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."

Weekly Republican Address Gregg Harper 01/04/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Gregg Harper 01/04/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO. In this week’s Republican address, Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS) calls on the United States Senate to pass the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which boosts funding for pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health by ending taxpayer subsidies for party conventions. The measure, which enjoys strong bipartisan and grassroots support, passed the House last month.

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

Remarks of Representative Gregg Harper (R-MS) Weekly Republican Address The Capitol January 4, 2014

Good morning and Happy New Year from the Capitol.

Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS)

Kids are always saying something isn’t fair, but sometimes they’ve got a point. Did you know that today in America, only four percent of all federal funding for cancer research goes to childhood cancer? That’s right, four percent for all pediatric cancers combined. This doesn’t just set us back in the race for cutting-edge cures and treatments. It places a ceiling on a child’s ability to overcome obstacles and do great things. I’m sure this issue hits home for many of you. It certainly does for our family. Livingston, our oldest, was 4 when he was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, a disorder that is often misdiagnosed as autism. Today, he’s making his way through college in a program for students with intellectual disabilities.

Many families, of course, are not as fortunate. They’re out there waiting for hope and answers that often never come.

No, we can’t fix everything. But that doesn’t mean we should accept things as they are. After all, don’t we teach our kids never to settle for less?

That’s why I was proud to introduce H.R. 2019, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act.

This bipartisan legislation directs much-needed resources to pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health. We do this using taxpayer dollars currently set aside for political party conventions.

Instead of funding these conventions once every four years, we’ll make it a daily priority to explore the full potential of clinical trials and advancements. Not only for childhood cancer, but for all pediatric conditions – even the most rare genetic diseases.

Last month, the House passed H.R. 2019 with strong support from both sides of the aisle. Now it's the Senate's turn to step up so we can send this bill to the president’s desk.

The good news is, these same Senate leaders have already voted to end the taxpayer subsidy for party conventions. Here’s a way to cut this unnecessary spending and put it towards building a better future for our kids.

Peter Welch, my Democratic co-sponsor for this bill, had it right when he asked: “Can we just put the battle axes down for a while and take a step forward?”

I know we can. And if we do, it just might inspire us to come together and do what the American people sent us here to do. Jobs, health care, energy, education, and innovation are all areas in which the House has started work that Washington needs to finish this year.

But first, we need your help to get this done.

Don’t take it from me. Gabriella Miller, this bill’s namesake – was … well, she was something special.

She was 9 when she found out that she had a brain tumor the size of a walnut. And she was 10 when brain cancer took her life. In that time, Gabriella – never at a loss for words or wisdom – became the leader of this movement.

And she was awfully good at it. “If I go,” Gabriella said, “If I lose my battle I’m going to want all the people to carry on with the war, and we're going to win this war."

Let’s go out and prove her right. Join us in urging our senators to put kids first and pass this bill.

In this season of sweeping resolutions, here’s a chance to show how one small change can make a big difference.

Thank you for listening.

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 Full Text and Analysis

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 Full Text and Analysis. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Budget Committee chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced that they have reached a two-year budget agreement in advance of the budget conference’s December 13th deadline.

“I’m proud of this agreement,” said Chairman Ryan. “It reduces the deficit—without raising taxes. And it cuts spending in a smarter way. It’s a firm step in the right direction, and I ask all my colleagues in the House to support it.”

“This agreement breaks through the recent dysfunction to prevent another government shutdown and roll back sequestration’s cuts to defense and domestic investments in a balanced way,” said Chairman Murray. “It’s a good step in the right direction that can hopefully rebuild some trust and serve as a foundation for continued bipartisan work.”

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 would set overall discretionary spending for the current fiscal year at $1.012 trillion—about halfway between the Senate budget level of $1.058 trillion and the House budget level of $967 billion. The agreement would provide $63 billion in sequester relief over two years, split evenly between defense and non-defense programs. In fiscal year 2014, defense discretionary spending would be set at $520.5 billion, and non-defense discretionary spending would be set at $491.8 billion.

The sequester relief is fully offset by savings elsewhere in the budget. The agreement includes dozens of specific deficit-reduction provisions, with mandatory savings and non-tax revenue totaling approximately $85 billion. The agreement would reduce the deficit by between $20 and $23 billion.

The House of Representatives is expected to take up the Bipartisan Budget Act first, followed by the Senate. If this bill is signed into law, the appropriations committees will then be able to work on spending bills at an agreed-upon level in advance of the January 15th deadline.

Washington, Dec 10, 2013 | Conor Sweeney (Ryan): (202) 226-6100 Eli Zupnick (Murray): (202) 224-5398 | 0 comments.

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 Full Text and Analysis in PDF Format

Summary || Legislative Text || Section by Section || ​Key Charts

Weekly Republican Address James E. Risch 12/24/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO.

Weekly Republican Address James E. Risch 12/24/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO. In the Weekly Republican Address, Senator James E. Risch of Idaho delivers a holiday message in which he calls on Americans to count their many blessings and remember the brave and dedicated men and women in the military who keep our nation free.

