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Allen Jackson NOW | Allen Jackson: January 31, 2025 | Allen Jackson Now | January 31, 2025
- Well, good evening and welcome to nashville.
- 00:00:02.561 --> 00:00:04.930
- I'm alan jackson, and i'm glad you could visit with us tonight.
- 00:00:04.930 --> 00:00:08.266
- Our subject is your hard earned income.
- 00:00:08.266 --> 00:00:10.836
- How the government collects it and all too often
- 00:00:10.836 --> 00:00:13.071
- Spends far more than it collects.
- 00:00:13.071 --> 00:00:15.107
- Well, more and more people are shopping at dollar stores
- 00:00:15.107 --> 00:00:17.676
- And the price club.
- 00:00:17.676 --> 00:00:18.944
- The people in charge of the spending
- 00:00:18.944 --> 00:00:20.445
- In washington, especially at the pentagon,
- 00:00:20.445 --> 00:00:22.747
- They act as if they have no idea and no desire
- 00:00:22.747 --> 00:00:25.851
- To make ends meet.
- 00:00:25.851 --> 00:00:27.352
- Well, if this sounds like something you've heard before.
- 00:00:27.352 --> 00:00:29.921
- You're right.
- 00:00:29.921 --> 00:00:31.056
- It was back in the 1980s when the pentagon
- 00:00:31.056 --> 00:00:33.325
- Got singled out for paying $436 for a hammer.
- 00:00:33.325 --> 00:00:37.929
- A decade later, it was $999 for one pair of pliers.
- 00:00:37.929 --> 00:00:42.801
- Well, armed with that information,
- 00:00:42.801 --> 00:00:44.202
- I've started collecting tools.
- 00:00:44.202 --> 00:00:46.705
- If this is worth 600 and these are worth 900.
- 00:00:46.705 --> 00:00:49.040
- Send me your tools.
- 00:00:49.040 --> 00:00:50.375
- We will broker a deal with the pentagon.
- 00:00:50.375 --> 00:00:53.578
- Sounds like an opportunity to me.
- 00:00:53.578 --> 00:00:56.081
- Well, they spent even more when the 2024 spending authority
- 00:00:56.081 --> 00:00:59.551
- Was running out.
- 00:00:59.551 --> 00:01:00.819
- The proving $33 billion in the last week available.
- 00:01:00.819 --> 00:01:05.157
- The spending goes well beyond hardware.
- 00:01:05.157 --> 00:01:07.125
- In just the last month of the fiscal
- 00:01:07.125 --> 00:01:08.894
- Year, the military spent $6 million on lobster tails,
- 00:01:08.894 --> 00:01:12.797
- Then another 6 million on ribeye steak.
- 00:01:12.797 --> 00:01:14.900
- Now that's a lot of top notch dinners on your in my dime.
- 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:18.003
- Well, the grand total for defense
- 00:01:18.770 --> 00:01:20.238
- Spending in the current fiscal year is over $850 billion.
- 00:01:20.238 --> 00:01:24.743
- It's a global record.
- 00:01:24.743 --> 00:01:26.478
- Don't misunderstand.
- 00:01:26.478 --> 00:01:27.746
- We're all for a strong defense.
- 00:01:27.746 --> 00:01:29.414
- It's critical for our nation to exist.
- 00:01:29.414 --> 00:01:31.616
- With all the trouble in the world.
- 00:01:31.616 --> 00:01:33.118
- We must have the best weapons and other gear possible.
- 00:01:33.118 --> 00:01:36.288
- And the best paid forces as well.
- 00:01:36.288 --> 00:01:38.523
- What i'm talking about today is waste
- 00:01:38.523 --> 00:01:41.092
- And waste when you're using other people's money.
- 00:01:41.092 --> 00:01:44.095
- Well, tonight we have the benefit of talking
- 00:01:44.095 --> 00:01:45.864
- To a world class expert on the subject.
- 00:01:45.864 --> 00:01:48.466
- He's the chief executive officer of an organization called
- 00:01:48.466 --> 00:01:51.836
- Open the books.
- 00:01:51.836 --> 00:01:53.171
- It's a nonprofit that monitors the federal budget,
- 00:01:53.171 --> 00:01:55.707
- Line by line.
- 00:01:55.707 --> 00:01:57.342
- John hart, thank you for joining us tonight.
- 00:01:57.342 --> 00:02:00.111
- Well, it's an honor to be with you.
- 00:02:00.912 --> 00:02:02.314
- I didn't know
- 00:02:02.314 --> 00:02:03.148
- This was going to be a tool show,
- 00:02:03.148 --> 00:02:04.449
- But i did notice i have a screwdriver on my desk.
- 00:02:04.449 --> 00:02:07.285
- I sent to nashville.
- 00:02:07.285 --> 00:02:08.720
- We're going to broker some classes. yeah.
- 00:02:08.720 --> 00:02:11.356
- Essentially, the invoice for that.
- 00:02:11.356 --> 00:02:12.657
- All right.
- 00:02:12.657 --> 00:02:14.259
- Well, i can't resist starting with those lobster tails.
- 00:02:14.259 --> 00:02:17.529
- Open the books.
- 00:02:17.529 --> 00:02:18.263
- Clearly drills down on specifics.
- 00:02:18.263 --> 00:02:20.532
- Even the surf and turf offerings, am i right?
- 00:02:20.532 --> 00:02:23.435
- You got it.
- 00:02:23.435 --> 00:02:24.769
- You got. yeah. and?
