Michele Bachmann Says the Democrat Health Care Bill is Far From Settled VIDEO

All Americans should have access to quality, affordable health care. Sadly, there are more than 42 million Americans without health care coverage. Many of these individuals find health insurance to be unattainable, unavailable, and unaffordable. With health care costs rising and unemployment escalating, it is more important than ever to address the issue of the uninsured.

Policies that will increase competition and individual choice in the healthcare marketplace are essential to achieving greater efficiency and affordability for everyone. My bipartisan legislation, H.R. 502, the Health Care Freedom of Choice Act, would make medical expenses, including health care premiums, 100% tax-deductible for all individuals. Under current law, health insurance is tax-free for those who receive it through their employers. My bill would give this same tax benefit to people who buy their own health insurance or pay for medical care “out-of-pocket.” This would give all Americans the freedom to purchase the health plan of their choice, to pick their preferred doctors and to make their own medical decisions.

Additionally, I support the expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) which currently allow Americans to save a limited amount of money for medical expenses tax-free. I also advocate the creation of Association Health Plans (AHPs), which would allow small businesses to band together through trade associations to purchase health insurance for their employees at a lower cost. Finally, the flood of frivolous lawsuits in our nation must be addressed to curb the rising cost of health care. Frivolous lawsuits impose extremely high costs on physicians, causing doctors to abandon certain areas of practice or even leave certain regions, making health care less accessible.

As your representative, I will continue to fight for competitive reforms designed to lower costs, increase accessibility and improve our country’s overall health care system.

TEXT CREDIT: Congresswoman Michele Bachmann
VIDEO CREDIT: RepublicanStudyComm

Trade Agreements Create More American Jobs Without Increasing the Deficit

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement after the House voted to extend the Generalized System of Preferences and the Andean Trade Preferences Act:

“Today’s vote to extend the Generalized System of Preferences and the Andean Trade Preferences Act should serve as a reminder that ratifying the pending Colombia and Panama Trade Promotion Agreements would immediately create more American jobs without increasing the federal deficit. Under these two trade preference programs, many Colombian and Panamanian goods enter the United States free from tariffs and duties, but American exports to Colombia and Panama are still heavily taxed. The free trade agreements will end those one-sided costs, making it easier for American farmers and manufacturers to sell U.S. products there. As President Obama recently noted, increasing American exports is a key to creating new American jobs, and a level playing field with Colombia and Panama would increase American exports by more than $1 billion.

“That having been said, I am troubled by the fact that this legislation did not do enough to hold one of the ATPA countries, Ecuador, accountable for its failure to respect international law. Expanding trade can help create jobs, but only if our trade partners play by the rules.” #####

Trade Agreements Create More American Jobs Without Increasing the Deficit | Republican Leader John Boehner

Obama Says, 'Let There Be Loans!' Forgets That’s How This All Started

Congressman Price Joins Republican Study Committee Members to Introduce the Economic Recovery Act

Washington, Dec 14 - A visit to the White House is usually an exciting affair. Today, however, the bank CEOs who are meeting with President Obama might rather be somewhere else. After all, it’s not every day the leader of the free world blames you for a problem and then tells you to do the exact same thing that caused the problem. “Major Wall Street players say they are caught between the urging of the White House to lend and the equally forceful guidance from federal regulators not to lend to uncreditworthy borrowers.

It was willy-nilly lending to unqualified subprime mortgage customers, after all, that triggered the global economic meltdown.” (Politico, 12/13/09)

That’s a facepalm-worthy paragraph if ever there was one.

But these “willy-nilly” loans that helped bring down the economy didn’t appear out of nowhere. So where’d they come from? For the last century, banks had known that making these risky loans was, well, too risky. So what changed? You’ll have to pardon us for not buying the Obama narrative that it was all greed. Last we checked greed predates capitalism.

The actual series of events is too important not to recount. Here’s how to bring down the economy in 4 steps.

Step 1: Define a spectacularly unrealistic social goal – In recent years, Democrats in Congress (Obama notably included) made it a party plank that every American has an inalienable right to a home mortgage.

Step 2: Slander the obvious – To create some political maneuvering room, the appropriate response to anyone pointing out that not all people can afford to own their own home was to decry them as hating the poor.

Step 3: Concoct a way to grease the skids – To move this agenda along, they needed a way for financial institutions to lend to risky borrowers without having to worry about, you know – the risk. Of course, taxpayers will back it up!

Step 4: Put it into action – So they gave the government-created monsters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac free reign to gobble up all the dubious loans in the secondary market. This way the implicit guarantee of the government served as a clearinghouse for bad assets.

And you know the rest of the story: bad lending leads to foreclosures leads to economic collapse leads to Obama scapegoating the banks he enabled with federal policies and tax dollars. The truth is if Democrats in Washington hadn’t created a massive taxpayer-backed landfill where banks could dump these high-risk loans, the banks wouldn’t have loaned the money in the first place. But who cares about pinpointing actual problems. Let’s bash some bankers!!

Welcome to the political economy. Once again, don’t worry about doing your due diligence to determine borrower risk, proper interest rates, yield, spread, terms. The White House says lend, you lend. Putting politicians in charge will surely work much better this time. ###

Republican Study Committee (RSC) - The Caucus of House Conservatives Congressman Tom Price is Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC).

Congressman Tom Price, Washington, DC Office | 424 Cannon House Office Building | Washington DC 20515 phone: 202-225-4501 | fax: 202-225-4656

Sue Lowden Harry Reid's Broken Promises VIDEO

Senator Reid has once again turned his back on Nevadans and is taking marching orders from his Washington allies like MoveOn.org and Nancy Pelosi. Their plan is not reform, rather it is push for another massive expansion of government control over our lives.

