For years the Council of State Governments in Chicago has had a virtual monopoly on the business of drafting model legislation to be Submitted in state legislatures. It is refreshing to note that the American Legislative Exchange Council has just issued a booklet of suggested legislation which contains a score of innovative proposals for the consideration of state legislatures.
All taxpayers should welcome the proposed legislation that would require every bill affecting the spending of state funds to have attached to it a reliable dollar estimate of both the immediate and the long-range costs.
Calling attention to the impending financial crisis in the Federal Social Security program, another suggested bill is designed to protect public pension plans. It would require that every bill proposing a change in any retirement system funded by tax money shall have attached to it a reliable estimate of its financial and actuarial effect.
To save us from the spiraling cycle of annual tax increases, the booklet includes a suggested state constitutional amendment that would limit the total amount of state taxes to a certain percentage of total annual personal income. States that have experimented with this amendment have settled on between six and 14 percent. This ceiling would prevent government expenditures from rising at a more rapid rate than population or state income.
Another proposed state constitutional amendment is one which would guarantee to citizens the right to keep and bear arms for purposes of personal self-defense and protection of their families and property. It would forbid licensing, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms, but would not prevent laws governing the carrying of concealed weapons.
The suggested Financial Privacy Act would prohibit banks, savings and loan associations, and credit-card companies from revealing specific financial or credit information to government officials or agencies without a court order or permission from the individual or business concerned.
Another suggested bill in the area of fundamental rights is the Infant Protection Act. It would guarantee the right to life of aborted viable infants and Prohibit the use for experimentation of any infant aborted alive. The need for this bill is shown by the insensitive and inhumane treatment of viable infants delivered by abortion.
The proposed Judicial Sentencing Disclosure Act would have a very salutary effect on law and order. Designed to protect the public against the judicial practice of giving short prison terms or suspended sentences, this act would require a complete public listing of every sentence handed down by each judge, the name of the criminal and the crime of which he was convicted. This list would be available for inspection by the media and the general public.
The Parental Rights Act would be a helpful reaffirmation of the primary authority of the parents over what their children are taught and what school activities they are involved in. The proposed act would require the written consent of parents before their children can be subjected to anti-morality or sex-oriented programs, materials, tests, surveys, or personal counseling.
The Government Lobbying Prohibition Act is designed to prohibit the use of tax funds to promote or defeat any legislation. It surely is inappropriate for any government agency to use tax funds to interfere with the legislative process.
The Free Enterprise Education Act would require all public high schools to give instruction on the essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system as a prerequisite for graduation. This type of legislation has already been working successfully in many states.
Passage of even some of this suggested legislation will make our states and communities much better places in which to live.