- 00:02:24.769 --> 00:02:26.004
- That is a great place to start, because when you think about
- 00:02:26.004 --> 00:02:28.773
- The pentagon, that's an area where, you know, i'm
- 00:02:28.773 --> 00:02:32.077
- A constitutional conservative,
- 00:02:32.077 --> 00:02:33.278
- I believe that we ought to constrain government
- 00:02:33.278 --> 00:02:35.447
- And put it back within the boundaries
- 00:02:35.447 --> 00:02:37.148
- That are that our founders envisioned.
- 00:02:37.148 --> 00:02:39.184
- And that concept of ordered liberty is really at the heart
- 00:02:39.184 --> 00:02:41.686
- Of what we're doing.
- 00:02:41.686 --> 00:02:42.787
- Well, you know, we're a first principles organization.
- 00:02:42.787 --> 00:02:44.289
- We believe in transparency.
- 00:02:44.289 --> 00:02:46.091
- That transparency
- 00:02:46.091 --> 00:02:46.958
- Is the building blocks of a free society.
- 00:02:46.958 --> 00:02:49.861
- And when we have real transparency, that's not a
- 00:02:49.861 --> 00:02:53.131
- That's not a two way street.
- 00:02:53.131 --> 00:02:54.532
- In other words,
- 00:02:54.532 --> 00:02:55.567
- You have the right as a taxpayer
- 00:02:55.567 --> 00:02:57.269
- To inspect the government's checkbook.
- 00:02:57.269 --> 00:02:59.437
- The government does not have
- 00:02:59.437 --> 00:03:00.872
- The right to inspect your checkbook or d bank you
- 00:03:00.872 --> 00:03:03.942
- If you don't go along with what the ideological standard is
- 00:03:03.942 --> 00:03:07.445
- Of the regime in power.
- 00:03:07.445 --> 00:03:08.880
- So this is
- 00:03:08.880 --> 00:03:09.714
- A critically important issue where
- 00:03:09.714 --> 00:03:10.882
- Every citizen in this country,
- 00:03:10.882 --> 00:03:13.318
- They have a right to let their voice be heard.
- 00:03:13.318 --> 00:03:15.387
- They have a right to hold elected officials accountable.
- 00:03:15.387 --> 00:03:18.056
- And particularly when it comes to our national defense.
- 00:03:18.056 --> 00:03:20.058
- So so the example you pointed to, it comes in
- 00:03:20.058 --> 00:03:23.395
- Part of that comes about
- 00:03:23.395 --> 00:03:24.462
- Because there's a crazy rule within our budgeting
- 00:03:24.462 --> 00:03:26.965
- Called use it or lose it,
- 00:03:26.965 --> 00:03:28.466
- Where at the end of every fiscal year,
- 00:03:28.466 --> 00:03:30.368
- Which happens in september,
- 00:03:30.368 --> 00:03:32.337
- That agencies feel compelled to throw and shovel
- 00:03:32.337 --> 00:03:35.640
- Billions and billions of dollars out the door
- 00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:37.475
- That they don't need to spend, because they're afraid
- 00:03:37.475 --> 00:03:39.277
- That if they don't spend it, congress
- 00:03:39.277 --> 00:03:41.346
- Will then cut their budget the next year.
- 00:03:41.346 --> 00:03:43.114
- But in any sort of
- 00:03:43.114 --> 00:03:44.549
- Normal business in a family, if you have money left over,
- 00:03:44.549 --> 00:03:48.653
- You don't just throw it away.
- 00:03:48.653 --> 00:03:50.055
- You might you may have a party at the end of the year.
- 00:03:50.055 --> 00:03:51.523
- You make a vacation,
- 00:03:51.523 --> 00:03:52.991
- But you go on vacation with your money,
- 00:03:52.991 --> 00:03:54.693
- Not someone else's money.
- 00:03:54.693 --> 00:03:56.161
- And you also put some of it away so that if you have a bad year
- 00:03:56.161 --> 00:03:59.631
- Next year, you have money to to to lean on.
- 00:03:59.631 --> 00:04:02.534
- So what happened in the last
- 00:04:02.534 --> 00:04:04.536
- Five years of, of fiscal year 2024?
- 00:04:04.536 --> 00:04:08.306
- In september, under the biden administration, we spent
- 00:04:08.306 --> 00:04:11.443
- $33 billion in just five days and past year.
- 00:04:11.443 --> 00:04:15.180
- That's more than what
- 00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:16.181
- Israel spends every year on national defense.
- 00:04:16.181 --> 00:04:19.217
- They spend about about 27 billion.
- 00:04:19.217 --> 00:04:21.686
- And then in that last month, we spent 79 billion,
- 00:04:21.686 --> 00:04:24.789
- Which is more than the defense budget
- 00:04:24.789 --> 00:04:26.991
- Of every country on earth except for four.
- 00:04:26.991 --> 00:04:29.894
- And it went for things like the lobster tail and ribeye steak.
- 00:04:29.894 --> 00:04:33.198
- That's $22 million for rock lobster tail and rib eye.
- 00:04:33.198 --> 00:04:37.068
- And that that may be delicious, but but deliciousness
- 00:04:37.068 --> 00:04:40.105
- Is not a deterrent in the dangerous world.
- 00:04:40.105 --> 00:04:43.408
- And we spent $200 million on new furniture.
- 00:04:43.408 --> 00:04:46.111
- And again, you may want to upgrade
- 00:04:46.111 --> 00:04:48.513
- The desks at the pentagon.
- 00:04:48.513 --> 00:04:49.848
- But when you have a country
- 00:04:49.848 --> 00:04:51.816
- Like china threatening to invade taiwan,
- 00:04:51.816 --> 00:04:54.719
- You know
- 00:04:54.719 --> 00:04:55.920
- He's not going to be deterred by having those new pieces
- 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:58.390
- Of new furniture
- 00:04:58.390 --> 00:04:59.591
- As an obstacle on the shores for his landing craft.
