Minutes of the America First National Committee

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

BE IT REMEMBERED that the America First National Committee met on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 9 p.m. East Coast Time, pursuant to the Resolution of the Operating Committee adopted on March 12, 2007.

The Chairman led the National Committee in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Hey delivered the Invocation.

The Secretary called the roll of National Committee members.

Present:

• Larry Carroll of Colorado
• Anne O'Brien of Colorado
• Peter Browning of Florida
• Maureen McHugh of Illinois
• Jonathan Hill of Massachusetts, National Chairman
• Tom White of Massachusetts
• Dan Eller of Michigan
• John Wagner of Michigan
• John Pittman Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary and Treasurer
• Bradley Maurer of New York
• Ward Chorpenning of Ohio
• David Thomas of Pennsylvania

Absent:

• Tim Lohrmann of Idaho
• Trey Golmon of Mississippi
• Greg Roberts of Missouri
• Joe Spitzig of Ohio
• Sam Cross of Pennsylvania
• Frank Hackl of Wisconsin

Martin McClellan of Florida, Vice chairman, and Romelle Winters of New Hampshire, joined the meeting after the roll had been taken.

Mr. Michael Lynch of New York attended the meeting, first as a guest, then as a member of the National Committee.

A quorum being present, the Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:10 p.m. ECT.

The Credentials Report was reviewed. The Secretary reported receiving a signed letter of resignation from Mr. Jim Arft of New York.

The Secretary reported receiving notice of the election of Mr. Michael Lynch to represent New York on the National Committee. He also reported that both the Platform and Rules Committees have conducted the required interviews of Mr. Lynch, both voting to recommend that the National Committee seat him.

Mr. Hey moved that the Certified List of National Committee Members be amended to add the name of Michael Lynch of New York. His motion was seconded by Mr. White and adopted by unanimous vote.

Mr. Hey moved that the Credentials Report be adopted as presented above and as amended. His motion was seconded by Mr. Maurer and approved by unanimous vote.

Mr. White moved that the Agenda be adopted as presented. His motion was seconded by Mr. Maurer. The Agenda was approved by unanimous vote.

The Chairman delivered his report. He reported that nine press releases have been issued since the last meeting. He briefly described the resolutions on the agenda for tonight's meeting. He mentioned his interview on the Alan Colmes radio program, and one other media interview. The state chairmen's conference meeting was described, with another one scheduled for later this week. The Chairman described the new newspaper format that will be discussed later in the meeting. He noted that Mr. Eller has resigned from his position as Finance Committee Chairman due to personal, business, and Michigan state party duties.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had previously circulated draft minutes for the October 16, 2006 meeting of the National Committee. Mr. Hey moved the adoption of the minutes. His motion was seconded by Mr. Chorpenning. The minutes were adopted by unanimous vote, Mr. Lynch abstaining.

The Treasurer referred the Committee to the full Report that has been published on the Reflector and on the Agenda web page. The current account balance is $7674.73. The required monthly FEC reports have been prepared and submitted to the FEC; they may be reviewed on the FEC's public web site.

Mr. White moved the adoption of a Resolution forwarded by the Operating Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. Browning.

A grammatical correction was agreed to by unanimous consent. Mr. Hey moved an amendment, which was seconded by Mr. Lynch and adopted by unanimous vote, Mr. Maurer abstaining. Mr. Eller moved an amendment, which was seconded by Mr. McClellan, and adopted by unanimous vote.

A further amendment was made by Mrs. McHugh and seconded by Mrs. Winters, but later withdrawn. Mrs. McHugh moved an amendment, which was seconded by Mr. Lynch, and adopted by unanimous vote.

The Resolution as amended reads as follows:

Resolution on Rescinding the War Powers Act of 1973 and on Restraining the Executive

Whereas, the United States has seriously damaged its national prestige and international credibility with the present illegal war in Iraq; and,

Whereas, over 3,000 American servicemen have lost their lives, and over 20,000 American soldiers have been injured in combat, about half seriously; and,

Whereas about 40,000 to 250,000 Iraqis have died from both the direct and indirect consequences of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq; and,

Whereas, countless individuals have been needlessly traumatized and dislocated from the present conflict; and,

Whereas, there are worrisome indicators that the Bush Administration is poised to repeat its foreign policy errors and risk a regional Middle East war by initiating armed conflict with Iran, based on intelligence and material evidence of doubtful value; and,

Whereas, all signatory nations have an "inalienable right" under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to develop and research nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and the International Atomic Energy Commission has no proof that Iran is developing nuclear weapons; and,

Whereas, the unconstitutional War Powers Act of 1973 is an unlawful delegation of congressional decision-making authority to the Executive branch which allows presidents to initiate war with nations for 60 days without congressional approval; and,

Whereas, the congress has a duty to quickly and decisively reassert its sole constitutional authority to make decisions regarding the initiation of war, before another disaster occurs in the Middle East that has human and economic consequences of greater magnitude than the present tragedy in Iraq;

Therefore, be it resolved by the America First National Committee:

That, Congress be called on to immediately rescind the War Powers Act of 1973; and,

That, Congress be exhorted to immediately reassert its Constitutional authority under Article I Section 8 in matters of initiating warfare, and to signal the administration of this by binding resolution calling for it to cease-and-desist from any current operational plans for additional hostilities with other nations.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote, Mr. Maurer abstaining.

Mrs. McHugh moved the adoption of a Resolution forwarded by the Finance Committee. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. Hey and reads as follows:

Resolved, by the America First National Committee:

That the National Committee's requirement for 2 or more estimates for new budget items be set aside on a one-time basis for the printing of 5,000 newspaper-format copies of the America First Leader; and,

That up to $2,950 be allocated for the printing, assembly, mailing of 5,000 newspaper-format copies of the America First Leader ($900 printing, $1,600 postage, $50 labels, $400 assembly); and,

That up to $2,000 be allocated for printing 20,000 self-mailer inserts; and,

That all the above expenditures be taken from the party Prospecting Fund, provided that the newspaper returns be first applied to repayment of these borrowed funds before being used for other purposes.

The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.

A general time of discussion took place.

There being no further business, Mrs. Winters moved that the National Committee adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Chorpenning and adopted by unanimous vote. The Chairman declared the meeting adjourned at 10:12 p.m. ECT.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee