Minutes of the Operating Committee of the America First Party

Monday, March 12, 2007

BE IT REMEMBERED that the Operating Committee of the America First Party met on Monday, March 12, 2007 at 9:00 p.m. East Coast Time, pursuant to the previous resolution of the Operating Committee.

The Chairman led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Hey delivered the invocation.

The Secretary called the roll of Operating Committee members:

Present:

• Jon Hill of Massachusetts, Chairman
• Martin McClellan of Florida, Vice-chairman
• John Hey of Mississippi, National Secretary and Treasurer
• J. C. Schweingrouber of Ohio, Public Relations Committee Chairman
• Tom White of Massachusetts, Candidates Committee Chairman

Absent:

• Mike Fleharty of Ohio, Ballot Access Committee Chairman
• Joe Spitzig of Ohio, Platform Committee Chairman
• Peter Browning of Florida, Party Building Committee Chairman

A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order by the Chairman at 9:29 p.m.

Mr. Hey moved the adoption of the standard Agenda. Mr. White seconded the motion. The Agenda was adopted by unanimous consent.

The Chairman delivered his report. The Chairman reported on a well-attended and successful informal state chairmen's meeting, which will continue on a monthly basis. He also reported that a press release calling for rescinding the War Powers Act was issued since the last meeting.

The Secretary reminded the members that he had previously circulated draft minutes for the February 19, 2007 meeting of the Operating Committee. Mr. Hey moved the adoption of the minutes as published. His motion was seconded by Mr. Schweingrouber. The minutes were adopted by unanimous consent.

The Secretary reminded the members that Mr. Eller has submitted a signed letter of resignation from the position of Finance Committee Chairman.

The Treasurer reported that the party's bank balance is $ 7,649.99. There are no outstanding unpaid invoices due at this time.

Mr. White directed a discussion of Candidate recruitment and the function of the Candidates Committee.

Mr. Schweingrouber delivered the Public Relations Committee report. He is working on getting quotes for the printing of the newspaper.

Mr. Hey reported that the Rules Committee has been unable to interview Mr. Barton or Mr. Beckert because they cannot be reached or cannot attend the interview meetings.

Mr. Hey moved that the regular weekly operating committee meeting be changed to Tuesday evening at the usual time. Mr. White seconded the motion, which was adopted by unanimous consent.

Mr. Schweingrouber moved that the Operating Committee forward a resolution to the National Committee calling for repeal of the War Powers Act. The motion was seconded by Mr. McClellan and adopted by unanimous vote. The motion 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 needlessly, 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, Iran has 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 knowledge 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 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 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.

Mr. Hey moved that a teleconference meeting of the National Committee be called for Tuesday evening, March 20, 2007 at 9 p.m. East Coast time. His motion was seconded by Mr. White and adopted by unanimous vote.

There being no further business, on motion made by Mr. McClellan, seconded by Mr. Schweingrouber, and adopted by unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 10:25.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________
John Pittman Hey
National Secretary
America First National Committee