"They serve in our homeland and in faraway places across the globe. Their sacrifices and those of their families allow us to live in the freest and most prosperous nation in the world—the United States of America,"

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

“Hi, I’m Senator Jim Risch and I am honored to represent the people of Idaho.

Senator James E. Risch of Idaho

“Today, all across America, we are gathering with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. These are priceless times following age-old traditions and making memories that will last a lifetime. It is a season filled with awe, wonder, colorful and twinkling lights, familiar songs, delightful events and sharing gifts. “As we reach for one of those gifts under the tree and untie a bow, I encourage all of us to remember the bountiful and most prized gifts we enjoy—the gifts of freedom and worship. Even though we have problems in our country, this is the time of year to look at all the good things and all the blessings that we have. “Our freedoms have been defended for more than 200 years by our men and women serving in uniform in the United States military. They serve in our homeland and in faraway places across the globe. Their sacrifices and those of their families allow us to live in the freest and most prosperous nation in the world—the United States of America.

“As you gather with your family around your table, take a moment to remember these brave and dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines—especially those serving in harm’s way and separated by vast oceans and miles of land from their special loved ones. These are the heroes who keep our nation free. And remember their families, who also make great sacrifices. They, too, are invaluable to our hopes and dreams in this country. We are a grateful nation.

“And with all our gifts, hopes and dreams on our minds, let’s also remember those who do not have significant means; those who live on shoestring budgets or even less and may not be able to easily provide for their needs or fill their tables. May we each consider how personally we can encourage and help make theirs a blessed and happy Christmas, too. We’ve heard it said many times that Americans are a generous people, and we are indeed, the most generous in the world.

“I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, happy holidays of all kinds and all the best for a wonderful new year. May God continue to bless you, and to bless America.”

Weekly Republican Address Aaron Schock 12/21/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Aaron Schock 12/21/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO. Delivering the Weekly Republican Address from the campus of Eureka College in Eureka, IL, Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) talks about the House’s efforts to deliver fairness and better solutions for young people hurting from the president’s health care law. Schock is one of the youngest members of Congress and co-founder of the Congressional Future Caucus.

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

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT: Remarks of Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL) Weekly Republican Address. Eureka College, Eureka, IL. December 21, 2013.

Good morning from Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois – the proud alma mater of Ronald Reagan.

On campuses like this, young people are just beginning to make choices that will shape their future. Right now – even in the middle of finals week – they’re being told that to make the future better, they should rush out and get covered under the president’s health care law. Not only that, they’re being told to “spread the word’” about what a great deal it is. The state of Illinois is spending a million dollars just this week on television advertising to try and sell the health care law. This is on top of $684 million already being spent nationwide to promote it. But no matter how many actors, and rappers, and rock stars the president rolls out, the best sales pitch in the world can’t sell a bad product. And this health care law is a bad product for young people.

How bad? Well, typically, based on health and age, it costs about six times more to insure a 64-year old than it does an 18-year old.

The health care law, however, says that insurance companies can only charge their most expensive customers three times what they do their cheapest customers.

In other words, they are forced by law to shift the cost of older and sicker patients onto young people. And the president needs a lot of young people – about 2.7 million – to enroll so he can shift the costs onto them and keep premiums from skyrocketing.

In Washington, they call this “community rating,” but where I come from, we call it a ripoff. According to one independent estimate, for a healthy, non-smoking 30-year old male, the cheapest health insurance plan – the cheapest one – will be on average 260 percent more expensive. That's two and a half times what a young person should be paying.

You know, it’s funny, the Obama administration held a contest encouraging millennials to come up with a catchy slogan or video to help sell the law.

The winning entry was a song with lyrics that actually included the line: “Don’t worry about the price tag.”

Well, it’s tough not to worry about the price tag when you’re racking up tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, doing work-study to make it by, and trying to save for your first apartment – all at a time when youth unemployment in this country is nearly 16 percent.

Young people helped put the president in office, and with this health care law, he’s pushing them into years of less choice, fewer opportunities, and larger bills.

This isn’t how it was supposed to be.

And everywhere I go people come up and say we should do something to stop this law, and they’re right.

We ought to scrap it and start over with an approach that focuses on lower costs, more choice, and more freedom and competition.

We should make it so that young people pay their fair share for health care, and nothing more.

And instead of Washington telling us what to buy, let’s get back to letting every American choose the plan that’s best for them and their family.

Every time I’m asked what Washington can do to connect with millennials, my answer is that we should actually get government out of the way. Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.

And let’s give young people the chance to build confidence, give them an incentive to work, and save, and invest, take risks, and rekindle that entrepreneurial spirit that sets this country apart.

The president’s health care law does none of this – and it only sets us back and makes things more expensive. I know – and you know – that we can do better.

Thank you for listening. Let me take this opportunity to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

The Path to Prosperity: The House Republicans’ FY2014 Budget FULL TEXT

The Path to Prosperity: The House Republicans’ FY2014 Budget FULL TEXT The United States faces many challenges. This year, unemployment will hover around 8 percent, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

1 Economic growth will remain tepid. The national debt recently eclipsed the size of our economy. Millions of families are stuck in foreclosure. Student loans are piling up. Gas prices are at historic highs. And soon, families will struggle with a new health-care bureaucracy, while medical costs further erode their paychecks.

