Downsize DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- No meeting. No debate. Just a phone call.

And, the bill passes unanimously.

This is hotlining. While some senators, including Indiana's own Senators Lugar and Bayh, may have objections to the practice, neither sees the need to work toward changing the practice. Nor do the other 98 members of the U.S. Senate.

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) is more straight forward in his defense of the practice. "We don’t have time to debate everything ... but if you object, they ought to be willing to negotiate with you. But usually, they put the press after you.”

With hotlining, the Senate majority and minority leaders agree to pass a bill without a vote. They call all senators on special hotlines installed in each office, giving a specified amount of time to object - sometimes as little as 15 minutes. If no objection is registered, the bill passes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Downsize D.C. has championed a number of citizen advocacy campaigns over the years. The highly publicized Read the Bills campaign is one among many this aggressive D.C.-based organization has pushed.

Another strong campaign is to end the government practice of asset forfeiture.
Civil asset forfeiture is government seizure of property or cash owned by individuals not charged with any crime. Law enforcement agents can seize a piece of property if they merely suspect it was used in a crime, whereas its owner must prove innocence to get it back. This is an inversion of justice and a gross violation of the Bill of Rights.

Downsize staffers warn against believing the federal courts will provide justice, there are existing cases that would show otherwise.