Mitch McConnell Introduces Repeal of Health Spending Bill VIDEO

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday after introducing the House-passed repeal bill as an amendment:

“What we have today is an opportunity. An opportunity for the Majority to reevaluate what it has done on the issue of health care.

“And take another path.

“It’s no secret the American people don’t like the health bill that passed last year. And if you’ve talked with doctors or nurses or anybody else involved in health care over the last year, most of them will tell you they don’t like it either. “Employers big and small have been desperately trying to get the message across of how damaging this bill will be to their ability to create jobs. “They tell us the impact of this bill is severe.

“Higher taxes. Penalties for hiring workers. New regulations that already run to more than 6,000 pages. Mountains of new paperwork.

“All this at a time at a time when businesses want to create jobs, and millions of Americans are looking for one.

“Don’t take it from me. Here’s how the National Federation of Independent Businesses puts it:

`Small business owners everywhere,’ the NFIB has said, `are rightfully concerned that the unconstitutional new mandates, countless rules and new taxes in the healthcare law will devastate their business and their ability to create jobs.’

“And now, yesterday, a federal court in Florida found the crux of the law to be unconstitutional.

“So we have an opportunity today.

“For all those who supported the health law, it’s an opportunity to reevaluate your vote.

“To listen to your constituents who are desperately trying to get your attention.

“You can say, perhaps this was a mistake. We can do this better.

“Or you can continue to dismiss the majority of the people in this country as not knowing what they’re talking about.

“It’s not every day that you can get a second chance on a big decision after you know all the facts.

“Today is one of those days.

“For all of us who opposed the health bill: today we reaffirm our commitment to work a little harder to get it right.

“We can’t afford to get it wrong.

“So I urge all my colleagues to move beyond party affiliation.

“Just look at the facts before us.

“If everyone in this chamber evaluated this bill for what it is, we’d repeal it right now.

“And then we’d begin the work of achieving our mutual goal of delivering health care at a higher quality for lower costs.

“Let’s take this opportunity.” ####

VIDEO and IMAGE CREDIT: RepublicanLeader

TEXT CREDIT: U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Washington Office 361-A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2541 Fax: (202) 224-2499

Vern Buchanan H.R.478 Requires Terrorists to be Tried as Enemy Combatants, Not Common Criminals

Rep. Buchanan Seeks Cosponsors to the Military Tribunals for Terrorists Act Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-13) Bill Summary & Status 112th Congress (2011 - 2012) H.R.478 Washington, Jan 31 - This week, Rep. Buchanan introduced H.R. 478, the “Military Tribunals for Terrorists Act.” This legislation mandates that any terrorist who attacks the United States or its people be interrogated, prosecuted and tried in military court, not civilian court.

Using military tribunals to interrogate, prosecute, and sentence foreign terrorists who conspire, attempt, or attack the United States and its people is a far better way to handle these kinds of cases. Military tribunals protect U.S. intelligence from being revealed in open court.

Congressman Jim Jordan is Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC). ###

Requires Terrorists to be Tried as Enemy Combatants, Not Common Criminals

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13) introduced legislation requiring terrorists to be tried as enemy combatants, not common criminals. Buchanan’s bill, the “Military Tribunals for Terrorists Act” will mandate that any terrorist who attacks the United States or its people be interrogated, prosecuted and tried in military court, not civilian court.

“The American people are outraged that foreign terrorists who have declared war on America are being tried in civilian courts,”said Buchanan, Florida’s only member of the powerful Ways & Means Committee. “Terrorists with ties to known terror organizations such as al Qaeda should not be afforded the same constitutional protections as American citizens, nor should sensitive homeland security and intelligence information be publicized in open, civilian court proceedings.”

Buchanan’s bill, which he first introduced in the 111th session of Congress, is co-sponsored by three leading national security experts: the Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI); the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA); the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX).

“Foreign terrorists are just that, foreign citizens who terrorize the United States – not common criminals,” said U.S. Rep. Rogers. “They are not entitled to the same rights as U.S. citizens and should be treated as such. Congressman Buchanan’s bill ensures that they are treated as enemy combatants who are interrogated for valuable intelligence and tried in military tribunals, not U.S. civilian courts.”

McKeon said, “Rep. Buchanan’s efforts will make our country safer. Terrorists who are engaged in a war against America must be treated as enemy combatants—not common criminals—and should be prosecuted in accordance with the laws of warfare.”

Chairman Smith added: “The first Gitmo detainee trial in civilian courts was a near disaster. Though Ahmed Ghailani was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies, he was only convicted of one count out of 285 charges. And the case isn’t over yet. Because Ghailani was acquitted of terrorism and murder charges, his attorneys will try to overturn the conspiracy verdict on appeal.

“Terrorists are enemy combatants, not common criminals. They commit acts of war against the American people, not crimes. They should be tried at military commissions, not in civilian courts where they have access to the same rights as U.S. citizens. The Military Tribunals for Terrorists Act makes sure that foreign terrorists are tried in military tribunals, not civilian courts. Military tribunals have served the nation well since the Revolutionary War and we should continue to use them.”

“Using military tribunals to interrogate, prosecute, and sentence foreign terrorists who conspire, attempt, or attack the United States and its people is a far better way to handle these kinds of sensitive matters,” Buchanan said. “Military tribunals protect U.S. intelligence sources and methods from being revealed in open court.”

The decision to prosecute these terrorists in civilian court was made by the Attorney General and the Justice Department. Buchanan’s bill, the “Military Tribunals for Terrorists Act”, would take away the discretion to try terrorists in civilian court and mandate that they always be treated as enemy combatants and brought before a military tribunal.

Bill Summary & Status 112th Congress (2011 - 2012) H.R.478

IMAGE CREDIT: VernBuchanan

TEXT CREDIT: House Republican Study Committee 1524 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 226-9717 Fax: (202) 226-1633 rsc@mail.house.gov

TEXT CREDIT: buchanan.house.gov Washington D.C. Office • 221 Cannon HOB • Washington, D.C. 20515 • Phone: (202) 225-5015 • Fax: (202) 226-0828 •