current dues arrangement is particularly objectionable when you consider that each of the other permanent members of the Security Council regularly vote against U.S. proposals," Hayworth argued. "Equal power should be matched by equal dues."

State Department records show that in 2002 China voted against the U.S. over 80 percent of the time. Russia disagreed with the U.S. 78 percent of the time. Great Britain and France both voted with the U.S. 50 percent of the time.

Hayworth is hopeful that his bill will inspire a larger debate about the future role of the U.S. in the U.N.

"The outrages are not limited to the meltdown over Iraq," he said. "Cuba began its recent crackdown on dissidents as it was elected to a new three-year term on the U.N.'s human rights commission. That commission is being chaired by Libya and includes some of the worst abusers of human rights in the world, including Vietnam, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe."

Hayworth warns that something must be done, or the U.N. will become useless.

"There must be reforms if the United Nations is to avoid being reduced to an irrelevant international theater of the absurd," he predicted.

This bill is currently in the House Committee on International Relations.

The seven co-sponsors of the bill are Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC), Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA), Rep. Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-NC), Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), and Rep. Ron Lewis (R-KY).

Copyright © 2003 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

[Semper Paratus]

Let Ted Turner pony up the difference.
Or we could offset the amount by 'booting' the diplo-plate scofflaws.

[JohnGalt]

We'll burn $114 million in a couple weeks of operation Liberia Freedom crapola. This is a (sorry) attempt to keep conservatives thinking that the GOP has not jumped into bed with the radical interventionists.

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[FierceDraka]

Well, it's a start.

[cinFLA]

We'll burn $114 million in a couple weeks of operation Liberia Freedom crapola. This is a (sorry) attempt to keep conservatives thinking that the GOP has not jumped into bed with the radical interventionists.

Libertarians will bash republicans if they

1) Raise UN dues
2) Lower UN dues
3) Make no change
4) All of the above
5) Whenever
6) Just because

[Sofa King]

I still say that we quit the UN and toss their sorry asses off of American soil.

[mtbopfuyn]

Hear! Hear! And then demand a refund of our overages.

[BlueLancer]

7) Because they can.
8) Because they want to.
9) Because they don't want to.

[JohnGalt]

Libertarians will support Republicans if they:

a) Cease all un-Consitutional US taxpayer payments to the UN
b) Withdraw from the UN
c) Either a or b

[chiefqc]

Yes, Yes, and hel* Yes.

[=Intervention=]

Libertarians throw fits whenever anything short of their goals are achieved, even if what is achieved is progress towards their goals. Immaturity has no better standards-bearers.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Currently, the law requires the United States to contribute a fixed 22 percent of the U.N.'s administrative budget.

What law? Whose law? Can somebody please explain this to me?

[rintense]

Good! Screw the UN.

[Tamzee]

Thank you... sounds like a step in the right direction :-)

[blam]

"Hayworth warns that something must be done, or the U.N. will become useless."

They are already useless. Now, hut them down.

[blam]

hut=shut.

[JohnGalt]

Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, or do you disagree.

Hayworth fought the good fight in voting to withhold payments to the UN a few years ago, now he is only asking for a cut in direct payments to the UN body, while the US takes on more direct roles (see Liberia, Afghanistan, South America, Middle East, Israel/Palestine, Kosovo.) It's a clever rational, but hardly deals with anything besides window dressing the cost of interventionist adventures.

[xzins]

How much money actually went to the UN.....admin money, military money, 3rd world development money, NY residence money, etc?

Does anyone know?

I'll bet we give billions more than the 22 percent of admin money mentioned above. And I'll bet that no one else even comes close.

[ArneFufkin]

We'll burn $114 million in a couple weeks of operation Liberia Freedom crapola. This is a (sorry) attempt to keep conservatives thinking that the GOP has not jumped into bed with the radical interventionists.

What specific Liberia Freedom crapola will cost that amount? How did you come up with that number?

[blackdog]

Does the UN pay realestate taxes, utility services, water and sewer fees, parking garage taxes, employers portion of SSI, user fees, and other fees associated with the American experience or do they just stiff us then hate us?