Senator Reid + Political Desperation = More Embarrassment

‘The most powerful senator in Nevada history’ continues with pattern of insults on his own constituents

LOWDEN CALLS FOR AN APOLOGY FROM SENATOR REID

(Las Vegas, NV) – Today, upon learning that Senator Reid compared opponents of his $2.5 trillion health care experiment bill to those who supported slavery, Nevada businesswoman and former State Senator Sue Lowden issued the following statement:

“Nevadans need jobs, not insults from our own Senator. It seems that with the more power and prestige that Senator Reid gains in Washington, the more insulting he gets towards those of us back home. Senator Reid has told us that tourists smell bad when they visit him in the Capitol. He called Nevadans attending town hall meetings ‘evil mongers’ – even as he ducked doing a single town hall meeting himself. Now, he compares the majority of Nevadans opposing his government-run health care scheme proponents of slavery. When you’ve been in Washington for three decades, and voters back home start losing favor with your failed policies, it probably doesn’t help to start insulting them. Nevadans deserve better, and Senator Reid should apologize – once again – for his unfortunate comments about our citizens.”

VIDEO CREDIT: suelowden
TEXT CREDIT: Sue Lowden for US Senate

Congressman Marsha Blackburn Weekly Republican Address 12/12/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Congressman Marsha Blackburn Weekly Republican Address 12/12/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Weekly Republican Remarks by Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, as provided by the Republican National Committee

Marsha Blackburn

Hi, I’m Congressman Marsha Blackburn, and I have the great honor of representing Tennessee’s Seventh District. Next week, I and a number of my Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives will head to Copenhagen – Denmark’s capital city – where diplomats and politicians from around the world have gathered in an attempt to try to reach an international, UN-brokered agreement on climate change. If President Obama has his way, the Copenhagen conference will produce mandatory emissions limits that would destroy millions of American jobs and damage our economic competitiveness for decades to come.

To comply with this UN-brokered agreement, Washington Democrats want to impose a ‘cap-and-trade’ national energy tax, a bureaucratic nightmare that would make households, small businesses and family farms pay higher prices for electricity, gasoline, food and virtually every product made in America. This legislation is currently making its way through the Senate after passing the House of Representatives in June.

President Obama himself has said that as a result of this national energy tax, electricity prices would, and I quote, ‘necessarily skyrocket.’ His own Department of Energy has determined that millions of jobs would be lost.

Since Democrats in Congress have failed to get a cap and trade bill to the President’s desk ahead of the Copenhagen Summit, President Obama took unilateral action this week to pile more regulation on the backs of families and small businesses in the name of combating global warming.

On Monday the President’s EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, took the first step toward imposing costly new regulations on businesses for emitting carbon. My bill, H.R. 391 would stop the EPA.

Just think of what will happen to small businesses and manufacturers hit with these skyrocketing energy bills, especially when nations like India and China don’t agree to these mandatory emissions limits.

With Americans already facing double-digit unemployment, there could not be a worse time to unilaterally disarm our engines of job creation and economic growth.

In fact, small businesses are already feeling anxiety and holding off on hiring due to the prospect of this national energy tax, a government takeover of health care, and other costly policies Democrats have in the works.

These aren’t issues President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Democrats in Congress will talk about when they are in Copenhagen, but Republicans will.

Also absent from the discussion in Copenhagen is the Climategate scandal. Recently leaked e-mails reveal climate scientists have a long track record of manipulating data to hide scientific evidence that contradicts the global warming establishment.

And why?

To bully citizens and lawmakers into supporting job-killing energy tax schemes. This scandal raises serious questions about Democrats’ climate control plans, questions that deserve a transparent investigation – not a rush to judgment – by the bureaucrats in Copenhagen.

Republicans are all for clean water, clean air, and clean energy. We just don't think we have to tax people out of house and home to get there. That’s why we have proposed an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy that says, let’s put every clean, responsible energy option on the table so we can create jobs, ease the strain on family budgets, and clean up our environment.

This is one of a series of common-sense solutions Republicans have proposed to empower families and small businesses while Democrats have continued to rely on more spending, more regulation and more government to try and solve every problem.

Nothing sums this up more than the trillion-dollar ‘stimulus’ of borrowing and spending that has failed to create jobs ‘immediately’ and keeps unemployment below eight percent as promised. Instead, more than three million Americans have lost their jobs and unemployment has risen to double-digits.

Given the opportunity to try a new approach, President Obama has instead proposed more of the same ‘stimulus’ spending paid for by borrowing from our children and grandchildren.

It’s time for Washington to learn the hard lesson that families already know: growing debt only cripples freedom and spending more money than you have is no plan for prosperity. Only Republicans have provided a fiscally responsible blueprint for helping families and small businesses weather this economic crisis and get back up on their feet. Thank you for listening. ###

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor Endorses Frank Guinta

Frank and Morgan Guinta, Uploaded on September 11, 2009, by guintaforcongress All rights reserved

"This morning Team Guinta announced that the number two Republican in the US House of Representatives Eric Cantor (R-VA) has endorsed outgoing Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta in his bid to replace Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District. This is good for Team Guinta as they can now claim one of US House’s emerging leaders as a supporter with significant DC connections."

Friends of Frank Guinta, P.O. Box 877, Manchester, NH 03105 info@teamguinta.com - (603) 305-7194

Andy Harris Argues for REAL Health Care Reform VIDEO

Maryland Senator and Hopkins physician Andy Harris explains the need for REAL healthcare reform

Health care: As a physician, I realize that we have problems with the health care insurance system. The answer to the ever-rising cost of insurance is not the expansion of government-run or government-mandated insurance – but, instead, bringing common-sense solutions like increased competition, price transparency, and meaningful medical malpractice liability reform.

TEXT: by Andy Harris for Congress

Scott Brown releases tax policy

Uploaded on December 6, 2009 by State Senator Scott Brown All rights reserved

Giving Taxpayers More of Their Hard-Earned Money will Stimulate our Flagging Economy Like President Kennedy, Senator Brown supports efforts to reduce the tax burden on Americans. In 1962, President Kennedy called for an across-the-board tax cut on individuals and businesses to get the economy moving again. Senator Brown agrees with this tax policy and believes it will have immediate effects on entrepreneurship, investment, and small businesses. Senator Brown understands that lower tax rates improve the incentives facing individuals and businesses to work, invest, take risks, and capitalize on new opportunities to make their lives better.

