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Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 5,2011 - THREE Constitutional scholar says federal government has expanded its powers beyond intent of the Constitution Lewis & Clark faculty member holds town hall meeting and visits Heppner and lone schools states have lost power to the By David Sykes Jim Huffman, federal government, and Constitution scholar he covered several current topics that he says at Lewis & will test the federal Clark College g o v e r n m e n t ’s and former US future limits to its Senate candidate, authority over our visited the area lives. recently as part of Huffman Constitution week Jim says the biggest from September 17 Huffman test right now is to September 23. Obamacare. He Huffman put on programs at both Heppner says the main question is and lone schools, as well the individual mandate, or as an evening town hall whether the government has the authority to make meeting in Heppner. you buy a product, in this H u f f m a n covered many areas of case health insurance. the Constitution, and The constitutional legal answered questions from argument they are using in the audience at a town favor of this power is the hall meeting in Heppner. A Commerce Clause of the central part of his message Constitution, which gives was that the Constitution the government the right to and the Bill of Rights were regulate commerce across not written to grant rights state lines, Huffman says. “If you don’t to Americans, but to protect in health those rights from intrusion participate by the government. insurance (Obamacare) He said rights then you are self insuring inherently belong to and therefore participating the people and that the in commerce, which can be government does not have regulated (by the federal the authority to grant government),” Huffman or not grant them to the says in explaining the people. He said the Bill of federal government’s legal Rights spells out the rights rationale for Obamacare’s inherent to all citizens of constitutionality. He said America. Oregon’s Attorney General Huffman pointed John Kroger was the only out that over the years the AG in the United States to write a brief in favor of the government having this right. He said over the years the Commerce Clause has been the main tool used to expand the powers of the federal government, allowing control over many more areas of our lives not originally intended by the makers o f the Constitution. Huffman pointed out that the Commerce Clause was originally set up to keep states from throwing up tariffs and regulations on interstate commerce. T h e constitutionality of the individual mandate is expected to go to the Supreme Court and be decided, possibly by June of 2012, Huffman said. He expects the court to rule that Obamacare is unconstitutional. If Obamacare is found constitutional, Huffman said, it would be possible to repeal the law but a veto-proof congress would probably be needed. He said the government is currently building up public and private entities that are already receiving money from Obamacare, and this would make it difficult to undo the law. “They are buying support,” Huffman says. “When a piece of legislation hands out goodies it is impossible to get rid of it. “It will create a huge mess,” he says, “but what we already have is a mess. The best thing to do is start over,” he says on health care legislation. Other recent actions by the Obama Administration that concern him, Huffman says, are actions by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Labor Relations Board. He says the EPA feels it has the right to regulate carbon emissions and the ozone. He said if the EPA has that much power, there is very little in our lives that it cannot at some point regulate. He also questioned a move by the Federal NRLB to prevent the Boeing Company from relocating one of its production facilities to a right-to-work state. “Where did the president get the authority to do this? Where did he get the authority to take over a private company in General Motors?” Huffman asked. He said many of our current leaders say, “What ever we want to do we will do.” “I see that a lot in the Obama Administration,” Huffman said. On other issues, Huffman questioned if people sitting in Washington DC have the knowledge or experience to manage the federal forests in Oregon. “The idea that we are going to manage the forest from Washington DC is ludicrous,” he says. On passing a balanced budget amendment, which would force the federal government to spend only what it takes in with no debt, Huffman says it is the only way to constrain spending. “The benefits (of a balanced budget amendment) outweigh the downside,” he says. “I think we need a balanced budget and don’t think there is any other way. We are on the way to being Greek (a country currently with so much debt it is in default).” In the end Huffman said the answer to the erosion of Constitutional rights is not the court system, but in the election of people who respect and uphold the Constitution. He said when electing people from the county level to state to national office, voters should find out their stand on the Constitution. “After all, they all take an oath to uphold the Constitution,” he said. Huffman was invited here to speak by the Willow Creek Tea Party Patriots, and he praised the nation-wide Tea Party for its grass roots efforts to uphold the constitution. “One of the results of the Tea Party movement has been that people are talking about the Constitution,” Huffman said. “It is a great thing to have a grassroots movement to learn about the Constitution.” Harvest Festival on Sunday Heppner Christian Church’s annual Harvest Festival will be held this coming Sunday, October 9 at 6 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall. There will be food, music and a guest speaker. The community is invited. FANTASTIC FALL R EAL ESTATE D EALS www.sykesrealestate.net » www.pendletonpropertys.com N ew Histing! $ 1 4 8 ,0 0 ;du cedri Erice, Reduced 2 Building lots in Heppner] t *“■ Reduced Price! If .Tl r - ( ^. " ‘ m-"'" 5,250 s q f o o t lo t $6,500 Good buy on this new Heppner listing. New listing. 