Representative Chaffetz Throws Off Learning Curve with 11 Bills

Initial First Term Progress Report:

Shortly after Jason Chaffetz took office as Utah's Third Congressional District Congressman I told him I would be fair. I said I would be direct and tell him when he did poorly, BUT I would also say when he did well.

I am keeping my promise, albeit long overdue. What that means is that this article will have more to report than an earlier one, at least. I have been pleasantly surprised by this once arrogant upstart candidate turned Congressman who seems stuck in a time warp on his campaign heroism. Enough said about the bad...there is much to be said about what Chaffetz is doing right to focus our attention to let that go into history and I wish he would because for a first term Congressman, Chaffetz is speaking out, with engagements, radio, news and other spots, along with briefs that this writer does not recall a "newbie" aggressively scheduling before. But in addition, he is writing legislation--lots of it and some of no small significance.

Chaffetz presently has eleven pieces of legislation before Congress. One of the most note-worthy of them all is H.R. 2200, the WBI--that is, Whole Body Imaging, Bill. It sailed through the House and has been sitting in the Senate since. This bill has had two amendments added to it, H.R. 2027 and H.AMT 172.

Other legislation Chaffetz proposes include the arguably controversial idea of using postal workers to carry out the census. Two pieces of legislation, H.R. 3167 and 3373 deal with this issue.

One bill, H.R. 2265 is of interest to note. This is typical of a bill that would usually be seen in an omnibus bill. While omnibus--which means literally, "miscellaneous"--bills are actually unconstitutional, violating Article I, Sec. 9 (except that Amendment 16 kind of makes it constitutional--sort of...), that restricts the Legislature from creating any tax that is not specific to a cause before the tax is prescribed, it has unfortunately become the viable solution for over abundance of bureaucratic entanglements that have made smooth organizational function an obsolete word in the government's handbook on budgetary priorities. In other words, the smaller the state, the less likely anything would ever get budgeted through the committee that handles a specific bureau's budget. This is what makes this bill so fascinating. Watching to see if this bill actually gets funding will be entertaining, to say nothing of a small miracle because it is a request for the "Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Magna Water District water reuse and groundwater recharge project, and for other purposes". Hmm.

A number of Chaffetz's bills, specifically H.R. 2914, 2915, and 2916 deal with prohibitions of money grants from a department to fund specific projects. The first, terminates loans and other assistance for mohair producers, one prohibits the United States from aiding Ireland through the International Fund, and the other restricts the Water Conservation Fund from providing grants for recreation, respectively.

One bill, H.R. 2193 was Chaffetz's bold attempt to stop the Obama administration from prohibiting the sale of spent ammunition shell casings to domestic manufacturers. This one brings a broad smile to my face. In case you don't understand what this means, let me briefly explain: Since the Obama administration has said they will not "tax" or "prohibit" guns, they have found another more severe way to limit the American public from their right to bear arms: tax and prohibit bullets. So the casings that are used become very important. This bill is Chaffetz's way of saying "not on my watch", to Mr. Obama. Utilizing spent shell casings allows the American public to exercise their 2ND Amendment rights. Period.

There is a saying: the only legislator anyone will ever completely agree with is oneself. That is a true statement. Any other endorsement stating 100% agreement is a lie. It is just not possible in my view--and I think any sane person's view--to agree with anyone else on this planet 100%. (Just ask anyone who is married.) Additionally, while the bills may appear to be noble on their face, this article makes no claim to review their content. That is saved for another day. The focus here is on the mere fact that Chaffetz has attempted to do so much, and hopefully with accuracy and excellence in each case, in so little time with so little a learning curve.

But one can measure the quality of a legislator by a multi-faceted prism. First: Communication: Is it consistent in that he/she does what he/said; and, can they move people beyond being touched to being motivated? Second: Action speaks louder than words: Would you know their walk if they never talked? Third: How do they treat others? Are they the kind of people whose mark in life is more than the sum total of their candidacy/elected office? At the end of the day, do they still know who they are after their congressional hat is hung up and the lights are off them and the clatter and thunder of applause is silenced. Would they still be happy? These are the people who we want in office because these are the ones who know who they are, who will NEVER care about money, fame, applause, prestige, bargain, being bought in office or collusion down the road. Can they throw arrogance away for the power only humility brings? Can they learn? Can they be inspired? And can they inspire?

Much of this is too early to detect in Congressman Chaffetz, because time is the window by which we will see the verity of who he is long term. But while the jury always run from term to term in Congressional careers, he shows surprising promise, I admit. He is showing that he can throw off the learning curve with the agility of Babe Ruth batting averages: The more you try, you may make more mistakes, but you also have a higher batting average. It is the uncommon attitude I share and practice, so I'm prone to liking. When I first met Jason Chaffetz, he was ignorant of many of the processes of government, yet arrogantly talked as if he knew them all. He spewed venomous barbs at his opponent like weapons of war, and drooled arrogance like sap dripping from a maple tree. But I have seen him become tempered. While attending the last Utah Tea Party at the Capitol Rotunda a number of months ago, I heard a humble Jason Chaffetz talk of how only one person can make a difference. Using the analogy of how his opportunity to become a placekicker at BYU all started because he was the only one in high school who even tried out for the position years earlier, as an example of how getting involved in the process to be a delegate could be just like that experience. You never know where a seemingly simple and singular experience--one that may appear quite humble--may develop into something quite bigger than one's self later, was his message. He spoke simply and humbly. Whether that was the message left in everyone else's mind, it was the projection left in mine. It was impressive.

Additionally, he cautioned the audience, as they gear up for the election season to be gentle and kind. Words I cannot echo enough! I said those words over and over myself during his election--not to him--but there were so many on both sides of the proverbial isle that spewed contentious gastric poison at the other side it made looking forward to the end of the primary election seem like awaiting the end of a prison sentence. It couldn't have come soon enough. Hearing Chaffetz say these words was sweet music. I couldn't agree more. Would that everyone would listen and follow the advice!

So, to Jason Chaffetz I have kept my promise: I will continue to say when something is not right. But I will give credit when credit is due. While Chaffetz has much to learn, if he continues to learn from his constituency as he has, gains and maintains the humility of the historical King Benjamin, and defends the Constitution, he will do well. He has done well--all in all. This article could include weaknesses, would that be the object. But it is not. It is obvious he it trying, writing numerous legislative pieces, speaking out constantly, and fighting for constitutional rights (80% consistently defending the Constitution, according to one source).

As I used to say to my children: Rather than seeing ourselves as striving for perfection, let us strive for excellence! While we have admitted our weaknesses, true enough: Let us strive to do our very best despite knowing they are with us.

Indeed.