- 00:04:59.591 --> 00:05:02.494
- And so we need to have some common sense
- 00:05:02.494 --> 00:05:04.362
- In how we budget, how we prioritize,
- 00:05:04.362 --> 00:05:06.598
- And we really need to honor the people
- 00:05:06.598 --> 00:05:08.533
- Who are putting their lives on the line,
- 00:05:08.533 --> 00:05:10.201
- And also the taxpayers
- 00:05:10.201 --> 00:05:11.369
- That are footing the bill for this money.
- 00:05:11.369 --> 00:05:13.905
- Well, if i understand correctly,
- 00:05:14.539 --> 00:05:16.141
- Your mission is to dig into government
- 00:05:16.141 --> 00:05:18.309
- Spending with the goal of transparency.
- 00:05:18.309 --> 00:05:20.612
- It's not judgment.
- 00:05:20.612 --> 00:05:21.946
- Judgment will be left to the voters
- 00:05:21.946 --> 00:05:23.448
- And the politicians they elect.
- 00:05:23.448 --> 00:05:25.150
- Am i right on that?
- 00:05:25.150 --> 00:05:26.751
- Absolutely, yeah.
- 00:05:26.751 --> 00:05:27.652
- Our goal is to make every year
- 00:05:27.652 --> 00:05:29.120
- To put every dollar online in real time.
- 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:30.989
- And i, i work for the late senator tom coburn.
- 00:05:30.989 --> 00:05:33.525
- And he he wrote a bill back in 2006.
- 00:05:33.525 --> 00:05:36.528
- It was a bipartisan bill
- 00:05:36.528 --> 00:05:37.762
- With with a young senator named barack obama.
- 00:05:37.762 --> 00:05:40.098
- We passed this together
- 00:05:40.098 --> 00:05:41.533
- Called the federal funding,
- 00:05:41.533 --> 00:05:42.600
- Accountability and transparency act,
- 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:44.402
- That put all federal spending online
- 00:05:44.402 --> 00:05:46.404
- For the first time in history and then opened
- 00:05:46.404 --> 00:05:48.606
- The books, was enabled by that legislation
- 00:05:48.606 --> 00:05:51.476
- And opened the books looks not just at federal
- 00:05:51.476 --> 00:05:53.278
- Spending, but state local as well.
- 00:05:53.278 --> 00:05:55.380
- And it's based on this idea that that, again,
- 00:05:55.380 --> 00:05:57.449
- Taxpayers, individual americans have the right to know
- 00:05:57.449 --> 00:06:00.985
- What government is doing with their money.
- 00:06:00.985 --> 00:06:02.987
- Again, it's not a two way street.
- 00:06:02.987 --> 00:06:04.422
- The government doesn't have the right to conduct
- 00:06:04.422 --> 00:06:06.191
- Surveillance on your checkbook, but you absolutely have
- 00:06:06.191 --> 00:06:09.327
- Not just the right,
- 00:06:09.327 --> 00:06:10.962
- But the opportunity and obligation as a citizen
- 00:06:10.962 --> 00:06:13.431
- In a free country to know what government is doing
- 00:06:13.431 --> 00:06:16.468
- And then make your own decision about whether you want more
- 00:06:16.468 --> 00:06:20.271
- Lobster tails at the end of the year,
- 00:06:20.271 --> 00:06:21.506
- Or whether you may want to have better paid military
- 00:06:21.506 --> 00:06:24.843
- Or another submarine or aircraft carrier to deter threats
- 00:06:24.843 --> 00:06:28.313
- That are a threat to to your future and your kid's future.
- 00:06:28.313 --> 00:06:31.749
- And just to
- 00:06:32.083 --> 00:06:33.318
- Clarify, you aren't criticizing the lobster tail purchases.
- 00:06:33.318 --> 00:06:36.087
- You're just making the information available for us.
- 00:06:36.087 --> 00:06:38.690
- That's right.
- 00:06:38.690 --> 00:06:39.557
- Going full steam ahead on this topic.
- 00:06:39.557 --> 00:06:41.993
- Listen to what he says.
- 00:06:41.993 --> 00:06:43.995
- That will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal
- 00:06:43.995 --> 00:06:46.898
- The vast powers
- 00:06:46.898 --> 00:06:47.832
- At their disposal to defeat what was record
- 00:06:47.832 --> 00:06:51.636
- Inflation, and rapidly bring down costs and prices.
- 00:06:51.636 --> 00:06:56.407
- The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending.
- 00:06:56.407 --> 00:07:00.111
- Sounds to me like the steak and lobster is in some serious
- 00:07:01.246 --> 00:07:04.015
- Jeopardy.
- 00:07:04.015 --> 00:07:05.483
- It is, it is. yeah.
- 00:07:05.483 --> 00:07:06.718
- And just to back up.
- 00:07:06.718 --> 00:07:07.652
- But that's a really important point
- 00:07:07.652 --> 00:07:08.786
- That president
- 00:07:08.786 --> 00:07:09.854
- Trump talked about is that is that when we think
- 00:07:09.854 --> 00:07:11.222
- About these issues of budgets, i you know,
- 00:07:11.222 --> 00:07:13.725
- I always think about the pie dilemma, okay.
- 00:07:13.725 --> 00:07:16.094
- Like eating
- 00:07:16.094 --> 00:07:17.195
- Eating the holiday pie at thanksgiving or christmas.
- 00:07:17.195 --> 00:07:19.297
- You know, often we think that's a fixed pie
- 00:07:19.297 --> 00:07:21.099
- And you only have to cut it in certain sizes.
- 00:07:21.099 --> 00:07:23.334
- Well, in an economy you want the pie to grow.