During his tenure in the Massachusetts Statehouse, Senator Brown has been a fiscal watchdog fighting higher taxes and wasteful spending.

Senator Brown would vote to extend the 2001 and 2003 Federal tax cuts, currently set to expire in 2010. These tax cuts provided relief for all by cutting taxes on income, capital gains and dividends, doubling the child care credit, eliminating the marriage penalty and phasing out the death tax. Without an extension, many Americans will see a massive tax increase in 2011. Senator Brown understands that taxes need to be kept low so people can keep more of their money to spend or to save as they choose, especially now when many families are hurting.

Senator Brown proposes lowering the corporate tax rate. Senator Brown recognizes that American companies must stay competitive to allow our economy to remain the job-creating engine and economic driver of the world. At 39 percent, the United States is tied with Japan for the world’s highest corporate tax rate. Making America’s business environment competitive with the rest of the world will attract capital, encourage investment and create new jobs.

Senator Brown supports lower taxes for individuals and families. Reducing marginal tax rates across the board will reward productivity and allow people to keep more of their own money. By leaving more money in the economy for consumption and investment, the private sector will respond with more jobs and higher salaries for workers.

Senator Brown has signed the no-tax pledge. Senator Brown is the only candidate in the race who has signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge not to raise taxes on the American people.

Scott Brown for U.S. Senate Committee. 200 Reservoir Street, Needham, MA 02494 | info@brownforussenate.com | 781-444-0200

Jim Sensenbrenner Dr. Holdren Climategate VIDEO

Ranking Member Sensenbrenner continues his questioning of Dr. Holdren into Climategate.

Sensenbrenner Speaks with Jay Weber on Climategate

Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner spoke with radio host Jay Weber this morning about Climategate.

Some highlights include:

On Chairman Markey Not Hearing a Skeptic as a Witness

“I asked him to call a hearing before the Copenhagen Conference heats up next week, under the rules that allow the minority party to call for a day of witnesses, where I would select the witnesses, and so far he hasn’t responded and I’m not holding my breath.”

On Democrats Burying the Truth

“This is really an inconvenient truth. The President’s science advisor, who is a former Harvard professor named Holdren, is involved in the email scandals and covering up the fact that data has been lost, the fact that contrary opinions to the global warming crowd has been squeezed out of scientific journals – and as a matter of fact – the editor of one scientific journal who published contrary data has been fired. Now this is an international conspiracy. Before we end up transferring trillions of dollars from the pocketbook of American ratepayers to China and India – which is what Al Gore’s global warming treaty proposes to do – then we ought to get to the bottom of this and find out whether this is really science or whether this is a bunch of people with a political agenda that’s cooked the books.”

“This should not be political science, but should be real science.”

On the long-term effect of Climategate

“It depends on how deep the scandal is. All of the raw data from the 70s and 80s that were put into the computers at the British University to project what was going to happen 50 years from now has been inconveniently lost. We see in these emails that ended up being on the Internet that the people who say that there’s man-made global warming end up saying that this data is contrary and we’ve actually had global cooling in the last ten years.”

“They’ve use the word ‘trick’ to describe how they are synthesizing the data that they have. Honestly, if we’re talking about trillions of dollars and the health of the American economy and jobs at stake, we better make sure we’re not tricked.”

Contact: Wendy Riemann (202) 225-5101 Washington, Dec 7

Health Care Reform Bill Is a Job-Killer VIDEO

Business leaders join Republican senators to emphasize that taxes in Democrats’ health care reform bill would seriously damage small businesses, who are responsible for a majority of the job creation in this country.

Republican.Senate.Gov

Scott Brown Primary Election Night Remarks (Acceptance Speech) 12-08-09 VIDEO TEXT

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT: Thank you very much. With tonight's victory, we are halfway there -- and now the real race begins!

Scott with his wife Gail and their two daughters, Ayla, a student at Boston College, and Arianna, a student at Syracuse University. Image Uploaded on December 6, 2009 by State Senator Scott Brown All Rights Reserved

In 42 days, the voters of this great commonwealth will have a choice, and tonight that choice became a lot clearer. We can send another partisan placeholder to the United States Senate, or we can try something new: We can elect an independent voice for all of Massachusetts -- and that's the United States Senator I promise to be. Whatever the usual insiders and experts have to say about this election, I say this: Never underestimate the independent spirit of Massachusetts.

A year has passed since one-party rule came to Washington, and the last thing we need is more of it. When the federal government spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much, the last thing we need in the United States Senate is another rubber stamp.

We're the only state in this nation about to elect a U.S. senator. The choice we make will send a powerful message to the big-spenders in Washington, and just in time: They need to quit expanding our government and defending wasteful spending, and start expanding this economy and defending our jobs.

For my fellow citizens watching at home, my name is Scott Brown. I'm the Republican in the race. You may not have heard of me before now because all the focus has been on the other side where the candidates were competing for title of ‘most liberal.’

In this upcoming election, if you want business as usual, with higher taxes, more spending and not having a voice in Washington, then vote for my opponent. But if you want real change on January 19th, and if you want somebody who will fight to lower your taxes, keep more money in your pockets, and bring common sense back to Washington DC, then join with me and make a real difference.

To everyone in this room, your support throughout this primary has meant an awful lot to me. I congratulate my opponent, Jack Robinson, for the campaign he ran. He is a good man, and I welcome his support in the cause we now serve together.

I have learned a lot as I've traveled throughout Massachusetts these past several months. I had the luxury of not being followed by a lot of cameras and media, so I was able to actually listen to what people were telling me.

What I learned is that people are worried about what will happen to them and their families in the current economic crisis.

They want to know why the only new jobs that have been created are government jobs.

They also want to know why, at a time when their family's income is going down, their taxes are going up.

The people I have spoken with don't vote for a particular party, they vote for ideas and for convictions. They want a United States Senator who answers to conscience and to the people, and not just to the same old political machine that acts like it owns our State. The machine politicians and the special interests do not own Massachusetts anymore, and they're going to find that out on January 19th.

These are serious and difficult times for the United States, and I don't pretend to have all the answers. But I know what I believe, and I will do all that I can to help make our country strong and prosperous once again.

I don't have all the advantages in this race, and that's fine by me. I don't come from a life of advantage, and in many ways I'm grateful for that. It has taught me to work harder, and to better appreciate the opportunities of our state and our country. I am blessed to have a loving family, good friends and neighbors, and to call Massachusetts my home -- and I wouldn't trade those for anything.

I'm running because I want to leave our children and grandchildren an America that is as strong and vibrant as the one we knew growing up. My friends, our nation is at a crossroads, with difficult challenges to meet and tough decisions to make.

More of our people are unemployed today than ever before in American history. Public debt has reached 12 trillion dollars and counting, and the DC politicians want to borrow trillions more. Terrorists want to strike our country again, and they will do so if we lose our resolve and let down our guard. We have fighting forces in two theaters of war, and those men and women need the uncompromising support of the United States Congress.

On all of the great issues facing America, you are entitled to know the convictions that each candidate holds, and I have stated mine:

-- I believe in limited government, and in the boundless power of the free market to create jobs and wealth for our people.

-- I believe it is a betrayal of duty to leave the next generation with massive debts, and they deserve better than that from us.

-- I believe that one-party power breeds corruption and arrogance, and it's time we open things up in the state of Massachusetts.

I believe failure should be admitted in Washington, and not repeated. It's time to admit that while the nearly trillion-dollar stimulus had the best of intentions, it failed to create one new job. We shouldn’t make the mistake of passing yet another stimulus that adds to the debt and does nothing for American workers.

My plan for the economy is simple - an across the board tax cut for families and businesses that will increase investment and lead to immediate new job growth. In the tradition of President John F. Kennedy, we should stimulate the American economy with a broad based tax cut for the American people.

Like everyone else, I want to see more Americans with good health care coverage. I like what we did in Massachusetts. It’s not perfect, but nearly everyone is now covered by a private insurance policy -- not a government policy. I hope other states follow our example. You need to understand that the health care bill under discussion in Washington is not good for Massachusetts. I fear that the Government option in the bill would soon be the ONLY option.

It will raise taxes, increase spending, and if you are a senior and receive Medicare, it will lead to a half a trillion dollars in cuts in your health care.

Instead of restricting health care for elders -- we need to start restricting the size and intrusiveness of government.

I want to see a cleaner environment, and the way to get there is through a comprehensive approach. That would be by the development of new energy sources that are not powered only by fossil fuels. That means conservation, in addition to the development of more wind, solar, hydroelectric and - yes - more nuclear power. One thing I will not do, however, is support a cap and trade program that will cause energy prices to spike and chase businesses out of Massachusetts and cost individual families more money just to heat their homes and turn on their lights. The cap and trade bill moving its way through Congress will kill jobs at a time when our economy is on the brink. To me that is unacceptable. As your United States Senator, I will make 'jobs' job number one.

As an attorney, I believe that our Constitution and laws exist to protect this nation -- they do not grant rights and privileges to enemies in wartime. In dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them.

I want to see a strong military that will protect our interests around the world. I proudly serve as a Lieutenant Colonel and 30-year member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, and during that time I've witnessed the many sacrifices made by patriotic Americans who fight to defend our freedoms. I salute the President for supporting our troops and their mission, and I will work with him to ensure that when they return home in victory they are given all the services that a grateful nation can provide.

Right now in Washington, we have 10 congressmen and two senators who all vote the same way, they’re beholden to the same special interests and when they vote, the first thing they ask is how am I going to be rated on the special interest report card. Their idea of a debate is not to argue over whether to raise taxes, but how high to raise them. If change is what we have in mind, do we really need another robot who's programmed to vote like the rest of our delegation? When I take a vote, the first thing I am going to ask is, is this bill good for Massachusetts. You will be my special interest.

My entire career has been spent fighting to keep taxes low, cut out wasteful spending and keep government in check.

As your next US Senator, I will always speak my mind and act in the best interests of the people I represent. I don’t take my orders from either of the political parties, or from Harry Reid, or Deval Patrick, or the labor bosses. I plan to take my orders from you, the people who sent me to Washington DC to make a difference.

The political machine in this state is going to pull out all the stops to keep their hands on this Senate seat. Rest assured it will be me against the machine. You’re going to see all the special interests line up with my opponent and the last thing they want is someone coming in and changing the way business is done on Capital Hill.

They say I’m the long shot, and if the same old powers-that-be get to decide this election, I guess that's right. But I'm betting that a new day is coming in Massachusetts. I am here in the name of every independent-thinking citizen, whether they be Democrat, unenrolled-independent or Republican, to take on one-party rule, and the Beacon Hill bosses, and their machine, and their candidate … and with your help I intend to win.

Please give me your vote on January 19th. Will you join me in this fight? I can’t do it alone. Thank you very much and let’s get to work. ###

Scott Brown for U.S. Senate Committee. 200 Reservoir Street, Needham, MA 02494 | info@brownforussenate.com | 781-444-0200

Marco Rubio Comments on President Obama’s Jobs Summit

Uploaded by Marco Rubio on 2 Jul 09, 11.12AM PST. © All rights reserved.

Miami, FL – U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio today released the following statement regarding President Obama’s Jobs Summit: “With America’s unemployment at 10.2 percent and Florida’s at a 34-year high, it’s clear the $787 billion stimulus has failed to get Americans back to work as President Obama, the Democrat Congress and Governor Crist promised. Their failed policies have had devastating consequences for the millions of Americans who are out of work.

“Today’s jobs summit reminds us that governing by photo-op and showmanship is no substitute for sound policy. True economic development and job creation begins by empowering small businessmen and women, cutting government red tape, reducing the anxiety Americans feel about runaway Washington spending, and pursuing bold and far-reaching tax reform. Growing government through the stimulus and other liberal initiatives simply cannot replace or compete with the private sector’s limitless potential to create jobs and prosperity.

“If the President, congressional Democrats and their allies are serious about job creation, they should abandon their current path of job-killing government takeovers of health care, cap-and-trade and even another round of wasteful stimulus spending. Instead, they should enact tax policies that encourage private sector investment, work to open new markets for American goods, and salvage what’s left of unused stimulus funds by redirecting them towards the entrepreneurs and risk-takers who built our economy in the first place.”

Rubio Comments on President Obama’s Jobs Summit « Marco Rubio 2010

Pat Toomey on President Obama's Visit Jobs and the Economy VIDEO

Pat Toomey Press Conference on President Obama's Visit Jobs and the Economy

There is no more important issue today than the economic recession and the rising unemployment rate. All across the Commonwealth, hard-working Pennsylvanians are struggling to make ends meet and provide for their families.

But the approach taken by politicians in Washington is not working. Government bureaucrats cannot create sustainable jobs. When they try to create jobs by spending taxpayer dollars, they merely take money out of the private sector that would be better spent in the marketplace by the people who earned it.

Worse, the current Congress is favoring policies that actually discourage job growth. Instead of encouraging businesses to hire new employees, Washington is threatening new and heavy costs and burdens on businesses. If these policies are enacted, Pennsylvania businesses won’t be able to hire new employees and may even be forced to lay off workers to survive.

Instead, the government should be making it less expensive and easier for businesses to hire people. It can do this by cutting taxes and decreasing regulation. For example, if we rescind the stimulus and cut both employees’ and employers’ payroll taxes instead, every worker would see an immediate increase in their take home pay and it would be less expensive for businesses to hire new workers. If we eliminated the tax on capital gains and lowered the tax on businesses, it would make U.S. companies more competitive, and lead to major job growth.

Toomey for Senate 484-809-7994 | info@toomeyforsenate.com | 3440 Hamilton BLVD, Allentown, PA 18103.

Sarah Palin Mr. President: Boycott Copenhagen; Investigate Your Climate Change 'Experts'

The president’s decision to attend the international climate conference in Copenhagen needs to be reconsidered in light of the unfolding Climategate scandal. The leaked e-mails involved in Climategate expose the unscientific behavior of leading climate scientists who deliberately destroyed records to block information requests, manipulated data to “hide the decline” in global temperatures, and conspired to silence the critics of man-made global warming. I support Senator James Inhofe’s call for a full investigation into this scandal. Because it involves many of the same personalities and entities behind the Copenhagen conference, Climategate calls into question many of the proposals being pushed there, including anything that would lead to a cap and tax plan.

Policy should be based on sound science, not snake oil. I took a stand against such snake oil science when I sued the federal government over its decision to list the polar bear as an endangered species despite the fact that the polar bear population has increased. I’ve never denied the reality of climate change; in fact, I was the first governor to create a subcabinet position to deal specifically with the issue. I saw the impact of changing weather patterns firsthand while serving as governor of our only Arctic state. But while we recognize the effects of changing water levels, erosion patterns, and glacial ice melt, we cannot primarily blame man’s activities for the earth’s cyclical weather changes. The drastic economic measures being pushed by dogmatic environmentalists won’t change the weather, but will dramatically change our economy for the worse.

Policy decisions require real science and real solutions, not junk science and doomsday scare tactics pushed by an environmental priesthood that capitalizes on the public’s worry and makes them feel that owning an SUV is a “sin” against the planet. In his inaugural address, President Obama declared his intention to “restore science to its rightful place.” Boycotting Copenhagen while this scandal is thoroughly investigated would send a strong message that the United States government will not be a party to fraudulent scientific practices. Saying no to Copenhagen and cap and tax are first steps in “restoring science to its rightful place.”

- Sarah Palin

Carly Fiorina Weekly Republican Address 12/05/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Carly Fiorina Weekly Republican Address 12/05/09 VIDEO FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Remarks by Carly Fiorina, California Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, as provided by the Senate Republican Communications Center.

Hello. This is Carly Fiorina. And today I’d like to speak to you as one of the more than two and a half million women in America who have been diagnosed with breast cancer — and beaten it.

Like everyone else who’s diagnosed with cancer, I never thought it would happen to me. I was fit, healthy, and active. I even got regular check-ups. But earlier this year, just two weeks after a clear mammogram, I discovered a lump through a self-exam.
Soon after that came the diagnosis, the surgery, the long and difficult treatment regimen, and the painful experience of wondering whether I would make it, whether I’d pull through.

I’m fortunate to live near one of the greatest cancer centers in the world. I’m fortunate to have the incredible love and support of family and friends.

And, my diagnosis gave me time to think about my future — because one of the things that happens when you have to face your fears, including the fear of dying, is that you can face your future with renewed hope and enthusiasm.
My doctors tell me I have won my battle with cancer. And I realize that this makes me one of the lucky ones. Last year alone, more than 40,000 Americans died from breast cancer. Aside from lung cancer, breast cancer is the most fatal form of cancer for American women. Nearly 200,000 new cases were reported last year alone.

That’s why a recent recommendation on mammograms by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government-run panel of health care professionals that makes recommendations on prevention, struck such a nerve.

The task force did not include an oncologist or a radiologist, in other words, cancer experts did not develop this recommendation. They said that most women under 50 don’t need regular mammograms and that women over 50 should only get them every other year. And yet we all know that the chances of surviving cancer are greater the earlier it’s detected. If I’d followed this new recommendation and waited another two years, I’m not sure I’d be alive today.
What’s more this task force was explicitly asked to focus on costs, not just prevention. As it turned out, costs were a significant factor in this recommendation. Will a bureaucrat determine that my life isn't worth saving?

All this takes on even greater urgency in the midst of the ongoing health care debate in Washington. We wonder if we are heading down a path where the federal government will at first suggest and then mandate new standards for prevention and treatment. Do we really want government bureaucrats rather than doctors dictating how we prevent and treat something like breast cancer?

The response we’ve gotten to these questions has been less than encouraging. In the face of a national outcry over the recent task force recommendations, the Secretary of Health and Human Services said the Preventive Services Task Force doesn’t set federal policy. The real question, though, is whether bodies like this would set policy under the $2.5 trillion, 2,074-page plan that’s now making its way through Congress?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question isn’t encouraging either. The health care bill now being debated in the Senate explicitly empowers this very task force to influence future coverage and preventive care. Section 4105, for example, authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deny payment for prevention services the task force recommends against.

Another section requires every health plan in America to cover task force recommended preventive services. In fact, there are more than a dozen examples in the bill where this task force is empowered to influence care.
There is a reason American women with breast cancer have a higher survival rate than women in countries with government-run health care. Unlike those countries, our government doesn’t dictate what prevention and treatments women can get.

While some defend the idea of a government task force, my experience with cancer tells me it’s wrong. Cutting down on mammograms might save the government some money that it will then spend on something else. But it won’t save lives. And isn’t that what health care reform was supposed to be all about?

This is just one in many examples of serious problems with this healthcare reform legislation. Rather than remaking the entire national healthcare system at the cost of higher taxes and exploding deficits, we should build on what works, such as expanding access to integrated care and to community clinics that will give those most in need appropriate care at a reasonable price.

Congress should reform medical malpractice to match what we have in California where frivolous lawsuits are a thing of the past. We should permit consumers to purchase health insurance from any company in the country, expanding consumer choice and driving down cost and unnecessary mandates.

People want to know that their care will stay where it belongs: in the hands of doctors and patients. Unfortunately, the path Congress is on in this debate is not giving us the confidence that it will. Thank you. ###

Mark Kirk Stop Al Qaeda Terrorists From Coming to Illinois VIDEO

Kirk Statement on Resignation of Defense Official Responsible For Gitmo Move to Thomson.

Congressman Mark Kirk

NORTHBROOK, Ill. - U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk released the following statement following news that the defense official charged with moving the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to Thomson, Illinois – Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Detainee Policy Phillip Carter – unexpectedly resigned on Friday. “Last Thursday, members of the Illinois congressional delegation submitted specific security and legal questions to the Secretary of Defense on issues surrounding the proposed military detention of Al Qaeda detainees on U.S. soil. We now understand that the key official responsible for answering our questions resigned the following day. Phillip Carter’s resignation raises further questions.

“Key questions for Illinois remain, including:

Q. Where and how will the civilian trials/military commissions of the estimated 40 detainees be held and secured?

Q. Under what legal authority will another estimated 75 non-POW detainees be held without trial or commission?

Q. How will the families of judges and prosecutors be protected?

Q. Where will surgery or intensive care be offered -- Mercy (9 miles away), Morrison (13 miles away) or CGH Medical Center (21 miles away)?

“This is the second major Administration official in charge of GITMO matters to resign. This month, the White House Counsel, Greg Craig, was let go after the President reversed positions on the release of DoD photos, the use of military commissions and the incarceration of 75 detainees without trial or commission. Secretary Carter was the key Obama Administration official in charge of bringing Guantanamo detainees to Illinois. He led the briefings in Thomson. The Administration is left with many unanswered questions and no key officials to advance this flawed proposal.

“Congressional leaders cannot advance the appropriations bill for the Department of Justice because they fear they will lose on a motion to block the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the U.S. At the moment, it appears the Administration lacks key officials or congressional votes to back their proposal.” ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Aaron Winters, 847-940-0202, 847-691-6744 (cell) Susan Kuczka: 847-940-0202, 847-612-1665 (cell)

Rob Simmons Blasts Civilian Trial For Khalid Sheikh Mohammad VIDEO

WVIT NBC Hartford covered Rob Simmons criticism of Senator Dodd's support for the decision to try 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Muhammad on American soil, opening the door to a trial in Connecticut.

Statement on McMahon's Hedge Regarding the Trial of 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad on American Soil.

Rob Simmons Photo by Kate Mercer

Jim Barnett, campaign manager for Simmons for Senate, made the following statement today reacting to news reports that Linda McMahon "hedged her bets" by refusing to state an opinion on the recent decision to grant a civilian trial to self-described mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Khalid Sheik Muhammad, stating instead that she will "probably have more firm policy statements after the first of the year": "The decision to bring the 9/11 masterminds to America, and possibly to Connecticut, and bless them with all the constitutional rights reserved for Americans is a travesty of justice,

and Mrs. McMahon's unwillingness to give a straight answer speaks volumes to her inexperience and raises serious questions about her readiness to serve as U.S. Senator.

"It is deeply disappointing that when given the opportunity to stand firm against Sen. Dodd's dangerous and misguided approach, Mrs. McMahon took a pass. It goes to show that slick campaign ads and an army of high-priced consultants can't buy the experience and judgment necessary to keep our nation safe."

FACTS

Senator Dodd Voted Against Barring Civilian Trials On U.S. Soil For Those Involved In The September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks. "Reed, D-R.I., motion to table (kill) the Graham, R-S.C., amendment no. 2669 that would bar the use of Justice Department funds under the bill to prosecute in a regular federal court anyone linked to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks." (H. R. 2847, CQ Vote #: 338: D: 53-4; R 0-40; I 1-1; Motion Agreed To 54-45, Dodd Voted Yea, 11/5/09)

NOTE: All 40 Senate Republicans Unanimously Opposed The Amendment. (H. R. 2847, CQ Vote #: 338: D: 53-4; R 0-40; I 1-1; Motion Agreed To 54-45, 11/5/09)

10 Days Ago, Attorney General Eric Holder Announced Khalid Sheik Mohammad Would Be Transferred To New York City For A Jury Trial. "Five Guantanamo Bay detainees with alleged ties to the 9/11 conspiracy, including accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, will be transferred to New York to go on trial in civilian court, Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday." ("Accused 9/11 Plotter Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Faces New York Trial," www.cnn.com, 11/13/09)

That Day, Rob Simmons Criticized The Decision And Senator Dodd's Vote. "As a lifelong national security and intelligence official, I am shocked and angered by this stunning announcement. To have the self-described mastermind of the worst attack on American soil receive a jury trial footsteps away from where he murdered thousands of American citizens is beyond the pale. ... Worst of all is Senator Dodd, who demonstrated his reckless desire to appease the left-wing of his party rather than protect American citizens by voting against an amendment that would have barred such a trial." (Simmons For Senate, "Simmons Statement On Announcement Of Civilian Trial For 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed," Press Release, 11/13/09)

