The Hill: "Senate GOP seeks to end taxes on gold and silver coins"

By Pete Kasperowicz

Sens. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) this week introduced legislation that would exempt gold and silver coins declared by the federal or any state government as legal tender from taxation.

The Sound Money Promotion Act, S. 1287, is meant to build on what the sponsors see as a reaction to overspending by the federal government and the falling value of the dollar. The senators said that in May, Utah became the first state to recognize these coins as legal tender within the state, and said 12 other states, including South Carolina, are considering similar measures...

The three said the rising price of gold, the weakening dollar, the negative credit rating that Standard & Poor's gave to the U.S. earlier this year, and significant Federal Reserve purchases of U.S. Treasuries are all signs of increasing economic risks to the U.S.

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"A First Step To Sound Money"

Editorial of The New York Sun | June 28, 2011

...It’s called the Sound Money Promotion Act, and The New York Sun is happy to lay claim to being the first newspaper to endorse it. The measure, as it is characterized in a press release posted by Senator DeMint, would remove the tax burden on gold and silver coins that have been declared legal tender by either the federal government or state governments...

...It seeks to block tax authorities from treating gold and silver coins as though they were mere commodities and start treating them, at least in tax law, as though they were what the Founders of America thought they were, which is money. Gold and silver coins are already treated this way, as legal tender, inside the state of Utah, whence Senator Lee was elected.

This is because Utah was the first state in our modern time to exercise its constitutional power to make gold and silver coins legal tender. It did so earlier this year, ahead of as many as a dozen states that are at various stages of looking in to the question of how to protect themselves against the collapse of the United States dollars that are being issued by the Federal Reserve. They are all being energized by the fact that the value of the dollar has collapsed to barely a fifth of what it was, if that, at the start of the 21st century...

...How far the three senators will get with the Sound Money Protection Act is hard to say. Its implication — a recognition of gold and silver as the true constitutional money — is, in the current context, radical. But it's no more radical than the Founders, who, when they twice used the word “dollars” in the Constitution, were referring to a coin containing 371 ¼ grains of silver. They codified that as the definition of the dollar in the Coinage Act of 1792. They also referenced gold in the 1792 Act, with a value of 15 times that of silver. We are in a time when understanding the concept of constitutional money will point the way to the policies needed to steer our country out of its current difficulties.

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DeMint, Lee, Paul Offer Bill to Begin Restoring Sound Money

Today, U.S. Senators Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) introduced the Sound Money Promotion Act, legislation that would remove the tax burden on gold and silver coins that have been declared legal tender by the federal government or state governments. On May 9, the State of Utah became the first state to recognize such gold and silver coins as legal tender for use within the state, and similar legislation has been introduced in 12 other states, including South Carolina...

“Thanks to the government’s reckless over-spending, continued bailouts, and the Federal Reserve’s easy money policy, this year the purchasing power of the dollar hit an all-time low in the several decades since we went off the gold standard,” said Senator DeMint. “In order to rebuild strength and confidence in our economy, we need both the fiscal discipline to cut wasteful spending and the monetary discipline to restrain further destructive monetizing of our debt. This legislation would encourage wider adoption of sound money measures, and that’s a step in the right direction.”

“Good monetary policy is an important part of a healthy and prosperous economy,” said Senator Lee. “Since the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, the dollar has lost approximately 98 percent of its value. This bill is an important step towards a stable and sound currency whose value is protected from the Fed's printing press."

Senator Paul added, "As the government runs massive deficits, uncontrolled spending, and an increasingly unsustainable debt, governments and the bureaucrats in charge are often forced to take an easier approach: to monetize the debt, inflating the currency. These implications can be devastating, leading to higher interest rates, which lead to higher borrowing costs and slower economic growth, but most importantly, destroying the savings and standard-of-living of all Americans. This bill will hold politicians and the Federal Reserve accountable; acknowledging that states are serious about an alternative to a weakening dollar.”

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The Practical Implementation of Constitutional Tender

by Doug Tjaden
TenthAmendmentCenter.com

Get ready. It’s coming.

Now it gets interesting. For several months I have been writing on the issue of honest money and its return to America, via the states. Judging from the response (or lack thereof), the issue is still very much off of the radar of the average American, including many hard asset advocates. Honest money is, however, quietly – and quickly – making its way into the main stream discussion...

...Let me go out on a limb and say those famous last words… “This time it is different.”

1) The United States is moving toward a debt/currency crisis of immense magnitude.

2) The American people are becoming increasingly aware of it, thanks to the tireless work of the above mentioned heroes.

3) There are two new variables that make this latest iteration of the decades long sound/honest money debate different...