- 00:07:23.334 --> 00:07:26.104
- And it's really important to not just think
- 00:07:26.104 --> 00:07:28.039
- About downsizing government, but you have to expand
- 00:07:28.039 --> 00:07:31.142
- The economic pie at the same time.
- 00:07:31.142 --> 00:07:33.177
- And you do that by actually limiting government spending.
- 00:07:33.177 --> 00:07:36.447
- And shifting dollars back to the private sector.
- 00:07:36.447 --> 00:07:38.783
- So so i believe that every dollar saved in washington
- 00:07:38.783 --> 00:07:41.819
- Is the dream realized somewhere in america.
- 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:43.922
- It's an opportunity
- 00:07:43.922 --> 00:07:45.323
- For an entrepreneur or a family to pursue happiness
- 00:07:45.323 --> 00:07:48.026
- On their terms without the government dictating
- 00:07:48.026 --> 00:07:51.529
- That whether they have to buy lobster, taylor or ribeyes.
- 00:07:51.529 --> 00:07:54.933
- And when you when you trust
- 00:07:54.933 --> 00:07:56.534
- We the people to make those decisions,
- 00:07:56.534 --> 00:07:58.736
- You get a far better economic benefit than if you
- 00:07:58.736 --> 00:08:01.940
- If you trust only a handful of unelected bureaucrats
- 00:08:01.940 --> 00:08:05.176
- Or even elected politicians in washington.
- 00:08:05.176 --> 00:08:08.179
- Makes sense.
- 00:08:08.513 --> 00:08:09.714
- Well, hold on to your wallets.
- 00:08:09.714 --> 00:08:10.915
- We'll be right back with john hart after this break.
- 00:08:10.915 --> 00:08:14.118
- If you'd like to jump in on this conversation,
- 00:08:14.118 --> 00:08:15.853
- You can write me an email now.
- 00:08:15.853 --> 00:08:17.422
- So in the comments at alan jackson now.com.
- 00:08:17.422 --> 00:08:25.009
- So in the comments at alan jackson now.com.
- 00:08:25.009 --> 00:08:28.199
- We're back with john hart.
- 00:08:28.766 --> 00:08:30.301
- He takes more than a magnifying glass to the federal budget.
- 00:08:30.301 --> 00:08:33.404
- He uses spreadsheets and get this common sense.
- 00:08:33.404 --> 00:08:36.708
- Your experience on capitol hill prepared you to
- 00:08:37.642 --> 00:08:39.711
- Step into the helm of the open the books project.
- 00:08:39.711 --> 00:08:42.580
- Tell me a little bit about your journey
- 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:44.082
- And how it led to where you are today.
- 00:08:44.082 --> 00:08:47.185
- Yeah, thanks for that question.
- 00:08:47.185 --> 00:08:48.286
- You know, back when, when i was working on the hill,
- 00:08:48.286 --> 00:08:51.022
- You know, i came to dc in the late 90s.
- 00:08:51.022 --> 00:08:52.957
- I interned for senator named sam brownback from kansas,
- 00:08:52.957 --> 00:08:56.494
- And my supervisor was a young, young guy named paul ryan
- 00:08:56.494 --> 00:08:58.997
- Who went on to become speaker of the house.
- 00:08:58.997 --> 00:09:00.465
- And then shortly thereafter, i got connected to,
- 00:09:00.465 --> 00:09:03.434
- A wonderful member named tom
- 00:09:03.434 --> 00:09:05.370
- Coburn, who was a member of the house.
- 00:09:05.370 --> 00:09:07.538
- And he was a practicing physician, citizen legislator,
- 00:09:07.538 --> 00:09:10.575
- And had three incredible years with him
- 00:09:10.575 --> 00:09:12.977
- And wrote a book with him called breach of trust
- 00:09:12.977 --> 00:09:15.013
- How washington turns outsiders into insiders.
- 00:09:15.013 --> 00:09:17.849
- And coburn was really part of the tea party movement.
- 00:09:17.849 --> 00:09:20.218
- He was kind of a godfather of the tea party movement.
- 00:09:20.218 --> 00:09:22.887
- And then to fast forward, he he ended up, you know, leaving.
- 00:09:22.887 --> 00:09:25.523
- He honored his term limits pledge and then ran for
- 00:09:25.523 --> 00:09:28.593
- The senate in 2004, was was elected.
- 00:09:28.593 --> 00:09:31.796
- And i worked for him for a decade.
- 00:09:31.796 --> 00:09:33.965
- Now, when coburn got to the senate,
- 00:09:33.965 --> 00:09:35.566
- He knew exactly what he wanted to do with these new powers
- 00:09:35.566 --> 00:09:37.902
- You have as a senator, you have a lot
- 00:09:37.902 --> 00:09:39.137
- More procedural authority.
- 00:09:39.137 --> 00:09:41.005
- And he kept he would call agency heads and say, hey,
- 00:09:41.005 --> 00:09:44.475
- How many programs are you running?
- 00:09:44.475 --> 00:09:46.010
- Can you tell me about them?
- 00:09:46.010 --> 00:09:47.378
- And they said, well, senator,
- 00:09:47.378 --> 00:09:48.312
- I'll have to get back with you on that.
- 00:09:48.312 --> 00:09:49.480
- So he had cabinet secretaries
- 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:51.449
- Who had no idea
- 00:09:51.449 --> 00:09:52.984
- How many programs were in the federal government.
- 00:09:52.984 --> 00:09:55.186
- We would have appropriations committee staffers send us
- 00:09:55.186 --> 00:09:58.823
- An unsearchable pdf of spending bills
- 00:09:58.823 --> 00:10:01.192
- To make it hard for him to know what was in the bill.
