George P. Bush on running for Texas land commissioner VIDEO

George P. Bush on running for Texas land commissioner. Reaction to state of Republican Party

George P. Bush on running for Texas land commissioner

Born in Houston, George P. received his undergraduate degree from Rice University. After graduating, he taught history to at-risk students at Homestead High School in Florida’s Miami-Dade Independent School District and created its first speech and debate team that competed statewide. George P. then returned to Texas to work on his uncle George W. Bush’s presidential campaign and, in 2000, attended The University of Texas School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. After his clerkship for federal Judge Sidney Allen Fitzwater, George P. joined one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious law firms, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, as a corporate attorney. He subsequently co-founded Pennybacker Capital LLC, a real estate private equity firm, in 2007. Most recently, George P. founded St. Augustine Partners LLC, a Fort Worth-based investment firm focused on oil and gas transactions and consulting for private businesses.

In 2006, George P. joined the U.S. Naval Reserves through the prestigious Direct Commission Officer program. In 2010, he began an eight-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom under the Special Operations Command. Among other service decorations, he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for his meritorious service.

Weekly Republican Address Tim Scott 04/05/14 FULL TEXT VIDEO

+sookie tex. Weekly Republican Address Senator Tim Scott 04/05/14 FULL VIDEO

In the Weekly Republican Address, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina talks about what he describes as the most important issue facing our nation today -- job creation.

Scott discusses legislation he's introduced that would consolidate duplicate federal workforce training programs and help the unemployed and underemployed learn new job skills. "Unfortunately, Senate Democrats, for reasons I can only imagine are political, blocked its passage this week. Simply put, the American people deserve better than that -- a modern, efficient workforce development system is essential to our future," Scott says. Category: Weekly Republican Address Senator Tim Scott. News and Politics. License: Standard YouTube License.

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT:

“Hi, I’m U.S. Senator Tim Scott from the great state of South Carolina.

“As we all know, the most important issue facing our nation today is job creation. Unfortunately, it’s been that way for the last six years.

“But instead of tackling the causes of unemployment and underemployment, too many politicians are focused only on the effects and on making political points. We should without a doubt make sure folks get a hand up, but more importantly, that they have a solid foundation on which to stand.

“As someone who grew up in poverty, I know the hard choices facing so many families every night. And as a former small business owner, I know the importance of ensuring that the next generation of Americans is the most well-trained, best-educated workforce the world has ever seen.

“There are currently 4 million open jobs in America, including 65,000 in my home state of South Carolina. These are good jobs that for a variety of reasons, including a lack of workers trained for their specific industry, go unfilled day after day, week after week.

“That’s four million families that could sleep a little better at night and thousands of businesses that could become more profitable and offer more opportunities for their employees.

“So let’s tackle this problem head on. A more responsive and efficient system will ensure our workforce competes and wins in the 21st century. Less bureaucracy means more resources helping those in need, rather than getting caught up in the quagmire pit of red tape and regulation that big government creates.

“Instead of having 35 separate federal workforce training programs with expensive overhead and administrative costs, let’s simplify them into one flexible Workforce Investment Fund.

“Instead of throwing billions of dollars each year at these programs with no measurable end results, let’s give states and localities the flexibility they need to develop targeted plans to help low-income families, young folks, those with disabilities and of course the unemployed, the long-term unemployed and the underemployed.

“And instead of watching 4 million jobs sit empty, let’s make sure those who want to work are learning the skills they need to succeed.

“My SKILLS Act will do all of this. That’s why it has already passed the House of Representatives under the great leadership of Congresswoman Virginia Foxx and why I introduced it as an amendment to the Senate unemployment insurance bill.

“Unfortunately, Senate Democrats, for some reason – I can only imagine a political reason – blocked its passage this week. Simply put, the American people deserve better than that. A modern, efficient workforce development system is essential to our future.

“I believe in America, and I believe that our greatest days still lie ahead. The SKILLS Act is a straightforward, common sense solution for American families and for helping get America back to work.

“Thank you and God Bless America.”

Weekly Republican Address Bill Johnson 03/22/14 FULL VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Bill Johnson 03/22/14 FULL VIDEO

In the Weekly Republican Address, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says an economic comeback is occurring in Michigan and many other states with Republican governors who understand that success is based on creating an environment for more and better jobs, not more and bigger government. "That means getting spending under control, balancing budgets, freeing entrepreneurs from unnecessary regulations and letting the free market take off and do what it does best," says Snyder.

Category: News & Politics. License. Standard YouTube License

Weekly Republican Address Bill Johnson 03/15/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Bill Johnson 03/15/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the Weekly Republican Address, Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) calls on President Obama to address the devastating impact his health care law is having on the nation’s seniors, who – despite his promises – are paying higher premiums and losing access to their doctors.

The full audio of the address is here. Download MP3 for PODCAST

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT: Remarks of Representative Bill Johnson of Ohio. Energy & Commerce Committee Hearing Room. Washington, DC. March 15, 2014

Good morning.

My name is Bill Johnson, and I’m proud to represent Eastern and Southeastern Ohio in the House of Representatives. Four years ago today, President Obama came to our state and promised our seniors that his health care law would protect their benefits. He said this: “If you like your plan, you can keep your plan. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. I don't want to interfere with people’s relationships between them and their doctors." Now, the reality is, that not only is the president’s health care law interfering with these relationships – it’s ending them altogether. Because of Obama Care, many seniors enrolled in the popular Medicare Advantage program are paying higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Many are losing access to their physicians.

And many more will, unless the president takes action.

Last month, Republican leaders wrote a letter to the president asking him to develop a plan to deal with these problems. Nothing was done.

In our weekly address, we urged him to listen to stories of seniors in Florida paying more money for fewer choices, less access, and far less peace of mind. Still nothing.

Just this week, a bipartisan coalition of more than 200 members of the House and Senate came together to press the Obama administration on this issue.

Because this transcends politics. This is about keeping the promises we make to the American people.

In January, I sat down with a group of local doctors to talk about all this. One told me that many seniors in our area who need to see a specialist will now have to drive up to Cleveland or Pittsburgh to receive care. Another cited hundreds of cases in which patients were blindsided by these changes.

And last month, I received a note from a cancer survivor in Poland, Ohio who said that, because of the health care law, she and her husband are losing the eye doctor they’ve been going to for nearly 30 years. Here’s what she had to say:

“We have always taken care of ourselves. We had four children, took care of their education, and never asked for handouts. Now, we are older, and we have to be concerned about not having the doctors and services we like and will need.”

Remember how the president said he didn’t want to interfere in these relationships?

More than 794,000 seniors in Ohio rely on Medicare Advantage.

That’s hundreds of thousands of broken promises in waiting … in just one state.

Older Americans deserve better. They deserve the benefits they were promised.

If the president won’t help us repeal this law in its entirety, he ought to step up here, do the right thing, and protect our seniors.

And he ought to do this soon.

Sarah Palin CPAC 2014 FULL VIDEO

Republican National Convention Blog +sookie tex Sarah Palin CPAC 2014 FULL VIDEO. Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, 2008 Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, author, television host and commentator, speaks at CPAC 2014 on March 8, 2014.

Recorded at the American Conservative Union (ACU) Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) 2014, March 6-8, 2014, Washington, D.C.

Follow the ACU and CPAC on Twitter: @CPACnews #CPAC2014. Category: Nonprofits & Activism. License. Standard YouTube License

Weekly Republican Address Ann Wagner 03/01/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Ann Wagner 03/01/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the Weekly Republican Address, Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) calls on President Obama to address a new administration report that reveals 11 million workers will pay higher premiums because of the president’s health care law. “Mr. President, you owe our 11 million workers an explanation,” Rep. Wagner says, noting this is the latest broken promise under his health care law and that Republicans stand ready to forge better solutions for families and workers.

The full audio of the address is here. Download MP3 for PODCAST

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT: Remarks of Representative Ann Wagner of Missouri Weekly Republican Address The Capitol March 1, 2014

Hi, I’m Ann Wagner.

It’s truly an honor to represent the heartland of our country in St. Louis, Missouri, as a member of the United States Congress.

Growing up working in my parents’ carpet store, my daddy used to tell me that your word is your bond. That when your bond is broken; your trust is broken.

Unfortunately, President Obama has broken that bond with the American people, and they no longer can trust his word.

It seems like every week there is another broken promise from this administration about ObamaCare.

As a candidate for president, then-Senator Barack Obama promised to sign a health care law that would, and I quote, “cut the cost of a typical family’s premium by up to $2,500 a year.”

But as it turns out, the so-called ‘Affordable Care Act’ is not so affordable for American families after all.

A quietly-released report from President Obama’s administration just last week revealed that 11 million workers will see their premiums go up because of ObamaCare.

These aren’t just any workers that we’re talking about – they are small business workers, some of the hardest-working people in our country. The very engine of our economy.

As a nation we rise and fall with their success.

So not only is this another broken promise to 11 million people who will lose more of their hard-earned money.

It’s another slap in the face to our already-hurting middle class.

Now, the administration didn’t want you to see this report. It only exists because Republicans demanded it in early 2011, as part of a spending cut agreement. Even then, the report was submitted nearly three years late, quietly last Friday evening, with no public announcement.

Remember when we were promised that this was going to be the ‘most transparent’ administration in history?

The simple truth is Democrats in Washington are willing to say and do whatever it takes to protect their health care law.

Because it empowers the Government and not the American people.

Just this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that there are, and I quote, “plenty of horror stories being told” about health care, but “all of them,” he says, “are untrue.”

Try telling that to my constituents who are struggling to make it to the 15th and the 30th of every month in this tough economy.

Hardworking Missourians like Jenn, the owner of “Cotton Babies” – a small business owner that makes high quality diapers for consumers all over the world. Her premiums were projected to double – putting her family’s business and livelihood in jeopardy.

Let me share with you what Jenn wrote to me. She said and I quote:

“I believe in affordable health care.… We provide great health care insurance to our staff. We pay for 70% of the premium for the staff members AND their entire family. We operate on microscopic margins and have valued taking care of our employees over taking a profit. I simply don't know how we, as small business owners, are going to be able to shoulder the load with these changes.”