It’s no surprise, then, that most Americans think we’re on the wrong track. 2 By living beyond our means, we’re stealing from the next generation. By promising a higher standard of living today, the federal government is guaranteeing a lower standard of living tomorrow. So it’s troubling to consider where this track will lead. Unless we act, by 2023, we will add another $8.2 trillion to our national debt. That debt will weigh down our country like an anchor.

Unless we change course, we will have a debt crisis. Pressed for cash, the government will take the easy way out: It will crank up the printing presses. The final stage of this intergenerational theft will be the debasement of our currency. Government will cheat us of our just rewards. Our finances will collapse. The economy will stall. The safety net will unravel. And the most vulnerable will suffer.

But it’s not too late. This budget provides an exit ramp from the current mess—and an entry ramp to a better future. Unlike the President’s last budget, which never balanced, this budget achieves balance within ten years. In the next decade, it spends $4.6 trillion less than will be provided under the current path. The fact is, we owe the American people a balanced budget. The less we owe to foreign creditors, the more of our future we will control.

And we balance the budget for an important reason: An unbalanced budget is a sign of overreach. When government does too much, it doesn’t do anything well. So our budget makes room for community—for the vast middle ground between government and the person. It recognizes that people do not find happiness in grim isolation or by government fiat. They find it through friendship—through free, vibrant exchange with the people around them. They find it through achievement. They find it in their families and neighborhoods, their places of worship and youth groups. They find it in a healthy mix of self-fulfillment and belonging.

While we belong to one country, we also belong to thousands of communities—each of them rich in tradition. And these communities don’t obstruct our personal growth. They encourage it. So the duty of government is not to displace these communities, but to support them. It isn’t to blunt their differences or to flatten their character—to mash them all together into a dull conformity. It’s to secure our individual rights and to protect that diversity.

We are a self-governing people. Yet, if we can’t manage our own affairs, we can hardly govern a nation. It’s in the assembly hall and the boardroom—in the town meeting and the state legislature—that we learn how to govern. And that’s where we forge our common bonds. Yes, government is one of those bonds. But it can’t unite 300 million people—not on its own. It needs our communities to tie us together.

Today, our communities—our families, in particular—face many dangers: rising health-care costs, a stagnant economy, a massive debt, an uncertain world. These dangers require a lean, dynamic government—one that can protect its people and keep its word. They also require government to respect its limits—to understand it plays a role in our lives, but not the leading one.

This budget seeks to revive our communities with an emphasis on six areas. It expands opportunity by growing our economy. It strengthens the safety net by retooling federal aid. It secures seniors’ retirement by reforming entitlements. It restores fair play to the marketplace by ending cronyism. It keeps our country safe by rebuilding our military. And it ends Washington’s culture of reckless spending.

None of these priorities can be met if a debt crisis hits. This budget gets government spending under control. Balancing the budget is a sensible goal—a commitment that both parties should share. And because our debt has grown with greater speed, the Committee on the Budget has tackled it with greater urgency. But our aim isn’t merely a balanced ledger. It’s the well-being of our people. We need government to focus on the people’s priorities—not its own. And so our budget returns the federal government to its proper limits and focus.

We can overcome these challenges—and we must. It’s our duty to leave the next generation a better country than the one we inherited. We know what the problem is: We have to fix our entitlements and to grow the economy. We understand that not everyone shares our view. And we respect that difference of opinion. Last year, the American people chose divided government. So this year, we have to make it work. We offer this budget in recognition of that need—and in a spirit of good will.

FULL TEXT in PDF FORMAT The House Republicans’ FY2014 Budget:

Paul Ryan Chairman of the House Budget Committee Member of Congress, First District of Wisconsin March 12, 2013

Weekly Republican Address Pat Toomey 12/14/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Pat Toomey 12/14/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO. In the Weekly Republican Address, Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania talks about how the President's deeply flawed health care law is causing millions of Americans to lose the insurance plans they liked and pay higher premiums and deductibles under new Obamacare plans. He tells of a constituent with multiple sclerosis who was recently kicked off of her insurance plan because of Obamacare. The woman now has a choice of two plans -- one that will allow her to keep her doctor and the other that will pay for her medication. "Neither plan will do both," says Toomey. "These are the kinds of painful and unfair choices millions of people now face" thanks to Obamacare.

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

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT:

“I’m Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey.

“These days, lots of Americans think Members of Congress are out of touch, and you know, at times there’s some truth to that.

“But there’s at least one instance in which many Members of Congress are feeling the very same pain that the rest of America is feeling. And that’s with this new health care law.

“Now, I don’t think anyone should be forced onto Obamacare. But as a Senator, Obamacare forced me and my family onto an exchange for health coverage.

“Just last week, my wife, Kris, tried to sign up on the health exchange website that’s available to us.

“Now, my wife is a very sharp woman, she’s a former computer software consultant.

“She’s also an amazing person and a great mom, but that’s another story.

“When Kris went onto the website, she typed in all our personal information and that of all our three children.

“And then, when she tried to browse the various plans, the website denied her. She tried again, and it still didn’t work. When she called someone and asked for help, she was told the system just wasn’t working right now and it was best to try again later.