Attorney General Holder Admitted The Trial Of Khalid Sheik Mohammad Could Face A Change In Venue To Connecticut. SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): "But isn't it the fact that you won't be the one making that decision ultimately, if the attempt to transfer venue based on the notoriety of this event on 9/11 is such, just like Timothy McVeigh, who killed so many Americans in Oklahoma, he was tried in Colorado. Isn't it a distinct possibility that the judge would transfer this case based on a local prejudice?" ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER: "Sure, that's entirely possible. And there may be a motion for a venue change, but just as in the McVeigh case, the new change did not have a material negative impact on the outcome of the trial. He was convicted, and he was executed." (Attorney General Eric Holder, Hearing, Senate Judiciary Committee, 11/18/09)

But On Saturday, When Asked Her Opinion On Bringing Khalid Sheik Mohammad To American Soil For A Civilian Trial, McMahon "Hedged," Stating: "I'll Probably Have More Firm Policy Statements After The First Of The Year." "[Judy] Hershon stopped McMahon to ask her opinion on the upcoming New York City terrorism trial. Republicans have blasted the Obama administration for deciding to try alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in federal court in New York City rather than in a military court abroad. Democrats like Dodd have largely supported the decision. One of Dodd's leading Republican challengers, Rob Simmons, blasted him for that position. 'I'm trying to do a poll of any politician I can find on this, since I'm from New York, where the trial's going to actually take place,' she said. McMahon hedged her bets on the issue. While New York 'has certainly tried other terrorists before,' she noted, this trial will cost New York $75 million. 'I'll probably have more firm policy statements after the first of the year,' she said." (Ben Johnson, "Dodd Challenger Crashes The Tailgates," New Haven Independent, 11/23/09)

The Terrorists Plan To Use The Trial As A Platform To "Air Their Criticisms Of U.S. Foreign Policy." "The five men facing trial in the Sept. 11 attacks will plead not guilty so that they can air their criticisms of U.S. foreign policy, the lawyer for one of the defendants said Sunday. Scott Fenstermaker, the lawyer for accused terrorist Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, said the men would not deny their role in the 2001 attacks but 'would explain what happened and why they did it.'" ("Lawyer: 9/11 Defendants Will Tell Jury 'Why They Did It,'" The Associated Press, 11/23/09)

Rob Simmons's Background On Intelligence And National Security Makes Him Uniquely Qualified To Serve In The U.S. Senate. Rob Simmons served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war and won two Bronze Star Medals. He continued as a Reserve Military Intelligence Officer for 37 years before retiring at the rank of Colonel.

He is past commander of the 434th Military Intelligence (MI) Detachment New Haven, CT, which won the Reserve Officers Associations Outstanding Small Unit Award in 1996. In 1998, Rob was recognized by for his contributions to the Military Intelligence Corps with the Knowlton Award for "Integrity, Moral Character, Professional Competence and Selflessness.

Following his active duty service in the Army, Rob joined the Central Intelligence Agency, working as an Operations Officer for a decade, including five years on assignment overseas in East Asia where he participated in difficult and dangerous missions to protect Americas national security.

Upon his return from East Asia, Rob left the CIA to join the staff of Senator John H. Chafee (R-Rhode Island) where he was Legislative Assistant for Military, Foreign and Veterans Affairs.

In 1981, he was assigned as a staff member to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and soon thereafter was appointed by Chairman Barry Goldwater (R-Arizona) to serve as Staff Director of the full committee. Rob worked with the committee and the Reagan Administration on some of the most important national security challenges of the Cold War. CIA Director Casey presented him with the Agency Seal Medallion its highest civilian award in 1985.

In Congress, Rob served on the Armed Services, Transportation, Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committees. Rep. Simmons also served as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment and Veterans' Health Subcommittee.

TEXT CREDIT: Paid for by Simmons for Senate* 12 Roosevelt Ave, 2nd Floor, Mystic, CT 06355* Tel: 860-415-4633 | Fax: 860-415-4629 info@joinrobsimmons.com

VIDEO CREDIT: JoinRobSimmons

RON PAUL TRANSPARENCY AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE VIDEO

Ron Paul "This Belief Is A Dream! That Will Become A Nightmare! For All Americans!

TRANSPARENCY AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE -- (House of Representatives - December[[ 01, 2009)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke does not want us to know any the details of the Fed's secret operations. This position is not surprising and has been typical of all central bank chairmen. Bernanke's stated goal is ``to design a system of financial oversight that will provide a robust framework for preventing future crises.''

During its 96 years of existence, the Federal Reserve has played havoc with our economy and brought great suffering to millions through unemployment and price escalation. And it has achieved what only a central bank can: A steady depreciation of our currency. Today's dollar is now worth 4 cents, compared to the dollar entrusted to the Federal Reserve in 1913. Ninety-six years should have been plenty of time for the Fed to come up with a plan for preventing economic crises.

Since the Fed is the source of all economic downturns, it's impossible for any central banker to regulate in such a manner to prevent the problems that are predictable consequences of his own monetary management. The Federal Reserve fixes interest rates at levels inevitably lower than those demanded by the market. This manipulation is a form of price control through credit expansion, and is the ultimate cause of business cycles and so many of our economic problems, generating the mal-investment, excessive debt, stock, bond, commodity, and housing bubbles.

The Federal Reserve's monetary inflation, indeed, does push the CPI upward, but concentrating on the government's reports of the CPI and the PPI is nothing more than the distraction from the other harm done by the Federal Reserve's effort at central economic planning through secret monetary policy operations. Real inflation, the expansion of our money supply, is greatly undercounted by these indices. In response to our latest financial crisis, the Federal Reserve turned on its printing press and literally doubled the monetary base. This staggering creation of dollars has yet to be reflected in many consumer prices, but will ultimately hit the middle class and poor with a cruel devaluation of their savings and real earnings.