2 bedroom 1 bath starter home or will make a good rental unit. New chain link fence, new electric wall heater, nice fixed up shop, good roof and foundation. 355 W. Linden Way Heppner. Priced right at $55,000 M otivated Seller make an o ffe r New matter bedroom & bath in this 3 bedroom Stop spending your time fixing up your house and move into a home where its all been done You'll adore this 3 bedroom, 2 bath on a quiet street near downtown. Remodeled in 2008 with a new master suite, bath and more Walk in closet, jet tub and tile floors W ell kept fenced b a d < 2 2 ^ ^ £ ^ o o m jo ^ a rk ^ o u r^ V ^ o th e M o ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ .1- Auto Repair Business in Heppner, OR This is a going concern which shows a profit each year. Includes real property, business, inven tory and equipment. Loyal customer base and good reputation. JS¿* - ■ - ' • _ 5,000 s q f o o t lo t $1,900 $339,000 Motivated Seller make an offer! 'RebJcecI Prie e \ " ^ '$ 1 3 0 'r 2 bedroom 2 bath in Heppner This nice 2007 Marlatt 72.21 irrigated acres with home- Boardman - Two irrigated parcels each with circles and solid set irrigation. 30.71 acre parcel has a 1974 doublewide with large shop, small bam and carport. 41.5 acre parcel has a well and septic system ready for a home. Good water rights from irrigation district Irrigation equipment in good condition. Other features: 6 fruit trees around house, 30 X 50 ft shop with concrete slab floor and 14' door Manufactured home sits on a foundation with crawl space. Corrals, grain feeding bins, small 4 stall bam and shade trees. 30.71 acre parcel is zoned Farm Residential for possible dividing and development. Owner would consider selling parcels separately.________________ j o e u r u u m t. u a u i iiu iiih in L e x in g t o n This home has metal roof, cement foun dation & propane F/A . 128 X 121.66 lot. 2465 sq ft home has full basement and large fenced yard with apple, nectarine and cherry trees. Garage. $ 116.000 4 bedroom 2 bath home in Heppner. You won t feel cramped in this 4 bedroom 2 bath 2146 sq ft home. It has a full basement with mini kitchen downstairs, and fully carpeted rooms upstairs. Enjoy barbecu ing on the covered patio. And there's lots of room for a garden in the large backyard. Call now for an appointment to visit this home. home is in excellent condition. Everything was done right when this home was put in. It has a deck, cyclone fenced yard and a 18 X 31 garage. Ceiling fans, along with the energy package will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There is a den/office, living room and lots of extras. Must see inside this one. Call and schedule an appointment today 2 Bedroom near schools and downtown Heppner Just blocks from school and downtown shopping, this 2 bedroom 1 1/2 bath charmer has a fenced yard for children and a separate small yard in the back. Enjoy your reading room, living room and kitchen with window looking out on the street 3 Bedroom 2 bath near downtown This two story home is close to grade school and has fenced back yard. Central A/C and Electric F/A. Carpet, laundry room and large fam ily room downstairs. Dishwasher refrigerator and stove included $ 120,000 2 apartments and shop building for Sale In Lexington On the bottom floor is a former auto body shop and a 1 bedroom apartment newly re modeled renting for $350 Upstairs is a 2 bedroom apartment that has been completely redone renting for $375 Building has a good roof and owner says the shop has been completely rewired A c re a g e fo r S a le Cute 3 bedroom in Heppner. A nice fenced yard for the kids located on a quiet street Storage shed outback and new lawn just planted makes this three bedroom one bath home ready to move into. Vinyl siding and windows, side deck, stove-refrigerator- washer-dryer included Great starter home or pick it up as a rental Has a carport too Classic home near downtown Heppner. Enjoy the unique look of this classic home, including a covered upstairs porch and ornate wood designs This 4 bedroom 2 bath is close to shopping, the city park and school Nice neighborhood, well kept yard View lot at Lakeview Heights. Own one of the last view lots at Lakeview Heights. 84 X 120 approx. Water, sewer, phone and power available. $25,000 38.67 A c re s in sid e H eppner c ity lim its Has a good building spot and room for animals Wa ter and electricity located near by $65,000 HEPPNER PENDLETON P hone: (541)676-9228 C ell: (541)980-6674 Fax: (541)676-9211 188 W. Willow P.O. Box 337 Heppner, OR 97836 da vid@ s ykes ramies tate, net www.syke3realeatate.net Phone: (541)276-2152 C ell: (541)215-2274 Fax: (541)278-6051 Broker Chris Sykes 25 SW Emigrant Pendleton, OR 97801 chhs@sykasraalastata.nat www.pendlatonpropartya.com