- 00:10:01.192 --> 00:10:03.728
- Now, what they would do is
- 00:10:03.728 --> 00:10:04.896
- They would take a regular word file or excel spreadsheet
- 00:10:04.896 --> 00:10:07.899
- And turn it into an unsearchable file
- 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:10.034
- Just to throw up a roadblock.
- 00:10:10.034 --> 00:10:11.369
- So he was so upset about that.
- 00:10:11.369 --> 00:10:13.404
- He, ended up passing a bill called the federal
- 00:10:13.404 --> 00:10:16.074
- Funding accountability
- 00:10:16.074 --> 00:10:17.208
- And transparency act that put all federal
- 00:10:17.208 --> 00:10:19.277
- Spending online for the first time.
- 00:10:19.277 --> 00:10:22.013
- And the vision is that would him
- 00:10:22.013 --> 00:10:23.347
- That would empower an ecosystem of organizations
- 00:10:23.347 --> 00:10:26.384
- To put permanent downward pressure on spending.
- 00:10:26.384 --> 00:10:28.720
- Again,
- 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.754
- Just to ask the question of elected officials,
- 00:10:29.754 --> 00:10:31.456
- Why are we spending money on these things?
- 00:10:31.456 --> 00:10:33.224
- Do we want to see more,
- 00:10:33.224 --> 00:10:34.992
- More money on da,
- 00:10:34.992 --> 00:10:36.060
- Spending more money
- 00:10:36.060 --> 00:10:37.261
- On lobster, more money on ribeye steaks and new furniture?
- 00:10:37.261 --> 00:10:40.098
- Or do we want to make sure we spend money
- 00:10:40.098 --> 00:10:41.833
- On things like basic infrastructure,
- 00:10:41.833 --> 00:10:44.202
- Things that really have a good bang for the buck?
- 00:10:44.202 --> 00:10:46.704
- And, and from that legislation, there really were groups
- 00:10:46.704 --> 00:10:49.874
- That started open. the books came out of that.
- 00:10:49.874 --> 00:10:51.776
- A wonderful man named adam nevsky started.
- 00:10:51.776 --> 00:10:54.979
- He took this acorn of an idea that coburn planted
- 00:10:54.979 --> 00:10:57.749
- And then grilled a mighty oak out of it.
- 00:10:57.749 --> 00:10:59.984
- And adam
- 00:10:59.984 --> 00:11:01.219
- Sadly and tragically passed away unexpectedly a few months ago.
- 00:11:01.219 --> 00:11:04.122
- And that's why i decided to step into this role,
- 00:11:04.122 --> 00:11:06.991
- Because the mission is so critical and important
- 00:11:06.991 --> 00:11:08.860
- Right now in our in our country's future.
- 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:10.995
- And, and there's there's no shortage of targets.
- 00:11:10.995 --> 00:11:13.464
- We're in a very target rich environment
- 00:11:13.464 --> 00:11:14.899
- When it comes to government waste.
- 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:16.367
- And and i believe very deeply in this idea of we the people.
- 00:11:16.367 --> 00:11:20.204
- And i think we have,
- 00:11:20.204 --> 00:11:21.539
- We have an historic opportunity to to it's
- 00:11:21.539 --> 00:11:25.009
- A, it's a 1989 moment for america
- 00:11:25.009 --> 00:11:27.445
- Where we have an opportunity to tear down
- 00:11:27.445 --> 00:11:29.947
- The bureaucratic wall that has separated we,
- 00:11:29.947 --> 00:11:32.416
- The people, from their government.
- 00:11:32.416 --> 00:11:34.051
- And really, the project of the progressive movement
- 00:11:34.051 --> 00:11:36.354
- Over the past hundred years has to be
- 00:11:36.354 --> 00:11:38.656
- Has been to build this administrative state
- 00:11:38.656 --> 00:11:41.459
- That's taken power and agency and authority away
- 00:11:41.459 --> 00:11:44.195
- From individuals
- 00:11:44.195 --> 00:11:45.563
- And concentrated it in the hands of unelected
- 00:11:45.563 --> 00:11:47.999
- Bureaucrats in washington.
- 00:11:47.999 --> 00:11:49.667
- And we have an opportunity to take that power back.
- 00:11:49.667 --> 00:11:52.770
- And our organization
- 00:11:52.770 --> 00:11:54.005
- Was really built for this moment to help the people of goodwill
- 00:11:54.005 --> 00:11:57.108
- In the administration and congress
- 00:11:57.108 --> 00:11:58.709
- To get the information
- 00:11:58.709 --> 00:11:59.777
- They need to make real and lasting and durable change.
- 00:11:59.777 --> 00:12:04.215
- Yeah, i agree.
- 00:12:04.549 --> 00:12:05.850
- We can't fail in this moment.
- 00:12:05.850 --> 00:12:08.085
- Open the books has cited the biden administration
- 00:12:08.085 --> 00:12:10.688
- For misinformation and also for delays
- 00:12:10.688 --> 00:12:12.824
- In providing information.
- 00:12:12.824 --> 00:12:14.492
- But is it this a problem throughout both parties up
- 00:12:14.492 --> 00:12:16.928
- Until now?
- 00:12:16.928 --> 00:12:17.962
- Listen to republican joni ernst.
- 00:12:17.962 --> 00:12:20.798
- Yeah.
- 00:12:20.798 --> 00:12:21.499
- My proposal includes selling off
- 00:12:21.499 --> 00:12:23.768
- Thousands of vacant and underutilized buildings,
- 00:12:23.768 --> 00:12:28.139
- Ordering the irs to fire the thousands of employees
- 00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:32.877
- Who owe tens of millions of dollars in unpaid taxes.
