Editor, Gazette-Journal:

This is in response to Rep. Wittman on the Constitutional authority to authorize federally subsidizing broadband (Jan. 20 Readers Write).

The Preamble of the Constitution states that “We the People, in Order to … promote the general Welfare … establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This makes it clear that promoting general welfare is a reason to establish the Constitution. The Constitution fulfills this by specifically listing those things Congress can spend money on. If Congress could spend money on anything it considered beneficial to the citizens, there would not be the enumerated list of only those things that Congress can spend money on.

Wittman’s answer is Article One Section 8 as the authority for spending money for broadband. This reference to Welfare as the category for which follows the 10 powers that are listed and the category to provide for the Common Defense has seven ways listed. The Necessary and Proper referenc...