Every day, I hear from hardworking Missourians like Jenn who are struggling under the weight of this health care law.

And, Senator Reid, Jenn’s story and countless others are in fact true.

And, Mr. President, you owe our 11 million workers an explanation.

Are you willing to look them in the eye and say that you stand by this law?

Are you willing to confess that ObamaCare is causing premiums to skyrocket while the quality of our health care is going down?

And are you willing to work with us to provide real health care solutions that will lift up the American people?

Mr. President, we are ready.

The American people deserve better. Our families deserve affordable and quality health care. And our children deserve a brighter future.

Thank you for listening and joining this debate.

Office of the Speaker H-232 The Capitol Washington D.C. 20515 P: (202) 225-0600 F: (202) 225-5117 +sookie tex

Weekly Republican Address Tom Cotton 02/22/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

Republican National Convention Blog. 02/22/14 FULL VIDEO

In the Weekly Republican Address, Rep. Tom Cotton says Obamacare has been a catastrophe for many of his Arkansas constituents, pointing to the case of one woman who's seen her premiums rise 85 percent because of the health law's new coverage mandates.

"She's now forced to pay for things she does not want and can't afford, simply because Washington politicians and bureaucrats think they know what's best for her and her family," Cotton says. Even after two raises and a promotion, the woman takes home less total pay than she did in 2011.

"She's stopped shopping at locally owned businesses because she can't afford their prices, so Obamacare is hurting her local community, too," Cotton says.

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT:

“Hi, I’m Tom Cotton. I’m proud to represent the people of Arkansas in Congress. I’m a sixth-generation Arkansan myself, from Yell County, near Dardanelle. Arkansans are good, hard-working people. And they’re tough. Around my parts, people sometimes say we have true grit.

“Arkansans, like most Americans, have had their grit tested over the last several years through a financial collapse, recession, and a stagnant, jobless recovery. Barack Obama’s policies aren’t solving these problems – they’re causing the problem.

“President Obama’s policies spend too much money – they’ve irresponsibly added trillions of dollars to our national debt. The debt slows economic growth today and it places an immoral burden on our kids and grandkids. And the President’s policies concentrate too much power in Washington – they give more control to bossy bureaucrats, who want to run your lives, while handing out special favors and privileges to the elite and well-connected. “There’s no better example of these failed policies than President Obama’s namesake legislation, Obamacare. This law promised to make things better – to lower costs for consumers and improve the quality of care – all the while cutting healthcare spending and saving the federal government money.

“We now know the sad reality of Obamacare: lose your insurance, lose your doctor, lose your job.

“President Obama promised you could keep your plan if you like it. That’s not true. Five million Americans face cancellations, and the President’s own estimates predict that tens of millions more will lose their plan. Many more are losing access to their family doctors, specialists, and local hospitals. And the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects Obamacare will cost the equivalent of at least two-and-a-half million full-time jobs.

“What do we get for all this pain? Obamacare will add trillions in new spending at a time of record debt. It will mean less money in workers’ paychecks or less capital for businesses to expand and grow. Less growth means less opportunity and more stress for families. And the Congressional Budget Office says we’ll still have thirty-one million uninsured in ten years – the same number President Obama used to sell the law in the first place.

“The impact of these policies is real and I’ve met people across the state with stories that show how misguided Obamacare is.

“Elizabeth, from Pulaski County, Arkansas knows this all too well. Elizabeth gets insurance through her employer, but her monthly premiums have risen eighty-five percent because of Obamacare’s new coverage mandates. She’s now forced to pay for things she does not want and can’t afford, simply because Washington politicians and bureaucrats think they know what’s best for her and her family.

“What’s worse, Obamacare isn’t just raising her premium costs. Elizabeth now takes home less total pay than she did in 2011 – and that’s after two raises and a promotion. She’s stopped shopping at locally owned businesses because she can’t afford their prices, so Obamacare is hurting her local community, too.

“For Elizabeth – and countless other Arkansans just like her – Obamacare is anything but an amazing success story. Her story shows us that this law and the President’s policies are fundamentally flawed. They’re wrong for Arkansas, and they’re wrong for America. And as a result, too many Arkansans, like people across the country, are still out of work – five years into President Obama’s economic ‘recovery.’

“Republicans in Congress are committed to stopping the harms caused by the President’s policies, repairing the damage, and getting America working again. We’re advocating reforms that trust patients and their doctors – not Washington bureaucrats. And we’re working to get spending under control. That’s because we trust you to make the right decisions for you and your family.

“Thank you for listening and have a great weekend.”

Category: News & Politics. License: Standard YouTube License.

Weekly Republican Address Tom Rooney 02/14/14 FULL PODCAST TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Tom Rooney 02/14/14 FULL PODCAST TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s Republican address, Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL) shares stories from seniors in his district who, because of the new health care law, have already lost access to the doctors and plans they like – something the president repeatedly promised would not happen. With this law continuing to wipe out options for seniors, Rooney joins House Republican leaders in urging the president to address these problems before it is too late,

The full audio of the address is here. Download MP3 for PODCAST

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT: Remarks of Representative Tom Rooney (R-FL) Weekly Republican Address The Capitol February 15, 2014 Good morning.