- 00:12:32.877 --> 00:12:38.983
- Pulling the plug on biden's billion dollar boondoggles
- 00:12:38.983 --> 00:12:42.587
- For gravy trains that never leave the station,
- 00:12:42.587 --> 00:12:45.923
- And electrical vehicle stations that aren't
- 00:12:45.923 --> 00:12:48.659
- Charging up anything but debt.
- 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:52.396
- Does her comment give you any better hope that
- 00:12:52.396 --> 00:12:54.732
- The congress as a whole might address the debt.
- 00:12:54.732 --> 00:12:58.002
- That it does? and she's a senator.
- 00:12:58.002 --> 00:13:00.104
- Ernst is one of the great leaders.
- 00:13:00.104 --> 00:13:01.439
- She's a part of the doj's caucus in the senate.
- 00:13:01.439 --> 00:13:03.741
- We're working closely with them and also the dodge
- 00:13:03.741 --> 00:13:05.509
- Caucus in the house.
- 00:13:05.509 --> 00:13:07.044
- And, you know,
- 00:13:07.044 --> 00:13:08.179
- People always complain
- 00:13:08.179 --> 00:13:09.213
- About presidential authority in washington, dc.
- 00:13:09.213 --> 00:13:12.316
- But i can tell you, the biggest problem
- 00:13:12.316 --> 00:13:13.784
- In washington is not executive overreach.
- 00:13:13.784 --> 00:13:16.087
- It's legislative under reach is that we need
- 00:13:16.087 --> 00:13:18.990
- We need every senator operating like joni ernst
- 00:13:18.990 --> 00:13:21.893
- And putting out their ideas and their list of savings.
- 00:13:21.893 --> 00:13:24.996
- Because i guarantee you, if congress puts
- 00:13:24.996 --> 00:13:27.598
- A really good bill that downsizes
- 00:13:27.598 --> 00:13:29.834
- The administrative state in front of president trump,
- 00:13:29.834 --> 00:13:32.904
- You know, let's see if he vetoes that.
- 00:13:32.904 --> 00:13:34.505
- I think he's probably going to sign it.
- 00:13:34.505 --> 00:13:35.740
- So there's nothing stopping congress from really doing
- 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:38.976
- The hard work of legislating and downsizing these agencies.
- 00:13:38.976 --> 00:13:42.813
- And, you know, pastor, we looked at
- 00:13:42.813 --> 00:13:44.415
- We're doing a project that open the books.
- 00:13:44.415 --> 00:13:46.083
- We're looking at all
- 00:13:46.083 --> 00:13:47.285
- 441 agencies listed in the federal register.
- 00:13:47.285 --> 00:13:51.022
- The first thing we discovered is that 75 are effectively
- 00:13:51.022 --> 00:13:54.191
- Ghost agencies. they're doing nothing.
- 00:13:54.191 --> 00:13:57.128
- So the trump administration can credibly claim today
- 00:13:57.128 --> 00:14:00.164
- That they can just cut the number of agencies by about 20%
- 00:14:00.164 --> 00:14:03.467
- Just by showing up for work.
- 00:14:03.467 --> 00:14:04.902
- And minding the store.
- 00:14:04.902 --> 00:14:06.304
- And that's before we even look at what
- 00:14:06.304 --> 00:14:08.306
- They're what they're actually doing.
- 00:14:08.306 --> 00:14:10.107
- But we're going to agency by agency.
- 00:14:10.107 --> 00:14:11.776
- And the first one we asked was department of education.
- 00:14:11.776 --> 00:14:14.845
- Hey, give us all the outlay data, all the spending data,
- 00:14:14.845 --> 00:14:18.015
- But also your head count.
- 00:14:18.015 --> 00:14:19.350
- And we asked this under the biden administration,
- 00:14:19.350 --> 00:14:22.186
- And they said, well,
- 00:14:22.186 --> 00:14:23.220
- We'll get that information to you in nine months.
- 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:26.123
- And that's unacceptable.
- 00:14:26.657 --> 00:14:28.225
- So we're going to go back to the trump administration
- 00:14:28.225 --> 00:14:30.361
- And say, look, we need this information.
- 00:14:30.361 --> 00:14:32.697
- It's in your interest to give taxpayers
- 00:14:33.497 --> 00:14:35.633
- This information today,
- 00:14:35.633 --> 00:14:37.335
- Not wait
- 00:14:37.335 --> 00:14:38.469
- Months and months and months, because we need to have
- 00:14:38.469 --> 00:14:39.937
- A debate in this country about
- 00:14:39.937 --> 00:14:41.772
- Why do we have all these agencies
- 00:14:41.772 --> 00:14:43.307
- That don't provide any benefit for taxpayers
- 00:14:43.307 --> 00:14:45.943
- And then just go agency by agency, by agency?
- 00:14:45.943 --> 00:14:48.346
- You know, i'm a big fan of mike rowe,
- 00:14:48.346 --> 00:14:49.780
- You know, the dirty jobs. yes.
- 00:14:49.780 --> 00:14:52.149
- And that's really have the mentality
- 00:14:52.149 --> 00:14:53.818
- That we need in washington is we need people who are willing
- 00:14:53.818 --> 00:14:56.687
- To jump in the swamp and do the hard, dirty
- 00:14:56.687 --> 00:14:59.457
- Work of identifying where the waste is.
- 00:14:59.457 --> 00:15:02.727
- We need we need less talk and more action.
- 00:15:02.727 --> 00:15:04.996
- And thankfully, there are a lot of members
- 00:15:04.996 --> 00:15:06.697
- Who really are committed to doing that hard work.
- 00:15:06.697 --> 00:15:10.234
- Well, very quickly, i'm curious, do you think the tax bill
- 00:15:10.234 --> 00:15:13.437
- Will be approved before the end of the year?
