1952-1959 newsletters of the League of Women Voters, Salt Lake City, Utah

Page 185

~------ ------------------ League opposi tio_n to the 25 percent tax li mit legislation was based on the inadvisabili ty of freezing into .the Cqnstitution an arbitrary percentage iimi tation on federal income ta·x ationo Also, it would not be in accordance with the principle of "ability to pay'' a ~This CR authorizes action by a state League to work in opposition to tax · limit resolutions before its state legislature. Action .to rescind, when appropriat e , may also be supported by state Leagueso It should be pointed out that this CR is in a different category rr.om the others~ The state Board has the responsibili ty for promoting .~nd directing .wo r k in o~position to _this measure if it should arise .~ithin ._ ,_ the fra r2ew6rk of state government. Natio:ia l CR# 5 - "Opposition to constitution al changes that would limit the existing powers of the Executive and the Congress over foreign relationso 11 .,· . The LeRgu e studied the issues involved in the proposed Brick$r·, Amendment to the Constitution , to limit the President's treaty-m~king powers, f:i:' om the f all of 1952 to early 19540 In January, 1954, the Nationa l Board announc ed League opposition, stating that the weig)::lt, of expr e ssed League opinion: 11 o o o o o i S clearly against the Bricker Amehd~ ment a s not on ly unnecessary but as dangerous £or the future security of our cou.:.~ t ry e The r ea sons are as follows~ lo The power of the national government to conduct foreign relat j_ ons eust be maintained as provided in the Constitutiono The Bricker Amendment would deprive the national government of its full power to carry out t ~eat y obligations in important areas of national policy and co1.: .ld l eav e to t he stat e s the choice of implementati on. _The constitution al system of checks and b~lanries between the exe cut i ve anc:'l l eg islative branches of the national government must be s afoguar dc do The Bricker Amendment would alter this by removing f 1J_;_:ction :.; f i' Om the Exe cu ti ve and transferring them to the Congress. It i s essent i al tha t the President retain his authority to fulfill his co~s~i tuticnal r e spon sibility to act in times of national emergency as ~ell as i n the day-to-day conduct of foreign affairs. 2o 3e 7h e ne goti a tion and ratification of treaties should not be cado no!"e cunber .s ome . Tl:e inte rests of the United States are best served by a f oreign policy ba s ed on the principle of internationa l coop~rationo The B~ icke ~ Arr. ?ndment would i mpair this principleo It is based on f 22-~_'2 ~~_l. J. t J~hc uo:~ ., Ciictrter and other internationa l agreemen-t s could invarte our · constitution ally protected individual and states' - rights. T~ 3 L2ag ue does not shar e this fearo 1t.. 5o sho·wn. The Go~s titution should be amended only when need is clearly 'Th::_ s n ee d ha s not been e stablished . . . - - :No -~~-ction is fores e en under the CR during the next few mont~s" June Whitney Sta te CR#l - "Support of Measures to Improve Budgetary Procedures for 4