“Well, I’ll tell you, I really wish this were a case of a Member of Congress just out of touch. Unfortunately, it’s not.

“The fiasco my wife just faced with the health care website is being experienced by Americans across the country when they try to sign up for health insurance.

“If this were just a matter of a slow-moving computer glitch, well then maybe that would be excusable. But it’s much more than that.

“It’s been reported that that perhaps as many as one-third of those who have been able to complete the online enrollment process might not actually have insurance coverage at all. Apparently, the enrollment information isn’t always being transmitted to the insurers in a large number of cases.

“Can you imagine going to your doctor or to a hospital in January only to find out you’re not actually insured?

“Well, the President says his team is working out the kinks in the website. Now, I hope that’s true.

“It sure seems like there’s a long way to go. But let’s assume that the website problems eventually get fixed. Sadly, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

“Before Obamacare became law, the President often told everyone that, and I quote, ‘if you like the health insurance you have, you can keep it, period.’ End quote.

“Well, millions of Americans are now finding out that was never true. The fact is, Obamacare was designed to cancel many plans that people had and people liked – the President now admits as much.

“But this is creating excruciating choices. I recently heard from a woman from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. She has multiple sclerosis – has for years – and Obamacare kicked her off an insurance plan that worked for her for many years.

“Yes, she can get a plan in the new health care exchange. In fact, it turns out there are two options available to her. One of the options would let her keep her doctor. The other would pay for her medication. And neither plan will do both.

“These are the kinds of painful and unfair choices millions of people now face.

“Now, if you have not yet been directly harmed by Obamacare, consider yourself fortunate.

“But take the time to listen to your friends, family, and neighbors. They’ll tell you stories of lost coverage, higher costs, enrollment errors, not to mention lost jobs and fewer hours working. It’s a disaster for our country, and it’s only going to get worse.

“But this is the holiday season, and we should offer some hope and good cheer. The truth is, there are good reasons for hope, if we can just change direction.

“There are common-sense, bipartisan solutions to our health care problems that don’t require Obamacare’s wholesale government take-over of the system.

“Now, in a nutshell, we can make insurance more accessible, more affordable, and more responsive to individuals and families. And put patients and their doctors in charge of health care decisions, instead of politicians and government bureaucrats.

“We can help those with preexisting conditions purchase affordable insurance.

“I’d like to give individuals the same tax benefits enjoyed by employers buying insurance for their employees.

“We can make it easier to carry health insurance from job to job or to purchase it across state lines.

“We can help small businesses pool together to get quality coverage for their workers at lower prices.

“We can rein in frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits that drive up medical costs for everyone.

“The problem with Obamacare isn’t just a glitch. It’s fundamental and it’s taking away our freedom. At the heart of the program is the idea that the government should decide your health coverage – what you require and how much you should pay. Never mind what you want, what you need, and what you can afford.

“But working together, we can put an end to the dropped coverage and higher costs that the Obamacare law is forcing on so many.

“I think Americans should be free to choose the insurance coverage that’s right for them. That choice should not be in the hands of the Obama Administration or at the mercy of malfunctioning government websites.

“Thanks for listening. And Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy holiday season to everyone.”

Weekly Republican Address Renee Ellmers 12/07/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Renee Ellmers 12/07/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the Weekly Republican Address, Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) talks about the House’s ongoing focus on jobs and shares stories from constituents struggling to cope with the effects of the president’s health care law. Rep. Ellmers serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and is chair of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee.

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

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT - Remarks of Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) Weekly Republican Address U.S. Capitol December 7, 2013.

Merry Christmas, everyone, and hello, my name is Renee Ellmers, and I represent North Carolina’s Second Congressional District

Like many of you, I’m frustrated with the president’s health care law, especially where jobs and working families are concerned. I say this not only as a congresswoman and chair of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee; I say it as a nurse and the mother of a son in college.

After all, it’s often women who make the health care decisions for our families. We put a lot of time and thought into these choices and how they’ll affect our budgets

So by canceling your insurance – despite a promise to let you keep your plan – the Obama administration is essentially saying it knows what’s best for you and your family. Not only that, they are making you pay more – usually much more – and in many cases, taking away the doctors you’ve been seeing for years.

If you want to talk about a ‘war on women,’ look no further than this health care law.

Just consider some of the stories I’ve heard from folks in my district.

Marian from Pittsboro told me that she and her husband received cancellation notices and that the replacement would double their premiums. When she called to ask for help, the insurance company told Marian that if she doesn’t sign up for a new plan, the law requires that they enroll her in the “suggested policy.” This increase, she says, will consume their gas and grocery money for the month. She now sees no choice but to cancel their insurance altogether.

Kent and Ulli from Cary are in their mid-50s and they report that their premiums are about to jump from $248 to $968 per month. That is nearly four times higher. Ken and Ulli have always preferred a high deductible policy because they work hard to stay in good health and when they do need care, they like to shop for the best value. But as we have seen, this administration thinks it knows better than they do.