My name is Tom Rooney, and here in the House, I represent Florida's 17th District.

Few promises are more sacred than the ones we make to older Americans. Protecting the dignity and the security our seniors have earned is a commitment that spans generations and party lines. For example, during President Obama's health care speech to Congress in the fall of 2009, he took a moment to speak directly to older Americans. “These steps.” he said, “will ensure that you – America’s seniors – get the benefits you've been promised.” Then, during a telephone town hall with seniors from around the country, he said he wanted to respond to what he called “hysterical claims” about his plan. “Here’s the truth," he said, “if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.”

That is the promise he made – several times.

But here's the reality.

To help pay for his health care law, the president made deep cuts to the successful Medicare Advantage program, which serves nearly 30 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries. This includes seniors with low incomes, patients with chronic conditions, and Americans in rural areas.

It’s a win-win program that gives seniors more control over their care and delivers better value for both them and the taxpayer.

But now, because of the president’s health care law, I'm hearing from seniors in my district who have already lost their doctors.

Constituents tell me they can no longer see the primary care physicians they have been going to for ten and even twenty years.

One woman told me that four of her specialists have already been dropped from her plan.

Another shared with me the story of how her husband lost access to the cardiologist he’s been seeing since his heart surgery five years ago.

In Florida’s heartland, seniors are now forced to drive an hour or more just to see a primary care doctor, let alone a specialist.

And across the country, millions of seniors are now paying more money for fewer choices, less access and far less peace of mind.

This goes well beyond a glitch or a pocketbook issue.

This is a breach of faith.

The president’s promises have proven false for working families, and now they are proving false for our seniors as well.

That is why, on Thursday, Republican leaders sent a letter to the president warning that unless something is done, his health care law will continue to wipe out options for seniors.

After all the assurances he gave older Americans, shouldn’t the president develop a plan to address the problems his law is causing them?

That’s what our letter asks him to do.

But better yet, members of both parties should listen closely to the stories like the ones I have shared.

I'm sure they sound a lot like what they're hearing back in their own districts.

Let's work together to repeal this law so we can focus on better solutions that lower costs for all Americans, especially our parents and grandparents.

We pledge to do our part, and now we ask the president to do his.

Thank you for listening.

Office of the Speaker H-232 The Capitol Washington D.C. 20515 P: (202) 225-0600 F: (202) 225-5117 +sookie tex

Keystone Pipeline: It's Time VIDEO

Keystone Pipeline: It's Time VIDEO. After five years, five studies, and countless public comments, it's time. Category: News and Politics. License: Standard YouTube License.

Office of the Speaker John Boehner H-232 The Capitol Washington D.C. 20515 P: (202) 225-0600 F: (202) 225-5117

Ted Cruz to Object to Any Effort to Raise the Debt Ceiling with a Simple Majority Vote

Ted Cruz to Object to Any Effort to Raise the Debt Ceiling with a Simple Majority Vote

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today released the following statement regarding his objection to any effort to raise the debt ceiling with a simple majority vote:

"If you ask anybody outside of Washington whether we should keep increasing the debt ceiling without fixing the underlying problem of out-of-control spending, the answer is ‘of course not.’ This answer cuts across party lines and ideology—outside the Beltway, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and Libertarians all agree that living within your means is basic common sense. And yet Washington is not listening to the American people.

“Under President Obama, our national debt has increased from $10 trillion to $17 trillion, and now the President is asking for yet another blank check to keep increasing our debt without doing anything to reform Washington’s spending problem. This is wrong, and it’s irresponsible. Our parents didn’t do this to us, and we shouldn’t do it to our kids and grandkids.

“Historically, the debt ceiling has proven the most effective leverage for reining in spending; 28 times, Congress has attached meaningful conditions to debt ceiling increases. We should do so again to address the real problem. I intend to object to any effort to raise the debt ceiling on a 50-vote threshold. I will insist instead on a 60-vote threshold, and if Republicans stand together we can demand meaningful spending restraint to help pull our nation back from the fiscal and economic cliff.”

###

Ted Cruz @SenTedCruz, R-Texas February 11, 2014 (202) 228-7561 Washington, D.C.(202) 224-5922 185 Dirksen Washington, DC 20510

Weekly Republican Address Richard Burr 02/08/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Richard Burr 02/08/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

The Senate will turn to legislation on Monday that would repeal a cut to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for some military retirees. While the Democrat COLA proposal would add to the federal deficit, Republicans have introduced legislation that would repeal the COLA cut without adding to the debt.

In the Weekly Republican Address, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, the ranking Republican on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, highlights a number of other veterans issues, including a dysfunctional VA disability claims system that is plagued by errors and delays and is failing veterans of all ages. "As the nation's military stands down from its war footing, veterans should not have to wage another battle here at home, this time against government bureaucracy," says Burr.

Category: News and Politics. License. Standard YouTube License

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT:

"This week, President Obama shared with all Americans his priorities and concerns about the serious economic challenges we as America are facing. I appreciated his optimism and agree with him that our country has the ability to overcome this significant economic challenge. "The strongest tool we as Americans have is our ability to rally together and to find solutions with unity of purpose. There is no limit to our ability and potential when we as a nation and as a people work together.

