Key Vote NO on Amendment #1836 to H.R.3606 to Reauthorize the Export-Import Bank

 

Dear FreedomWorks member, 

As one of our million-plus FreedomWorks members nationwide, I urge you to contact your senator and ask him or her to vote NO on amendment #1836 to H.R.3606, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. This amendment would reauthorize the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im bank) that is scheduled to expire at the end of May. The Export-Import Bank takes money from American taxpayers to subsidize exports by politically powerful American companies. Members of Congress should vote against reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank which hurts taxpayers and distorts the market. 

Proponents of the bill often equate the Ex-Im Bank with free trade. However, the Ex-Im Bank has nothing to do with free trade. The opposite is true: the Bank makes it so bureaucrats and politicians dictate trade flows. True free trade occurs in the absence of government intervention when individuals are free to trade goods across borders. But the Ex-Im Bank has only increased government intervention in trade. President Obama has announced that he plans to double exports within five years. While that may sound like a noble goal, he would do so by handing out tax dollars to big, politically-connected companies. We should instead strive to increase exports without market-distorting subsidies. 

The Bank embodies corporate welfare; it is a prime example of crony capitalism that has hurt economic growth. Ex-Im Bank picks winners and losers in the private sector. This bill will grant more taxpayer-financed subsidies to big corporations. Government bureaucrats should not subsidize the trade of certain companies with our hard-earned money.  For instance, the Bank is subsidizing foreign airlines to buy American aircrafts. This certainly is not a responsible use of our tax dollars. Congress should vote against reauthorizing the Ex-Im bank and push to shut it down for good. 

I urge you to call your senator and ask him or her to vote NO on amendment #1836 to H.R. 3606, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. We will count their vote as a KEY VOTE when calculating the FreedomWorks Economic Freedom Scorecard for 2012. The Economic Freedom Scorecard is used to determine eligibility for the Jefferson Award, which recognizes members of Congress with voting records that support economic freedom.

Sincerely,

Matt Kibbe
President and CEO
FreedomWorks
[Click here for a PDF version of this key vote notice.]