And then there’s Liz from Sanford. She’s a small business owner with only two employees: herself and her husband. Their premiums went up 127 percent on account of the new law. Liz told me that she and her husband are regular, hardworking, healthy Americans. She said “we are not wealthy. I really don’t know what will happen in the future.”

Seeing so many hardworking people have to spend the holiday season wondering ‘what’s next?’ – it’s heartbreaking. And it’s wrong.

These families wouldn’t be in this boat if those who wrote the law had listened to hardworking taxpayers instead of relying on insurance companies and big businesses. Even now, these same entities are the ones getting special delays, breaks, and workarounds from the White House.

Families who work hard and play by the rules deserve some basic choices, fairness and relief.

That’s why the House has passed legislation to delay the individual mandate for all Americans and let you keep the plan you like. These proposals are among the dozens of House-passed jobs bills awaiting action in the Democratic-run Senate. Leaders there, however, continue to stand in the way of the American people.

For our part, Republicans will continue to listen, focus on jobs, and give this law the scrutiny it deserves. We’re also going to keep pressing the president to do the right thing. If the president won't scrap this law, isn't it time for him to delay it for all Americans before it does further harm?

On behalf of all of us here, let me wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Thank you for listening.

Weekly Republican Address Lindsey Graham 11/28/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Lindsey Graham 11/28/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

In the Weekly Republican Address, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says that Thanksgiving is a great time to express gratitude and appreciation for the service of America's men and women in uniform. A senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who meets regularly with America's soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, Senator Graham says it is because of their bravery and willingness to endure tremendous hardships that Americans are able to be at home with their families this holiday season. "Some are serving our nation overseas, thousands of miles away, and in their world, the creature comforts you and I take for granted -- things like running water and electricity -- are considered luxuries," says Senator Graham. This Thanksgiving, Senator Graham tells our troops and their families, "we truly owe you a debt of gratitude we can never repay."

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

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

“Hello, I’m Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

“As we celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday, it’s important for us all to reflect on our many blessings. Family and friends immediately come to mind.

“But there are many Americans who will not be able to celebrate this holiday season at their home. Some are serving our nation overseas, thousands of miles away. And in their world, the creature comforts you and I take for granted -- things like running water and electricity -- are considered luxuries.

“As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I’ve had the great honor of meeting many of these American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. Together, they make up the greatest fighting force in the history of the world.

“I have been fortunate to witness first-hand, the remarkable work they have done and continue to do in some of the most challenging of circumstances.

“Whether in the cities of Iraq or the many remote, isolated villages of Afghanistan, I’ve seen the oppressive conditions under which our bravest Americans are forced to operate.

“Yet our soldiers continue to persevere and carry on, driven by a desire and commitment to keep our enemies at bay. For these Americans, their service to protecting our nation is more than a job. It is a calling.

“They maintain an unwavering focus and determination not to surrender an inch to the enemy. And time and time again they show a willingness to reenlist and return to the fight.

“I continue to be amazed by their teamwork and compassion – not only towards each other – but also towards the least fortunate among them.

“Whether sharing their food and water, or pooling their own money to buy a soccer ball for a child who owns next to nothing – they are living proof of the American spirit of helping others who are down and out.

“Our American soldiers serve as some of the best ambassadors the United States could ever hope for. They are tough and determined, yet equally kind and compassionate.

“On this Thanksgiving, I want to express all of our appreciation – Republican, Democrat, Independent -- for the service of our men and women in uniform and their families.

“To the military spouse, who has to be both mom and dad, God Bless. To the children of our military members, who have missed holidays and birthdays, God Bless you.

“It is because of the bravery of our troops, and their willingness to endure tremendous hardships that we are able to be at home with our families this holiday season.

“To our troops and their families, we truly owe you a debt of gratitude we can never repay.

“Thank you for listening. May God continue to bless you, and all those who serve our great nation.”

Weekly Republican Address Michael Burgess M.D 11/23/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Michael Burgess M.D 11/23/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO. WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the Weekly Republican Address, Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) shares stories from his constituents that show how the reality of the president’s health care law doesn’t match what he promised. Dr. Burgess spent nearly thirty years practicing medicine in North Texas before being elected to the House, where he serves as vice-chair of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

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

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

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

Hello, I’m Dr. Michael Burgess. I spent nearly three decades practicing medicine in North Texas before being elected to the United States House of Representatives.

Here, I serve as vice chair of the House’s top health care oversight committee. Just this week, we held the administration accountable once again for their failed promises to the American people and their misleading statements to Congress.

It has now become clear that the reality of the president’s health care law does not match what he promised:

A website that was launched before it was finished.

Waves of cancellation letters.

The sticker shock of high premiums - coupled with ever-increasing deductibles.

Many families are now learning that they may not just lose their plan. But if they like their doctor, they may lose their doctor too.

They may lose their doctor in part because there is already a shortage of primary care physician. Many of these plans will now be paying doctors less – so many doctors, whose waiting rooms are already full, have chosen not to participate in the new plans.

It’s a trainwreck for doctors, a trainwreck for patients, and most importantly, it's a trainwreck for the American people.

And the trouble is, this is only the beginning.

Every day, the stack of sad stories coming into my office grows ever taller.

Like the letter I received from a small business owner in Frisco, Texas. He says that his premiums are set to rise by 22 percent.

“Basically,” he says, “this law will take down my company and the 125 people that I employ or it will require me to reduce wages … thus hurting the very people who are just trying to make a living.”

I also heard from a woman in Lewisville who said she and her husband got a notice that their deductibles will double and their premiums will go up as well.

“At this point,” she writes, “for us to start a family next year it will cost over 15 percent of our combined household income before we even get covered by insurance to have a child. We need help.”

And consider this experience that a woman in Keller, Texas is having. 14 years ago, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and because of the new law, she is about to lose her coverage.

When trying to sign up for a new plan, she was told she had to have her identity verified. After going through all of the steps to do just that, she never heard back.

When she called a couple weeks later to find out how long it would take, they had no answer.

“This is beyond stressful,” she writes. “Can I continue to see my neurologist? Will I still have access to my medications? It is heart breaking and by far the most broken system I’ve ever seen.”

Isn’t this exactly the kind of confusion and uncertainty that the president promised to fix?

Many Americans are now questioning the White House’s credibility, and rightfully so. They are right to expect the president to admit his mistakes and start giving some clear answers.

As a physician, I know our health care system needs improvement – but this law is already failing. The best thing we can do now is scrap it and start over with a step-by-step approach that focuses on lower costs and patient-centered solutions.

For now though, we will continue to ask the tough questions, and hold this president accountable for his broken promises on this self-inflicted disaster.

May God bless you and your family, may God bless the United States, and thanks for listening.

Weekly Republican Address Ron Johnson 11/16/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Ron Johnson 11/16/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO In the Weekly Republican Address, Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin calls on Democrats to join Republicans in passing legislation he authored to limit the damage of the deeply flawed Obamacare health law. Referring to the President's comments at a news conference this week, Senator Johnson says that President Obama did "far more than just fumble the ball" on the healthcare rollout.

Senator Johnson has introduced the 'If you like your health plan, you can keep it Act,' which would help millions of Americans keep the health care plans and doctors they like -- a promise President Obama made dozens of times both before and after passage of the law. "Unfortunately, the implementation of Obamacare has progressed to a point where millions of cancelled plans cannot be reinstated," says Senator Johnson. "But the freedom of millions of Americans to keep doctors, treatments, and health plans they do value can still be preserved if Congress acts swiftly and decisively."

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

Weekly Republican Address Ron Johnson 11/16/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT

“Hi, I'm Senator Ron Johnson from the great State of Wisconsin.

“President Obama said he wants to fundamentally transform America. So far, his attempt to transform our health care system has not been pretty – with Obamacare, he did far more than just fumble the ball.

“Contrary to his repeated promise, that ‘if you like your health care plan, you can keep it,’ millions of Americans are not only losing their insurance coverage, they are losing access to the doctors and treatments that have kept them alive.

“President Obama's so-called apology, was as phony as his fraudulent marketing of Obamacare. He seemed to be saying he was sorry Americans actually believed him, but took no responsibility for their plight. It was like telling someone you're sorry their dog died, but refusing to acknowledge you ran over the dog.

“Sorry Mr. President, it didn't work. Millions of Americans are coming to realize that those are your tire tracks on their cancelled policies. It is also obvious that you didn't inadvertently misspeak when you promised Americans they can keep their doctors and health plans - and do it all at a lower cost.

“Those assurances weren't slight exaggerations or innocent shadings of the truth. They were statements that were fully vetted, coldly calculated, and carefully crafted to deceptively sell your health care plan to a trusting public. It was a political fraud echoed relentlessly by House and Senate Democrats who should be held accountable for the disastrous consequences of their grand deception.

“Consumer fraud this massive in the private sector could – and should – bear serious legal ramifications. For President Obama, however, it helped secure enough votes to pass Obamacare, and win reelection.

“Now America must face the truth, and Congress must work to limit the damage that Obamacare will inflict on our health care system and people's lives. The systemic failure of the healthcare.gov website and cancelled policies are only the tip of this destructive iceberg.

“Because if you think only those that buy individual policies will lose their coverage, think again. Obamacare creates huge incentives for businesses to stop providing health care as a benefit. As a result, millions more will lose their tax-exempt employer-sponsored health plan and be forced to try buying insurance with after-tax dollars on the exchanges.

“Hopefully, Americans who were deceived will question the credibility of those who made so many false promises. Does anyone actually believe Obamacare is bending the cost curve down, that working Americans won't be forced to pick up the tab, that the quality of care won't suffer, rationing won't occur, or that much needed medical innovation won't be diminished?

“Does anyone really believe their personal information in the hands of federal bureaucrats will remain private and won't be abused, or that Obamacare will actually reduce federal debt and deficits?

“I’m asking every American to believe what their eyes and ears are telling them. The federal government is dysfunctional. It is broken, ineffective, and inefficient. Do you really want Washington taking over a greater share of our health care system – getting more involved in your health care decisions? Americans are finding out that is a prescription for disaster.

“Obamacare will not fix an imperfect health care system. It will cause more damage for far more people than any problems it will ever solve. Now is the time to start reversing that damage – before it’s too late.