"Many times, disagreements between the two political parties in Washington get all the headlines. What's not reported is the fact that Republicans and Democrats agree on where we want to go, but we disagree on how we're going to get there.

"These uncertain times present us with a defining moment. The actions and decisions we make and the actions we take in our nation's capital and in the state capitals across this country will have a profound impact on the way of life for years to come.

"Families facing tough decisions at home know this because they are confronting the same challenges. Washington needs to understand this reality as well. It's difficult to fully appreciate, but every time Congress and the President spends a dollar, it's actually a dollar PLUS interest that our children and our grandchildren will have to pay back.

"We must remind ourselves of this fact every single day. Unfortunately, Washington is in a state of denial. Our spending habits haven't gotten better, they've only gotten worse.

"It seems that every morning you pick up the newspaper, you're reading about another multi-billion dollar government spending plan being proposed or even worse, passed. The numbers are so large, and the deficits so staggering, it's difficult for the average person to imagine how much money we're talking about. We become numb to what the dollar figures really mean, or the obligation that accompanies them. Let me take a moment to try to explain what is happening in Washington right now, and what it will mean for all of us down the road.

"This week, the president submitted to Congress the single largest increase in federal spending in the history of the United States, while driving the deficit to levels that were once thought impossible. If we just look at what our debt spending will cost us in interest payments alone, we are talking about 4 trillion dollars over the next 10 years, more than a billion dollars of interest payments every day. Think of that 4 trillion as a finance charge on your credit card bill -- you have to pay, but you get nothing for it in return. This finance charge obligates more than $52,000 for every family in America over the same 10-year period.

"These payments don't even make a dent in the balance we owe. In fact, the balance on our credit card continues to grow as we continue to spend. Like a family that finds itself choking under the weight of credit card balances and finance charges, the federal government is quickly obligating the American people to a similar fate.

"This is why we must keep our eye on the big picture. For two centuries, the American Dream has depended on the simple belief that men and women work hard so their children would have a better future. Looking at the spending priorities of Democrats in Washington in the proposed budget and over the past month, it's hard to escape the reality that for the first time we could see the American Dream vanish. Now, instead of working hard so our children can have a better life tomorrow, we are asking our children to work hard so that we don't have to make tough choices today.

"It's long past time to show restraint and to make the tough choices that will help put our fiscal house in order. Generations of Americans past have often been called on to make great sacrifices for their country. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice. Is it not time for government to make sacrifices for future generations? It's time for those elected to lead. Will we rise to the challenge, and make the tough choices necessary? Or will we simply hand the obligation to our children and wish them good luck?"

Paid for by the Republican National Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Weekly Republican Address Susan Brooks, Gregg Harper, Martha Roby, and Fred Upton 02/01/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s Republican address, Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN), Gregg Harper (R-MS), Martha Roby (R-AL), and Fred Upton (R-MI) call on President Obama to support House-passed bills that address issues he discussed in the State of the Union. Among these areas of common ground are federal research, job training, workplace rules, and natural gas. The address echoes a letter House Republican leaders sent to the president on Thursday.

The full audio of the address is here. Download MP3 for PODCAST

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT. Weekly Republican Address Cambridge, MD February 1, 2014

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI):

You may not have been thinking about it at the time. but on Tuesday, when the president was delivering the State of the Union, we were observing a tradition prescribed by our Constitution. All branches of government and all walks of life gathering round in the people’s House. It is democracy at its finest. But these blessings do come with responsibilities. The Constitution also requires the president and the Congress to heed the will of you, the people, and work together to carry out the business of the country.

So in that spirit, Republicans have identified four areas of bipartisan common ground that the president talked about in his speech.

Even better, these are all areas where the House has already acted and we can move the ball forward without delay.

We’d like to share these ideas with you now.

Representative Gregg Harper (R-MS): Well, for example, the president talked about supporting federally funded research to unleash more great discoveries. 



We agree. More must be done to prioritize the resources we have for the research we need.

The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act would eliminate public funding for political party conventions and instead fund pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health. 


We’re talking about everything from cancer, autism, and Fragile X Syndrome to the rarest genetic disorders.

No, we can’t fix it all, but surely creating a lifetime of hope and opportunity for our most vulnerable kids is more important than subsidizing week-long political pep rallies.

Representative Martha Roby (R-AL): We also want to do all we can to help hardworking Americans balance the demands of family and work.

Whether it's for taking a child to the doctor or taking care of aging parents, many Americans need more flexibility in their jobs.

The president talked some about this, saying we need to fix workplace rules from the “Mad Men” era.

I’m glad he raised this issue.

The Working Families Flexibility Act allows workers in the private sector the option of using their overtime toward paid time off – or comp time – if that's what they'd rather have.

Government employees already have this option, so why not give private sector workers the same choices?

Our bill would finally replace restrictions that, believe it or not, have been in place since 1938, long before Don Draper’s time.

Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN): Of course more must be done for the millions of Americans who are having such a hard time finding a job.

