Tip One for Reading a Bill

Tip One for Reading a Bill

Published October 28, 2024

The most important pieces of a bill are its WORDS.  As a bill is reviewed, purposeful and often misleading vocabulary and phrases will become easy to spot.

What follows is not an exhaustive list, and categories may overlap.  Anyone looking at legislation will quickly and easily be able to expand on what is presented below:

AMBIGUOUS WORDS

Many times the “woke” or Orwellian definition of a word may differ from what an average person understands to be the meaning.  The “definition” section of a bill may provide a list of meanings (e.g. parent) open to determination and interpretation by a judge or other interested party.  Ambiguous words may also be identified if/when they have been used to replace words in earlier laws, but without explanation or clarity—which may require further research to identify.  Be concerned if you do not clearly understand what is being written into law.

Democracy
Parent
Voluntary (look for limitations and requirements)
Perception
May vs Shall

SINKHOLES

Such words may partially or completely negate the stated purpose of the bill.  For example, deference to Federal law negates any actions by the State (constitutional or not) that conflict with the ultimate power of Federal laws, which are often blatantly unconstitutional and remove power from the states and the people.

Unless
At the discretion of
Federal law; any reference to any Federal bureaucracy, regulations or law (e.g. IDEA, OSHA)
Exception

MONEY PITS

These words may be explicit (e.g. levy, tax), have non-specified costs attached, e.g. require personnel, time, mileage reimbursement, space, provide “incentives” to outside corporations or “investors” in South Carolina, will further burden taxpayers, etc.

Tax, Funding
Department, Agency, Committee, Board, AGO (Account-Granting Organization), Panel
Medicaid, ie. any State or Federal program offering financial benefits at taxpayer expense
Infrastructure, Economic Development, Improvements, Employment

WOKE AGENDA IDENTIFIERS

Diversity/Diversify, Equity, Inclusion
Community/Community-based
Partnership/Public Private Partnership
Gender/Gender Ideology
Stakeholders
World Class
Disadvantaged, Disability, Culturally Deprived
Competencies
Eligible
Transfer (usually of wealth, directly or explicitly)
Comprehensive, Systematic, Scientifically-based
Workforce Development

POWER AND ACTION WORDS

(often with a significant price tag to implement and/or staff)

Requirements, Conditions (e.g. of this Act)
Determine, Authorize, Approve
Create/Establish
Regulations/Promulgate Regulations, Procedures, Uniform Process
Appointed
Certify, Declare, Qualify, Document
Statewide
Replace, Repeal (rarely found), Amend, Take Effect
Oversight, Enforce, Review, Advisory

MISSING WORDS

Taxpayer (as in rights or access associated with any service for which taxes are levied, such as public education, but also incentives to private businesses/industries—at taxpayer expense)
Repeal (Does the bill take away law or just add to it?)

THREATS TO INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND PRIVACY

Words or phrases that give state agencies undue control over what local governments decide or that require compliance with federal requirements, placing the State in a subordinate position to Federal, often unconstitutional, edict or law.

Lists or actions imposing restrictions on choices available based on legislation.

Federal
National, Global
Reports, Data/Data collection
Qualifying

DANGEROUS WORDS

Words that introduce new areas for legal control and/or action and often open the door to future actions contrary to a bill’s original intent.  Such words are often found in education bills, child health bills, bills attempting to define and control inappropriate or morally tinged activities formerly recognized as incompatible with societal norms, which are being deliberately changed by dangerous change agents in schools, public institutions, media, entertainment, and government.

Expert, Identified Role empowered to make an independent determination e.g. Medical Doctor, Mental Health Professional, often with power to contradict the stated objective of a bill.


Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not constitute legal or professional advice. ConservaTruth assumes no liability for any actions taken based on this content. Read more.


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