The Fed has clearly failed on its mandate to maintain full employment and price stability. It's time to find out what's going on. Instead of assuming responsibility for the Fed's role in the crisis, Bernanke brags about, ``arresting'' the crisis.

I would suggest to Mr. Bernanke that it's too early to brag. Bernanke decries any effort to gain transparency of the Fed's actions to find out just who gets bailed out and who is left to fail. Instead, he proposes giving even more power to the Fed to regulate the entire financial system.

What he does not recognize--nor does he want to admit--is that he is talking about symptoms while ignoring the source of the crisis: the Federal Reserve itself. More regulations will never compensate for all the distortion and excesses caused by monetary inflation and artificially low interest rates. Regulation distracts from the real cause while further interfering with the market forces, thus guaranteeing that the recession will become much deeper and prolonged.

Chairman Bernanke's argument for Fed secrecy is a red herring. It serves to distract so the special interests that benefit from the Fed policy never become known to the public. Who can possibly buy this argument that this secrecy is required to protect the people from political influence?

My bill, H.R. 1207, has nothing to do with interference with monetary policy. This was explicitly stated in the amendment voted on in the Financial Services Committee. Bernanke's argument for protecting the independence of the Fed is his argument for protecting the secrecy of the Fed. Chairman Bernanke concludes that ``America needs a strong''--think cartel--``nonpolitical''--think Goldman Sachs--``and independent''--think secret--``central bank with the tools to promote financial stability, in the midst of a horrendous financial crisis, and to help steer our economy to recovery without inflation.''

This belief is a dream that one day will become a nightmare for all Americans unless we come to our senses, stop our wild spending, runaway deficits, printing press money, massive bureaucratic regulations, and our unnecessary world empire. A crucial step towards fixing these problems will be transparency of the Federal Reserve.

Tags: Ron Paul Adam Kokesh Maresco Federal Reserve Gold Silver Judge Naplolitano Glenn Beck 912 Tea Party trillion Lew Rockwell Robert Gates Council on Foreign Relations CFR Campaign for Liberty HR1207 end the Fed

RNC RELEASES NEW WEB VIDEO “DEAD OF NIGHT” ON SENATE HEALTH CARE VOTE

WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee announced a new web video on moderate Senate Democrats sacrificing their principles to give Harry Reid a victory that brings America dangerously closer to having a government-run health care system. The web video, entitled “Dead of Night,” can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbIFmg68zTA.

“On Saturday night, a number of moderate Senate Democrats sacrificed their principles to bring America dangerously closer to government-run health care. Ben Nelson sold out his conscience and voted in favor of federally funded abortions. Blanche Lincoln sold out her principles by voting in favor of a government-run insurance plan, something she previously said she opposed. And Mary Landrieu simply sold her vote to the highest bidder after Harry Reid added a $300 million earmark just for Louisiana. Voters elected these Senators to represent their best interests. Instead they voted in the dead of night for a health care experiment that will increase taxes, raise premiums, cut Medicare, and use taxpayer dollars to fund abortion. This is not the representation Americans deserve. It’s time for these Senators to take a long hard look in the mirror and ask themselves who they really work for – their constituents or liberal Democrats like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele

“DEAD OF NIGHT” SCRIPT

Time: 01:00

Voice: “Saturday night.”

Voice: “As Americans laid down for sleep.”

Voice: “Moderate Democrats lay down their beliefs.”

Chyron: LAY DOWN THEIR BELIEFS

Voice: “Sold out their constituents.”

Chyron: SOLD OUT THEIR CONSTITUENTS

Voice: “Rolled by pressure from Barack Obama and Harry Reid.”

Voice: “They voted to move forward a government-run health care bill our nation does not want and can't afford.”

Chyron: OUR NATION DOES NOT WANT AND CAN’T AFFORD

Voice: “One member sold her vote to the highest bidder.”

Chyron: SHE SOLD HER VOTE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER

Chyron: MARY LANDRIEU LOUISIANA

Voice: “One member sold out his principles.”

Chyron: VOTED TO FUND ABORTIONS

Chyron: BEN NELSON NEBRASKA

Voice: “Two more - lost what little credibility they had on fiscal responsibility.”

Chyron: LOST WHAT LITTLE CREDIBILITY THEY HAD ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Chyron: BYRON DORGAN NORTH DAKOTA

Chyron: EVAN BAYH INDIANA

Voice: “Another put the interests of the left of his party before his own state.”

Chyron: HE PUT THE LEFT OF HIS PARTY BEFORE HIS OWN STATE

Chyron: HARRY REID NEVADA

Voice: “And another voted one way after saying she was for another.”

Chyron: VOTED FOR THE BILL WHEN, SHE SAID SHE WOULD OPPOSE IT

Chyron: BLANCHE LINCOLN ARKANSAS

Voice: “It's no wonder why Democrats voted in the dead of night.”

Chyron: DEMOCRATS

Chyron: VOTED

Chyron: IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT

Chyron: LEARN MORE AT: GOP.COM

Onscreen Disclaimer: PAID FOR BY THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE. WWW.GOP.COM

Michele Bachmann Reacts to Obama's Speech on Afghanistan VIDEO

Washington, D.C., - U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann released the the following statement after President Obama delivered an address in which he called for a new strategy involving 30,000 additional U.S. forces in Afghanistan:

"After several long months of deliberation, I'm pleased that the President has not turned his back on Afghanistan. As the President has said, the war in Afghanistan is a war of necessity. However, I sincerely hope that the President is truly committed to victory. While it’s important to acknowledge that U.S. forces will not be in Afghanistan forever, we must not have a concrete time line for withdrawal as it will ultimately hurt our effort and energize our enemies.

"Clearly, it’s in the vital interests of the United States to defeat the Taliban, destroy Al Qaeda, and establish a free, sovereign Afghanistan that can govern and look after its own people. Anything less and we’re guaranteeing almost certain instability and chaos in the region. But going forward, we must be in it to win it because if we engage in this effort halfheartedly, then the war is already lost."

Contact: Dave Dziok 202-225-2331