One thing the president talked about is ensuring workers can get the right skills for the right jobs.

We agree this is critical. As someone who worked at a community college in job training, I know our economy has changed, but the way we train our workers has not.

The SKILLS Act would consolidate the dozens of job training programs on the books and put the focus on programs that work. Programs that actually lead to jobs.

All while strengthening the vital relationship between our community colleges and job training programs.

I strongly believe this legislation would create an opportunity for every American to find a good paying job.

Chairman Upton: We not only want Americans working again – we want them building.

The president talked about how natural gas production is good for our economy and for our jobs.

We couldn’t agree more.

And in a bitterly cold winter, in my home state of Michigan and across much of the nation, where the demand for electricity is high, and heating bills even higher, the time is ripe for action.

But our infrastructure has not kept pace, which is why we must build an Architecture of Abundance to help create jobs today and keep energy affordable tomorrow.

The Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act cuts red tape to ensure that pipelines can be built. It connects natural gas supplies with new manufacturing plants. And it is another step towards a real all-of-the-above energy policy.

These four bills cover a lot of ground, I know, but they are all about making life work for more Americans. And again, they need only a vote in the Senate - because we’ve already passed them in the House - to make it to the president’s desk.

To help push things along, Republican leaders have sent a letter to President Obama laying out all this common ground, and we are eagerly awaiting his reply.

We believe that this can be a year of bipartisan action, a moment when speeches give way to solutions.

The American people never let us down, and we cannot let them down either.

Rand Paul response to President Obama State of the Union address FULL VIDEO

Republican National Convention Blog. Sen. Rand Paul delivered his response to President Obama's State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. Below is the video and excerpts of his speech.

TEXT EXCERPTS:

"Let me say from the outset, I will work with the President, Democrats, Independents and anyone else who wants to get people back to work and alleviate poverty in our country."

"In the marketplace, most small businesses fail. If government is to send money to certain people to create businesses, they will more often than not pick the wrong people and no jobs will be created." "Government spending doesn't work. It doesn't create jobs. Only the democracy of the marketplace can find those capable of creating jobs." "I believe in an America with a strong safety net, but one that doesn't suffocate our resolve to better ourselves and our country." "The ticket to the middle class is not higher taxes on the very businesses that must create the jobs."

"Economic growth will come when we lower taxes for everyone, especially people who own businesses and create jobs."

"We must choose a new way, a way that empowers the individual through education and responsibility to earn a place alongside their fellow Americans in the most prosperous nation ever conceived."

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Sen. Rand Paul Washington, DC 124 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC, 20510 Phone: 202-224-4343

Republican Address to the Nation State of the Union LIVE VIDEO

Republican Address to the Nation State of the Union LIVE VIDEO. 2014 House Republican State of the Union Response

House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) will deliver the Republican Address to the Nation. You can watch her address via live stream at SOTU.gop.gov. Learn more about Cathy in this brief Biography and biographical video.

Tune in beginning at 8:30pm ET on Tuesday, January 28th to watch the State of the Union and the Republican Address to the Nation, with exclusive graphics, charts and photos that can only be found here.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers Biography Biographical Video

Cathy McMorris Rodgers Biography Biographical Video. Republican National Convention Blog. House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) will deliver the Republican Address to the Nation. You can watch her address via live stream at SOTU.gop.gov. Learn more about Cathy in this brief biographical video.

Now in her fifth term representing Washington's Fifth District, McMorris Rodgers hails from a farming family with deep roots in Eastern Washington, where she grew up working with her parents and brother at their orchard and fruit stand in Kettle Falls. She was the first in her family to graduate from college and later earned an Executive MBA from the University of Washington.

After rising to become minority leader in Washington's State House, she was elected to Congress, where she serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and has been a member of Republican leadership since 2009. As Conference Chair, McMorris Rodgers is the fourth highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. She co-founded the bipartisan Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus and the Congressional Military Family Caucus. She is married to Brian Rodgers, a retired Navy Commander, and they have three children: Cole, 6; Grace, 3; and Brynn, 2 months.

Office of the Speaker H-232 The Capitol Washington D.C. 20515 P: (202) 225-0600 F: (202) 225-5117

Weekly Republican Address Roy Blunt 01/25/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

Republican National Convention Blog. Weekly Republican Address Roy Blunt 01/25/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO. In the Weekly Republican Address, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri says he'd like to see President Obama embrace real job creation solutions when he delivers his State of the Union address next week -- things such as approving construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline that would generate tens of thousands of new jobs at no cost to taxpayers.

Blunt says the President will have a "lot of explaining" to do in his State of the Union speech as to how more government, more spending, more taxes and more debt help out-of-work and poor Americans. "If all he has to offer is more of the same, or if he refuses to acknowledge that his own policies have failed to work -- the President is simply doing what many failed leaders have done before him: trying to set one group of Americans against another group of Americans," Blunt says. "We don't need more class warfare, and we don't need more interference from Washington.

No government program can replace what a good job means for the future of a family."

“Hi, I’m Senator Roy Blunt.

“In a few days, President Obama will deliver his sixth State of the Union address. According to recent reports, the President plans to use this speech as a kick off for his so-called ‘year of action.’ He intends to focus on income inequality leading up to the midterm elections this year.