- 00:15:13.437 --> 00:15:16.540
- I do, yeah, i do.
- 00:15:16.974 --> 00:15:17.875
- I think
- 00:15:17.875 --> 00:15:18.676
- There will be at least i don't know
- 00:15:18.676 --> 00:15:19.944
- If there's going to be 1 or 2 big quote reconciliation bills,
- 00:15:19.944 --> 00:15:22.113
- But i do.
- 00:15:22.113 --> 00:15:22.646
- It's critical
- 00:15:22.646 --> 00:15:23.748
- To get that done because again, i mentioned earlier
- 00:15:23.748 --> 00:15:25.216
- This issue that these pies where you absolutely
- 00:15:25.216 --> 00:15:28.319
- Have to solve this problem two ways.
- 00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:29.854
- You've got to constrain the stupid spending
- 00:15:29.854 --> 00:15:32.023
- That's a low priority.
- 00:15:32.023 --> 00:15:33.024
- But you absolutely have to have economic growth
- 00:15:33.024 --> 00:15:35.893
- And focus not on growing federal agencies,
- 00:15:35.893 --> 00:15:38.362
- But growing your agency and the agency
- 00:15:38.362 --> 00:15:40.264
- Of every individual in this country by giving them more,
- 00:15:40.264 --> 00:15:43.501
- Letting them keep more of what they earn.
- 00:15:43.501 --> 00:15:45.569
- And and again,
- 00:15:45.569 --> 00:15:46.804
- That's done by both good tax policy and good spending policy.
- 00:15:46.804 --> 00:15:49.940
- Well, john hart,
- 00:15:50.341 --> 00:15:51.342
- Thank you so much for being with us tonight.
- 00:15:51.342 --> 00:15:52.943
- I hope you'll come back and keep us up to date
- 00:15:52.943 --> 00:15:54.678
- On where our money's going.
- 00:15:54.678 --> 00:15:56.147
- We'd love to you.
- 00:15:56.580 --> 00:15:57.148
- Thanks so much, pastor.
- 00:15:57.148 --> 00:15:57.915
- All right, well, in a moment
- 00:15:57.915 --> 00:15:59.417
- I want to share some thoughts on how we can all deal with
- 00:15:59.417 --> 00:16:01.986
- And get through the very tragic crash of the passenger plane
- 00:16:01.986 --> 00:16:05.856
- And military helicopter in washington.
- 00:16:05.856 --> 00:16:08.292
- We'll be right back.
- 00:16:08.292 --> 00:16:14.005
- We'll be right back.
- 00:16:14.005 --> 00:16:16.333
- You know, i suspect most have heard
- 00:16:17.134 --> 00:16:18.702
- About the tragic collision in washington, d.c.,
- 00:16:18.702 --> 00:16:21.872
- Between the airline and a military helicopter.
- 00:16:21.872 --> 00:16:25.309
- Horrible circumstance.
- 00:16:25.309 --> 00:16:26.811
- There's no other way to put that.
- 00:16:26.811 --> 00:16:28.746
- If you haven't yet
- 00:16:28.746 --> 00:16:29.847
- Taken a moment to pray for the families involved and
- 00:16:29.847 --> 00:16:32.817
- And all surrounding that, please do so.
- 00:16:32.817 --> 00:16:36.287
- You know, sometimes
- 00:16:36.287 --> 00:16:37.254
- When there's a tragedy, i hear people respond,
- 00:16:37.254 --> 00:16:39.423
- We have to do something more than pray.
- 00:16:39.423 --> 00:16:42.326
- And i would agree
- 00:16:42.326 --> 00:16:43.661
- That prayer in and of itself is not the ultimate solution.
- 00:16:43.661 --> 00:16:47.498
- But i would stridently say that until we have prayed,
- 00:16:47.498 --> 00:16:51.802
- The rest of the activity is really just busywork.
- 00:16:51.802 --> 00:16:55.005
- The prayer is an invitation
- 00:16:55.005 --> 00:16:56.407
- To god into the midst of a circumstance,
- 00:16:56.407 --> 00:16:58.943
- And then god can do whatever god chooses to do.
- 00:16:58.943 --> 00:17:01.946
- But we want to be certain that we have extended
- 00:17:01.946 --> 00:17:03.981
- That invitation
- 00:17:03.981 --> 00:17:05.116
- To almighty god into the midst of a tragedy,
- 00:17:05.116 --> 00:17:07.585
- Into the midst of our daily lives.
- 00:17:07.585 --> 00:17:09.753
- So if you haven't yet prayed for those families involved
- 00:17:09.753 --> 00:17:12.423
- In that circumstance, please take a moment to do that.
- 00:17:12.423 --> 00:17:16.293
- You know, when there's a tragedy, it
- 00:17:16.293 --> 00:17:17.528
- Reminds all of us that our days ultimately are in god's hands.
- 00:17:17.528 --> 00:17:21.499
- I think we far too often live arrogantly, presumptively
- 00:17:21.499 --> 00:17:25.202
- Imagining we play in our lives years in advance.
- 00:17:25.202 --> 00:17:27.571
- And the reality is every breath is a gift.
- 00:17:27.571 --> 00:17:30.674
- Let's live each day as if it's a gift from god,
- 00:17:30.674 --> 00:17:34.178
- And we will find joy
- 00:17:34.178 --> 00:17:35.479
- In that moment and in that day, if we will choose that pattern.
- 00:17:35.479 --> 00:17:39.216
- I promise you
- 00:17:39.216 --> 00:17:40.417
- There's more reasons for hope than there are for despair.
- 00:17:40.417 --> 00:17:43.787
- Well, stay with us.
- 00:17:43.787 --> 00:17:45.055
- When we returned, we're going to turn the mic to your emails.