[cinFLA]

Libertarians will support Republicans if they:

1) If they legalize all drugs
2) Open all the borders
3) Advocate same-sex unions
4) Reduce the military to a bare-bones operation
5) All of the above
6) Never

[Gorjus]

hut=shut

Too bad that's your correction. I was hoping you really meant, "hunt."

[JohnGalt]

Stiff us and hate us.

[twigs]

A friend of mine worked at the UN about 20 years ago. She told me that non-American workers did not have to pay any taxes--it was all take-home pay. I don't think that applied to her, but she was a temp, so I'm not sure whether it would have applied anyway. Not sure, but it seemed monstrously unfair back then.

[JohnGalt]

Most libertarians I know are pro-life, pro-states rights, anti-immigration (legal and illegal), consistent with the Founding Fathers on not maintaining a standing army.

Your view of a 'libertarian' is hopelessly ignorant, but feel free to use your illusion, let it take you where it may.

[JohnGalt]

Specific?

The gasoline, ware and tear on machinery, soliders, cash payouts, and future promises already made easily top $114 million, but as you know, when this country starts nation building, like any welfare project, its nearly impossible to figure out the exact cost.

But hey, I'll see if I can get you some hard numbers.

[Prof Engineer]

A $240 million reduction is wonderful, as long as, the US contribution is currently $240 million. If not, the reduction needs to be even larger.

[JohnGalt]

Notice JD Hayworth, is not a cosponsor:

American Sovereignty Restoration Act
Bill # H.R.1146

Official Title as Introduced:
American Sovereignty Restoration Act

Status:
03/06/2003: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

Committee/Subcommittee Activity:
International Relations: Referral

Amendment(s):
***NONE***

Sponsor/Cosponsor(s) 14:
Bartlett, Roscoe (R-MD 6th) Duncan, John (R-TN 2nd) Everett, Terry (R-AL 2nd) Franks, Trent (R-AZ 2nd) Hefley, Joel (R-CO 5th) Johnson, Sam (R-TX 3rd) Lucas, Frank (R-OK 3rd) Miller, Jeff (R-FL 1st) Ney, Bob (R-OH 18th) Norwood, Charles (R-GA 9th) Paul, Ron (R-TX 14th) Pombo, Richard (R-CA 11th) Sessions, Pete (R-TX 32nd) Tancredo, Thomas (R-CO 6th)
Summary:
H.R. 1146 - The American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 ends membership of the United States in the United Nations.

H.R. 1146 repeals the United Nations Participation Act of 1945. The act directs the president of the United States to terminate U.S. participation in the United Nations (U.N.), including any organ, specialized agency, commission, or other affiliated body. It requires closure of the U.S. mission to the U.N.

H.R. 1146 prohibits: (1) the authorization of funds for the U.S. assessed or voluntary contribution to the U.N.; (2) the authorization of funds for any U.S. contribution to any U.N. military operation; and (3) the expenditure of funds to support the participation of U.S. armed forces as part of any U.N. military or peacekeeping operation. The act bars U.S. armed forces from serving under U.N. command

[cinFLA]

Your view of a 'libertarian' is hopelessly ignorant, but feel free to use your illusion, let it take you where it may.

The Libertarian positions I have posted are completely consistent with the Libertarian Party platform. No illusion. It is is black and white on their web site.

[JohnGalt]

What does the Libertarian Party have to do with libertarians?

Keep posting so libertarians continue to realize how ignorant you are.

[cinFLA]

What does the Libertarian Party have to do with libertarians?

What do republicans have to do with the Republican party? What do democrats have to do with the Democratic party. Sorry.

[JohnGalt]

Exactly.

What do republicans (as conceptualized and defined by the Romans and Enlightment philosophers) have to do with the Republican Party?

Now you are starting to catch on.

[PhiKapMom]

What does the Libertarian Party have to do with libertarians?

Doesn't that sound like clinton parcing? Just got my laugh for the morning! You have done a great job with your comments!

[GeneralHavoc]

This bill is an awesome idea.

BUMP

[cinFLA]

What do republicans (as conceptualized and defined by the Romans and Enlightment philosophers) have to do with the Republican Party?

Do you really want to go into the formations of the libertarian philosophy?

[JohnGalt]

Please explain.

I asked why he ascribed the positions of the Libertarian Party to me.

