Dr. Chris shares his views on The Wall and where his opponent, Jim Banks, stands on the matter. Please see below for the transcript.
Hello. I am Dr. Chris Magiera from Warsaw, Indiana, and I am running for the United States House of Representatives from the 3rd Congressional District of Indiana.
Every day, career politicians and the massive Administrative State that they support, infringe upon our God-given Natural Rights and Liberties. And in many cases, such as the drug and migration crisis at our southern border, non-government special interests and globalists are also part of the problem. So, what can be done to protect our borders, our safety, our lives, and our prosperity?
The solution is in the Constitution, which was designed by the Founders to secure our rights and liberties. What is required is to have elected representatives, who will utilize wisdom and virtue to guide legislation made in pursuance of our constitutional republic. And this brings us to our present situation. In the May June 2020 Republican primary election, I will be challenging the incumbent, Representative Jim Banks. The voters of IN-3 must make a choice. On the campaign trail, I am often asked what differentiates me from the incumbent. That is a natural question, but the answer is complex. So, bit by bit, principle by principle, issue by issue, I will endeavor to explain.
For this discussion, let us take up the subject of the crisis at the southern border and, more specifically, “The Wall.” Also, let’s assume that we all agree that “The Wall” is to be composed of many types of physical barriers, natural as well as constructed, with both human as well as virtual patrolling. But it needs to be an effective barrier in order to protect against uninvited migrants, terrorists, drug smuggling, and illegal commerce.
Since I do not currently hold elected office, it will be necessary to begin with the record of the incumbent’s actions while in Congress. And, indeed, on two occasions in the 115th Congress (both houses Republican majority), he has voted for “The Wall” in one form or another.
On 7/27/17, Jim Banks voted for HR 3219 – Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018. This contained some funding (1.57 B) for “The Wall.” However, the bill was never acted upon in the Senate. It is amazing how Republicans seem, at times, to be very adept, when in the majority, of negotiating with themselves in order to defeat themselves. Perhaps strict adherence to the Constitution could draw the Party together to a more focused agenda. Again, on 12/20/18, Jim Banks voted for HR 695 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018. This bill contained 5.7 B for border barriers. But the Senate passed a bill that was not identical, and the differences could not be reconciled. Again, no “Wall.”
How could I possibly be different from someone who voted in favor of “The Wall”? Well, for a Congressman whose speaking backdrop is emblazoned with the words, “Real Conservative Leadership,” I would submit that he is not living up to the task. A leader would recognize that these massive funding bills are impractical, manipulative, and often unconstitutional.
What would I do differently? Since I am not now, nor will I ever be, a career politician, I would be unafraid to confront leadership and special interests in any form: Republican, Democrat, or Presidential. House rules must change. Items like “The Wall,” which is one part of the solution to the crisis at the southern border, must be extracted and voted upon as stand-alone bills. There is no need to get caught up in the controversies surrounding immigration and naturalization, as “The Wall” is clearly constitutional under Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3. It is simply a means of regulating commerce with a foreign nation.
Critics will say that I don’t “understand,” and that the federal government is “too big” to manage in any other way. But I DO understand, and I understand only TOO well. If a government is “too big to fail,” “too big to manage,” or “too big to shut down,” well, then it is obvious: It’s just “TOO BIG.” In medicine, we know that tumors will necrose when they outgrow their blood supply, and this is the same situation we see today with our federal government, feeding like a malignancy off of We the People.
But do not despair. There is a solution, and that is the Constitution Solution. The Founders, in Article 1, Section 8, outlined a central government with strictly limited and enumerated powers.
Congress has miserably failed the People by delegating powers which have allowed the formation of the massive, unaccountable and wasteful Administrative State. If elected to Congress from the 3rd District of Indiana, I pledge to constitutionally legislate, not delegate, so you won’t have to litigate to reclaim your God-given Natural Rights and Liberties.
So, in 2020, I implore the Hoosiers of the 3rd District to vote for a candidate who understands what is at stake, and who knows that the ONLY solution is NOT career politics as usual, but a strict, 100% adherence to the Founders’ Constitution. I implore you to vote for Dr. Chris Magiera for Congress. Thank you.