- 00:17:45.055 --> 00:17:53.005
- When we returned, we're going to turn the mic to your emails.
- 00:17:53.005 --> 00:17:55.234
- Thank you for taking the time to send your emails.
- 00:17:56.269 --> 00:17:58.437
- I always enjoy reading your perspectives and your questions.
- 00:17:58.437 --> 00:18:01.908
- Janet from pennsylvania wrote
- 00:18:01.908 --> 00:18:03.576
- I just want to comment on politics from the pulpit.
- 00:18:03.576 --> 00:18:06.779
- You say often that you're called out for it.
- 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:08.948
- You put it in context in teaching
- 00:18:08.948 --> 00:18:11.184
- Saying jesus was political.
- 00:18:11.184 --> 00:18:13.352
- I love your teaching.
- 00:18:13.352 --> 00:18:14.520
- What this washington episcopal bishop did was outrageous.
- 00:18:14.520 --> 00:18:17.990
- What she was saying from her
- 00:18:17.990 --> 00:18:19.192
- Pulpit is not biblical or edifying.
- 00:18:19.192 --> 00:18:21.527
- This is my opinion.
- 00:18:21.527 --> 00:18:23.763
- Well, janet, i don't really disagree with your opinion.
- 00:18:23.763 --> 00:18:26.599
- I do believe it's important that our christianity engage
- 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:29.802
- The culture in which we live.
- 00:18:29.802 --> 00:18:31.804
- I don't really think that's political.
- 00:18:31.804 --> 00:18:33.806
- I think politicians and our system of government
- 00:18:33.806 --> 00:18:36.576
- Reflect the hearts of the people in the heart of america.
- 00:18:36.576 --> 00:18:39.679
- If we don't like our politicians
- 00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:41.681
- And their perspectives and their policies.
- 00:18:41.681 --> 00:18:43.916
- We have to have a hard change.
- 00:18:43.916 --> 00:18:45.585
- Politicians just want to vote.
- 00:18:45.585 --> 00:18:47.286
- But our christianity has to get outside
- 00:18:47.286 --> 00:18:49.522
- The walls of our churches
- 00:18:49.522 --> 00:18:50.957
- And beyond the boundaries of our sunday
- 00:18:50.957 --> 00:18:52.592
- School classes at our small groups.
- 00:18:52.592 --> 00:18:54.727
- Or it remains just a theory.
- 00:18:54.727 --> 00:18:56.696
- And theoretical christianity
- 00:18:56.696 --> 00:18:58.097
- Won't change the world or a human heart.
- 00:18:58.097 --> 00:19:00.366
- It's got to be lived out in the real world.
- 00:19:00.366 --> 00:19:02.635
- Carolyn kershner from georgia said,
- 00:19:03.402 --> 00:19:05.171
- I've just finished reading hoodwinked by john manchukuo.
- 00:19:05.171 --> 00:19:09.041
- I couldn't put it aside and was so amazed at all
- 00:19:09.041 --> 00:19:11.444
- The truths that he revealed concerning today's issues.
- 00:19:11.444 --> 00:19:14.447
- It's a book every person in our country
- 00:19:14.447 --> 00:19:16.182
- Should absorb as required reading.
- 00:19:16.182 --> 00:19:18.584
- I watched your program the night you hosted the author.
- 00:19:18.584 --> 00:19:20.786
- Thank you for recommending his book.
- 00:19:20.786 --> 00:19:22.555
- Carolyn, i agree it's a great read.
- 00:19:22.555 --> 00:19:24.957
- It's a it's a fascinating insight,
- 00:19:24.957 --> 00:19:27.159
- Just an honest perspective on our current culture.
- 00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:30.229
- And john frames those ten lives that americans have believed
- 00:19:30.229 --> 00:19:33.532
- So clearly and concisely that i think it brings course
- 00:19:33.532 --> 00:19:36.168
- Correction to anyone who will take the time to read it.
- 00:19:36.168 --> 00:19:39.605
- And then karen has emailed.
- 00:19:40.206 --> 00:19:41.774
- I look forward to your shows
- 00:19:41.774 --> 00:19:43.042
- Nightly and your sermons on sundays.
- 00:19:43.042 --> 00:19:45.611
- We need more of your bible based information and inspiration.
- 00:19:45.611 --> 00:19:48.547
- It's food for thought and more importantly, for our souls.
- 00:19:48.547 --> 00:19:51.884
- May god bless you and keep you.
- 00:19:51.884 --> 00:19:54.620
- Well, karen, thanks for your blessings and your prayers.
- 00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:57.657
- And just in case you're not in the habit
- 00:19:57.657 --> 00:19:59.558
- Of watching nightly, i will remind you.
- 00:19:59.558 --> 00:20:01.460
- You can see us on tbn or you can find us on tbn.
- 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:05.231
- I mean, on youtube.
- 00:20:05.231 --> 00:20:06.265
- They post the programs every evening.
- 00:20:06.265 --> 00:20:07.933
- The information is on the screens
- 00:20:07.933 --> 00:20:09.669
- So you can find it at your leisure.
- 00:20:09.669 --> 00:20:12.238
- If you have it yet, let me invite you to take a moment
- 00:20:13.272 --> 00:20:16.042
- And send your emails to comments at alan jackson now.com.
- 00:20:16.042 --> 00:20:20.546
- I might even read them on the program.
- 00:20:20.546 --> 00:20:22.481
- Your feedback and questions.
- 00:20:22.481 --> 00:20:24.083
- They do a lot to shape our show.
- 00:20:24.083 --> 00:20:26.185
- I'm alan jackson.
- 00:20:26.185 --> 00:20:27.286
- You have a wonderful evening.
- 00:20:27.286 --> 00:20:27.286