[JohnGalt]

Sure...fire away.

Lets see what you know.

[johnb838]

Oh please, please, PLEASE let this pass into law.

[johnb838]

This is not a lot of money vis-a-vis our budget, but it is a great deal of money out of the UN budget. Bewteen this and stopping the gravy train from the oil-for-weapons programme, this could reduce the UNs ability to cause mischeif.

[ArneFufkin]

There IS no plan yet.

[JohnGalt]

Yeah, sure there isn't.

But that is secondary to the issue. The United States is already exorting resources, and have been for nearly a month, on a Liberian intervention even with out a 'formal plan.' There is still a cost involved.

As to whether there is a plan or not, you might be interested in this bit of blogging. I am curiously watching events to see if this plays out...



June 16, 2003
re: And now...Liberia
Posted by Lew Rockwell at June 16, 2003 02:17 PM

A friend writes: "Interesting post on your blog today about Liberia. Due to a complex set of circumstances I am somewhat familiar with some of the activities there. A successor to President Taylor has already been chosen by 'the powers that be.' His name is Winston Taubman. His son Winston Jr is running around DC right now cutting diamond rights and gold rights deals with various Carlyle Group types. Winston Sr is in Nairobi, Kenya. The US just sent troops to rescue Senior's wife who was holed up in the American Embassy in Liberia (It's not clear if it was French troops or US troops that actually moved her out.) Taubman is a cousin of the President of Sierra Leone. The African Union is going to be a very interesting place."

[bc2]

every second you waste on these clowns is a second of your most scarce resource that could be used to further Liberty, Freedom, and the ideals of the American Constitution.

let them talk in circles amongst themselves.

regards,

[clamper1797]

How about lowering our contribution to the U.N. to the level that our membership in the United Nitwits is worth .... Nothing Nada Zilch or as they say in cribbage ..."19"

[JohnGalt]

Tonight I will raise a pint of ale in the hopes that one person somewhere moved another degree to the authentic right. I will raise my pint again to lament the loss of the Old Republic.

Then I will sit back and watch the Red Sox with my wife.

It really is a no lose situation.

Regards,

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

"Hayworth warns that something must be done, or the U.N. will become useless."

From where I'm standing useless would be a huge improvement.

[Catalonia]

Don't be ignorant. Not all liberals are Democrats, not all conservatives are Republicans, and very few people who call themselves libertarians are members of the Libertarian Party. That strange little party is NOT the voice of libertarianism, despite its moniker.

Now stop being a nitwit and get back to discussing the UN.

Thanks for listening.

[cinFLA]

Don't be ignorant. Not all liberals are Democrats, not all conservatives are Republicans, and very few people who call themselves libertarians are members of the Libertarian Party. That strange little party is NOT the voice of libertarianism, despite its moniker.

Most conservatives are republicans.Most libertarians are ______?

[John Will]

It just isn't a day on Free republic without the fighting between the libertarians and the conservatives. It is a good small step, we can't just stop everything immedeatly.
40 years of liberal programs.

[Catalonia]

Independents. They often vote Republican because Republicans are far closer to their ideology and practice than are Democrats. (I've never voted for a Libertarian Party candidate. Not once.) Libertarianism is more an ideological force than anything else. It is now and always has been a scattered political constituency.

And regarding Republicans and Democrats, I could never be a member of any mainstream party because I'm well aware that political parties are more concerned with power, with getting re-elected, than with ideology or even concern for society. Thus Bush institutes tariffs on steel and massive agricultural subsidies, embraced a prescription drug benefit which brings us one step closer to government-supplied healthcare, allowed for an increase in Federal income tax deductions for those who don't pay income taxes, and does nothing about illegal immigration -- all counter to the ideological foundation that modern conservatives (i.e., non-liberals) supposedly embody. Why? In all cases to garner votes, and only to garner votes. Like I said, politicos from the mainstream parties are primarily concerned with getting re-elected, and they have a tendency to sell their principles down the river.

Thus I'm an independent with a libertarian bent.

I'd still vote for Bush, however, over any Democratic candidate because Democrats care not a whit about a cohesive society, a cohesive nation-state. They care only about instituting government programs for the sole benefit of specially designated victim and grievance groups.