“Well, the President’s right about at least one thing. Americans are hurting. Too many of the poorest Americans continue to suffer from stalled job creation, skyrocketing federal debt, burdensome regulations, and broken promises on health care reform. “What President Obama fails to acknowledge is that Americans are hurting as a result of his own policies. “More than 10 million people are still unemployed nationwide. Another 2.4 million people want to work, but have stopped looking for a job. And almost 8 million people have already been forced to take part-time jobs because they can’t find the full-time jobs they’d like to have.

“This administration’s agenda to create more government, more spending, more taxes, and more debt has created an inequality crisis of opportunity in our country. Those policies have been disproportionately hurtful to the poorest among us for the past five years.

“When he delivers his State of the Union address this week, the President has a lot of explaining to do.

“If all he has to offer is more of the same, or if he refuses to acknowledge that his own policies have failed to work – the President is simply doing what many failed leaders have done before him: trying to set one group of Americans against another group of Americans.

“We don’t need more class warfare, and we don’t need more interference from Washington. No government program can replace what a good job means for the future of a family.

“Republicans are ready to turn these policies around and launch a ‘year of action’ – starting with fixing our broken health care system.

“Every day, I hear from Missourians who are dealing with increased costs, lost coverage, finding a new doctor, part-time jobs thanks to the President's health care law.

“The administration has decided which parts of the law to follow and which parts to delay. The President himself was forced to take back his promise that people could keep their plan if they liked it.

“This isn’t the result of some website glitch. It’s a law that’s fundamentally flawed. And it’s hurting the very families who need affordable coverage and good-paying, full-time jobs the most.

“Let’s work together to replace a plan that won’t work with common-sense solutions. Solutions like buying insurance across state lines and fair tax treatment for every health care dollar.

“We can also help jump-start job creation for American workers by creating more economic certainty.

“No one wants to create a job or hire more people when they have needless uncertainties about what the future holds. That’s why we need to eliminate confusing and inefficient government regulations.

“I’ve joined Senator Angus King from Maine to introduce a bipartisan bill that does just that by streamlining, consolidating, and repealing costly and needless government regulations.

“We can also create economic opportunities for American workers by supporting increased domestic energy production. More American energy means more American jobs. The President’s own State Department acknowledged that the Keystone XL Pipeline – as just one example – would create tens of thousands of jobs at no cost to taxpayers.

“Now, this project’s been stalled for more than five years. It’s time for President Obama to approve truly shovel-ready projects like Keystone to encourage private sector job creation.

“More American energy means more American jobs; and not just the jobs to produce the energy, but also when you provide predictable utility bills and a dependable delivery system, you encourage more American manufacturing and more American technology jobs as well.

“Republicans in Congress are ready for a ‘year of action.’ Ready to enact a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda.

“The House has already passed a number of bills aimed at jump-starting the economy – bills that are stalled in the Senate that’s controlled by Democrats and Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“The President says he has a pen to sign executive orders and a phone to rally support. The Congress should insist that he find the Constitution and follow it.

“President Obama can join us to grow the nation’s economy and the nation’s jobs. Or he can continue pushing for more regulations, more taxes, higher utility bills, and health care turmoil – bad policies that hurt poor Americans the most.

“Mr. President, let’s use the ‘year of action’ to have a little less talk, and a lot more action.”

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy Republican leadership team drafting “principles” for overhauling immigration laws

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) In a Tuesday evening interview with Eyewitness News, McCarthy said he is in favor of granting legal status to those undocumented immigrants who qualify.

"The principles aren't written yet, but in my personal belief, I think it'll go with legal status that will allow you to work and pay taxes," "That's a decision that every Republican will have to make in laying out the principles, but that's my personal position," - House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy

"We are working on a standards or principles document," - House speaker John A. Boehner

RNC Message Commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus and RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day released the following message on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:

“Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we honor his legacy,” said RNC Chairman Priebus. “He dedicated his life to building a more just society where opportunity is afforded to all. In the face of often brutal opposition, he dared to fight against the injustices of segregation. Through brave actions and stirring words, he called on a nation to live up to its own ideals. We’re a better country thanks to Dr. King, but even as we remember his triumphs, we recognize that the work must continue. We must keep fighting for a country where no one is denied the opportunity to achieve their vision of the American Dream.”

“Today and every day we remember Dr. King and the civil rights leaders who made great sacrifices so that we could live in a better America,” said Co-Chairman Day. “We honor their legacy when we stand against prejudice, hate, and injustice. Let us remain committed to the causes of freedom, faith and equality.”

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Republican National Committee. 310 First Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 202-863-8500 www.gop.com

Weekly Republican Address Marlin Stutzman 01/18/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Marlin Stutzman 01/18/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO . WASHINGTON, DC – In this week’s Republican address, Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) calls on President Obama to help make this a year of bipartisan action by urging his party’s leaders in the Senate to take up House-passed jobs bills:

“Mr. President, the American people haven’t backed down and neither can we. Call on your party to give these jobs bills a vote. Let’s keep the focus on employment, not unemployment. Let’s do what Americans have always done and pull together towards better days and a more prosperous future.”