“A good place to start would be supporting the bill I introduced in the Senate called ‘If you like your health plan, you can keep it Act,’ or a similar measure just passed in the House. Unfortunately, the implementation of Obamacare has progressed to a point where millions of cancelled plans cannot be reinstated. But the freedom of millions of Americans to keep doctors, treatments, and health plans they do value can still be preserved if Congress acts swiftly and decisively.

“I also plan to introduce a new bill titled ‘Preserve Freedom and Choice in Health Care,’ which will attempt to protect liberty and the rights of individuals to make their own health care decisions. We need long-term solutions to the Obamacare debacle, not short-term political fixes like those recently proposed by the President and Senate Democrats that simply will not work.

“Throughout the health care debate, Republicans have proposed dozens of solutions designed to help control costs and improve quality – without surrendering control of your personal health care decisions to nameless bureaucrats in Washington. Now is the time to enact those common sense ideas.

“But none of this will occur unless the American people hold those who supported Obamacare accountable – and do so with a very loud voice. Democrat Senators must help Republicans pass legislation to limit the damage of Obamacare. If not, those who choose to ignore the plight of millions of Americans should be replaced next November by those who will act.

“Thank you”

Darrell Issa Statement on Low ObamaCare Enrollment Numbers

WASHINGTON – House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., released the following statement on the low ObamaCare enrollment numbers released today.

“The 27,000 enrollments through federally facilitated exchange pale in comparison to the millions of Americans who have lost their health insurance under ObamaCare,” Issa stated. “The president promised that if you like your health insurance, you can keep it – period. Not only is that untrue, but this Administration cannot even offer a workable alternative to people once they have lost the insurance they liked. At today’s House Oversight Committee hearing, White House officials could not say whether HealthCare.gov will be operational by the end of the month, nor could they say who was ultimately responsible for the website’s failure. It is time for the president to finally acknowledge ObamaCare isn’t working and to delay the law, in fairness to families and individuals.”

Today, Chairman Issa also convened the Committee’s first hearing on the technical problems with HealthCare.gov and what is being done to fix them. At the hearing, White House official Todd Park could not confirm whether the website would be ready by the end of November, as promised. The panel of Administration technology experts, including Chief Information Officer Steven VanRoekel and Henry Chao, one of the top CMS officials tasked with implementing ObamaCare, could not state who was responsible for HealthCare.gov’s rollout.

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 2157 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5074 Fax: (202) 225-3974

Weekly Republican Address Todd Young 11/09/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO

Weekly Republican Address Todd Young 11/09/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the Weekly Republican Address, Rep. Todd Young (R-IN) shares some of the many stories he has received from constituents who have had their health insurance canceled and their premiums increase as a result of the president’s health care law.

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

Remarks of Representative Todd Young (R-IN) Weekly Republican Address Bloomington, IN November 9, 2013

FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT:

Hello I’m Congressman Todd Young from the great state of Indiana.

In recent weeks, I’ve heard heartbreaking stories from many Hoosiers about the impact the new health care law is having on them and their families. Today I’d like to share with you some of their experiences.

Mike from Bloomington wrote in to say that the plan he has now – which he likes – is being canceled at the end of the year. This, of course, is exactly what the president and other champions of the law promised would not happen. Mike’s new plan will cost him $900 more a month.

Scott from Salem shared his story about how, shortly after being told his company would cover the 20 percent increase for employee health care coverage, several of his co-workers were laid off and annual Christmas bonuses were canceled.

Alan from Jeffersonville asked us for help with his wife Laura’s situation. For eight years now, Laura has been battling a form of incurable cancer. She was getting insurance through our state’s high-risk pool, which is dissolving because of the new law.

After 25 days of trying, the couple was finally able to get on healthcare.gov —only to discover that just one company currently offers insurance for them through the website.

Unfortunately, that company won’t cover Laura’s current doctors, and her out-of pocket-expenses to keep those doctors will go up by more than $20,000 a year. As Alan puts it, their family basically has two choices: ‘one, end her treatment or two, go broke.’

And there’s Marvin from Bloomington, who shared with me this cancelation notice his wife, Kathy, received. To avoid a lapse in coverage, she must sign up for a new plan.

I held up this letter last week at a hearing with the Medicare administrator responsible for the exchange. Her suggestion was that Marvin and Kathy go to the website.

Well sure enough, they tried. Because the White House said the problem was too many people trying to sign up at once, Marvin and Kathy even set their alarm clock for the middle of the night, just so they could log on when there was less traffic.

After a month of trying and getting nowhere, they gave up on the exchange. It now looks like they’ll end up buying private insurance. They know it’ll probably cost more, but they’d rather have that certainty and avoid federal penalties than bear more worry and sleepless nights.

This is what betrayal looks like.

Here you have hardworking people who were repeatedly told not to worry, that their coverage would stay the same and—if anything—their costs would go down. Just the opposite is happening.

Adding insult to injury, the White House – the president – isn’t leveling with us. He’s trying to cover his tracks, claiming he never really made these promises.

No wonder a member of his own party called this a ‘crisis of confidence.’

If the president is truly sorry about all this, he’ll take steps to right this wrong.