...Larry Hilton was instrumental in helping nurture Utah’s law through to its ultimate passage. When I asked what the most important issue was facing Utah’s sound money initiative, he did not hesitate. “We need as many legislators as possible in as many states as possible to pick up the torch. Implementation of a simple bill in multiple states will strengthen support for sound money across the nation.”

To that end, he is planning a Sound Money Summit to be held in Deer Valley, Utah on September 26th and 27th. The purpose of the summit is to craft a “declaration of principles” that various states can agree upon regarding sound money. “The declaration will then form the foundation for model legislation.” stated Mr. Hilton. “If the summit can accomplish those two objectives – agreement on a declaration and model legislation – will put state legislators in good shape going into 2012.”

Here’s to the Sound Money Summit. Mark your calenders. September 26th and 27th promise to be the next quantum leap forward as the states move to return to honest money.

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Edwin Vieira Interview with James Turk

James Turk interviews Edwin Vieira, author of "Pieces of Eight: The Monetary Powers and Disabilities of the United States Constitution". For more info visit http://www.goldmoney.com/goldmoney-foundation/books.html

Edwin talks about how his book came to be and the new editions. Edwin explains the role that the gold commission hearings and Ron Paul played. He also says how important and urgent monetary reform is for the United States and how the best chance of reform comes at the state level.

They discuss constitutional money in the USA and the authority of states to use gold and silver as legal tender, as well as legal precedent from the Supreme Court. He talks about how several states are contemplating legislation to allow gold and silver as alternative currencies.

Edwin explains the Treasury's legal obligation to maintain parity between all forms of US currency, about Roosevelt's gold seizure, the gold reserve act and the abolition of the gold clause. They talk about the need for insurance against a currency collapse and how alternative currencies could play that role. They discuss the stark choice that follows a currency collapse: How the US reacted after the collapse of the Continental Dollar by enshrining sound money in the Constitution vs. how Weimar Germany drifted into fascism.

He explains how States have the legal duty and authority to carry out monetary reform and given the deadlock in Washington must take the initiative to prepare for the coming crisis. They stress the need for a rational currency system which allows for economic calculation, and decry the current fiat, politically driven, irrational monetary system as incompatible with a free market and a focus of financial instability.

They both talk Turk about the current lack of financial education, they liken the alternative currency initiatives by State legislatures to building lifeboats for the Titanic that is the US Dollar and talk about the different things that can be done to prepare for its impending sinking. They also return to the Continental Dollar and how America's founding fathers were able to learn from their mistakes by enshrining sound money in the Constitution and how with today's technology we could do even better.

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Utah Sound Money Bill Rocks World

I TOLD GEORGIA LEGISLATORS THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY DIDN'T PASS OUR BILL FIRST! "Issac Jacobson, a fund manager, says that based on conversations he has had with other fund managers, he expects billions of dollars to come into Utah to take advantage of the new law. He explains that funds will store their assets in Utah and believes that over time, the average Utahan will see a financial benefit from these billions of dollars being located and managed within the state."

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Utah Sound Money Bill Rocks World
By: Carlton Bowen
Featured Liberty News Radio Columnist
Salt Lake City, Utah. June 2, 2011


Today Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed the Utah Legal Tender Act of 2011 (HB 317) in the Gold Room of the Utah State Capitol in a formal signing ceremony. In a room full of cameras, reporters, fund managers, businessmen, and prominent legislators, HB317 sponsor Brad Galvez, a Utah House Freshman, took to the podium and explained the effect of the bill. Representative Galvez recalled that when the bill was first passed in March, the local media took very little notice. There were a few stories he says, and that was about it. But the rest of the world took note. Galvez mentioned being contacted by reporters from around the world and listed media coverage in New York, London, Germany, other parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, and other parts of the world. Galvez says the legislation is historic...

The formal signing ceremony demonstrated commitment from Utah's highest levels of government to the bill. Utah Governor Gary Herbert said he and the legislature sometimes disagree, but that this was an issue they both agreed was important for Utahans. Before signing the bill, the Governor noted that Utah had been recognized as one of the best managed states, the most financially sound state, and one of the best states to live in. He said that was because of the fiscally conservative principles he and the legislature shared and because of the culture of the people of Utah. Governor Herbert then proceeded with the formal signing of the bill, reviewing publicly what the bill did, saying that it recognized Gold and Silver coins issued by the U.S. government as legal tender in the State of Utah, and removed taxes, including capital gains, sales and income taxes, on the coins. He then signed the bill. Even though the bill was previously signed by the governor and went into effect on May 10th, 2011, the formal signing ceremony today highlighted the importance of the bill and the State's commitment to its continued implementation...
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