The full audio of the address is here. Download MP3 for PODCAST

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT: Remarks of Representative Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) Weekly Republican Address Washington, DC. January 18, 2014

Hello. I’m Congressman Marlin Stutzman, a fourth-generation farmer, and I have the honor of serving Indiana’s Third District.

Across the country, from small towns to inner cities, too many of our fellow citizens feel like the American Dream is out of reach. Our economy just isn’t creating enough jobs. More than ten million Americans are unemployed. Last month, roughly 350,000 Americans—a little more than the population of Tampa, Florida—stopped looking for work. Health care premiums have gone up. And millions of families have lost their insurance because of the new health care law. But Americans don’t need to read another jobs report to know that our economy is struggling. For the past five years, they’ve lived it. They’ve spent sleepless nights worrying about rent checks, car payments, and student loans. They’ve made that long walk to the mailbox, running through the numbers to cover the next round of bills. And after checking homework, they’ve combed through job listings.

This isn’t new. It’s daily life. But every morning these men and women wake up with a determination and a purpose. Like all of life’s best things, the pursuit of happiness isn’t easy.

That’s something I learned growing up on the farm and something Americans have always believed.

That’s why we don’t give up. It’s just not who we are.

The American people haven’t quit and neither have Republicans.

We’re listening and we’re trying to help any way that we can. In the House, we’ve passed dozens of good, common-sense jobs bills.

An all-of-the-above energy plan will get Americans back to work with immediate solutions like approving the Keystone pipeline and moving forward with offshore energy production.

The SKILLS Act rebuilds and updates our job training programs by cutting government overlap and equipping unemployed Americans with the tools they need.

We’ve upended Washington’s hurtful ‘regulate first, ask later’ approach to red tape and fought arbitrary regulations that restrict access to much-needed capital.

We restored bipartisan welfare reform that helped millions of Americans trade government checks for paychecks.

This is just a start.

The House has passed dozens of jobs bills, many with bipartisan support. Each one would help Americans get the jobs they deserve. Unfortunately, all of these proposals are gathering dust in the Senate.

President Obama’s latest slogan is a “year of action” but his administration and his party’s leaders in the Senate are sitting on the bench.

They seem to have surrendered to a new normal of high unemployment. Instead of standing shoulder to shoulder with out-of-work Americans, they’re focused on making it easier to live without a job. They’re focused on bigger government and less opportunity. More debt and fewer jobs.

That might sound good in Washington but back home that’s not the American Dream folks are chasing. It’s definitely not what an economic recovery looks like. And it’s not something we have to settle for.

Republicans hope the president is serious about making 2014 a “year of action.” It should start by giving each of these jobs bills an up-or-down vote in the Senate.

Mr. President, the American people haven’t backed down and neither can we. Call on your party to give these jobs bills a vote.

Let’s keep the focus on employment, not unemployment.

Let’s do what Americans have always done and pull together towards better days and a more prosperous future.

Thank you for listening.

Weekly Republican Address Thad Cochran 01/11/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Thad Cochran 01/11/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO. In the Weekly Republican Address, Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi says the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, isn't living up to the promises made by its supporters and he called for repealing the defunding the law because of its cost and complexity. "We should go back to the drawing board and craft commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will work better for all Americans, without spending billions of taxpayer dollars to support these failing policies," Cochran says. "In the spirit of the New Year, we should resolve to help make our health care system more user-friendly and affordable."

The full audio of the address is here. Download MP3 for PODCAST

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT:

“Hello. I’m Thad Cochran, United States Senator for Mississippi.

“The beginning of the New Year is a time when many Americans decide to make positive changes in their lives. It can be a time we decide to adopt healthier lifestyles or take a fresh look at the family budget. “Unfortunately, as this year begins many people are worried about how the so-called Affordable Care Act, also known as ‘Obamacare,’ is affecting both their health and personal finances. “Republicans in the Senate think we should repeal or defund the program because of its cost and complexity. “The Affordable Care Act was supposed to be fully operational by January 1 of this year. But, here we are two weeks into 2014, and the administration continues to struggle to implement the law’s burdensome mandates.

“The law is not living up to the promises made by its supporters, and it is questionable whether the law will meet its fundamental purpose -- to significantly expand health insurance coverage. Five million Americans have been kicked out of the health plans that they liked and were promised they could keep.

“Some of my constituents have discovered that the new insurance can cost twice as much as they had been paying. Many others are being denied access to doctors with whom they were perfectly happy.

“The administration’s enrollment numbers don’t paint a pretty picture. They don’t tell us how many of the enrollees have actually lost existing coverage and were forced into the exchanges; and the numbers don’t tell us whether applicants have actually paid their premiums and received coverage. There is ample reason to be skeptical that those numbers will improve substantially.

“If the law can’t keep its most basic promise, it should be repealed, and we’ve introduced legislation to do just that.

“We should go back to the drawing board and draft commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will work better for all Americans, without spending billions of taxpayer dollars to support these failing policies.

“In the spirit of the New Year, we should resolve to help make our health care system more user-friendly and affordable. Thank you."