That’s why I’ve authored a bill to delay this law’s individual mandate tax – as has the senior senator in our state, Dan Coats. After all, how can you tax people for not buying a product from a website that doesn’t work?

In addition, next week, the House will take up the Keep Your Health Care Act, which will ensure plans available today in the individual market can continue to exist. No one should have to go to their inbox or mailbox in fear of finding out they’re losing a plan they like — or worse, a plan they need.

And we’re going to keep asking hard questions and having hearings so we can get to the bottom of this.

Because the problem isn’t just a website – it’s the whole law. Let’s stop this train wreck now, and give Americans the basic fairness and peace of mind that they deserve.

Thank you for listening.

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

Chris Christie Acceptance Speech 2013 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT and VIDEO

Chris Christie Acceptance Speech 2013 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT and VIDEO

"Thank you, New Jersey, for making me the luckiest guy in the world," "I did not seek a second term to do small things," he said. "I sought a second term to finish the job. Now watch me do it." "If we can do this in Trenton, New Jersey, maybe the folks in Washington, DC should tune in on their TVs right now, see how it's done!"

Transcript (provided by the Christie campaign):

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, I stand here as your Governor, and I am so proud to be your Governor.

Born in Newark, raised in Livingston, made my wife from Pennsylvania a real Jersey girl, and raised our family right here in this amazing state, I love just as much as my mother and father raised me to love it.

You see, what people have never understood about us, is that I didn’t any introduction to all of you. I know you, because I’m one of you.

So tonight, first and foremost, I want to say thank you, New Jersey, for making me the luckiest guy in the world.

And the only greatest honor and privilege than being a one-term governor of New Jersey, is to be a two-term governor of New Jersey.

You got to meet my kids again tonight, and Mary Pat and I are so proud of them. Andrew, Sarah, Patrick, and Bridgette, I love you all.

And over the last four years, but especially this year, New Jersey got to know what a special first lady they have, I love you Mary Pat.

I spoke to Senator Buono awhile ago. No, no, she congratulated me, it was very gracious. Very gracious, in her congratulations, and I thanked her for a spirited campaign, and for her 20 years of public service to this state.

Now when we came to office four years ago, we stood behind a podium like this, and said that people were tired of politics as usual, they wanted to get things done, and we promised we were going to go to Trenton and turn things upside down, and I think we’ve done just that.

The people of New Jersey four years ago were downhearted and dispirited, they didn’t believe that government could work for them anymore.

In fact, what they thought was that government was just there to take from them but not to give to them, not to work with them, not to work for them. Well, four years later, we stand here tonight showing that it is possible to put doing your job first, to put working together first, to fight for what you believe in, yet still stand by your principles and get something done for the people who elected you. The biggest thing, the biggest thing I’ve learned over the last four years about leadership is that leadership is much less about talking than it is about listening, about bringing people around the table listening to each other, showing them respect, doing what needed to be done to be able to bring people together and to achieve what we needed to achieve to move our state forward.

Now listen, I know that if we can do this in Trenton, New Jersey, maybe the folks in Washington, DC should tune in their tvs right now to see how it’s done. See, listen, we’re New Jersey. We still fight, we still yell. But when we fight, we fight for those things that really matter in people’s lives. And while we may not always agree, we show up everywhere. We just don’t show up in the places that vote for us a lot, we show up in the places that vote for us a little. We don’t just show up in the places where we’re comfortable, we show up in the places where we’re uncomfortable.

Because when you lead, you need to be there. You need to show up, you need to listen and then you need to act. And you don’t just show up six months before an election, you show up four years before one. And you just don’t take no for an answer the first time no has happened. You keep going back and trying more. Because when I was elected four years ago, I wasn’t elected just by the people who voted for me. I was the governor of all the people.

And tonight, overwhelmingly, those people have said, ‘come on board, it’s fine here, let’s have more people support the governor’ and now we have a big, big win tonight. What people have told me over the last four years is that more than anything else, they want the truth. They want the truth. You know, we don’t always agree with each other in New Jersey. Some folks don’t agree with some of the things I do and certainly they don’t agree with some of the things I say sometimes. But they know, they know they never have to wonder. When they walked into the voting booth today, they didn’t say, ‘hey I wonder who this guy is and what he stands for, what he’s willing to fight for, what he’s willing to do when the chips are down.’

You can agree with me, you can disagree with me. But I will never stop leading the state I love. People across the country have asked me how it is we’ve been able to do what we’ve achieved. And I’m reminded of a story that Pastor Joe Carter of the New Hope Baptist Church told just one week ago today on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. He called what had happened in New Jersey the last year the ‘spirit of Sandy.’ He spoke about people coming together.

He said when the lights went out, no one cared what color your skin was. He said when you didn’t have any food, no one cared whether it was a Republican or Democrat offering you the food. When you didn’t have a warm place for your family because of what happened in the storm, you didn’t care if it was someone who thought government should be big or small. At that moment, the ‘spirit of Sandy’ infected all of us.

Reverend Carter was right. And he prayed that day that the spirit of Sandy would stay with us well beyond the days that the recovery will take. My pledge to you tonight is I will govern with the spirit of Sandy. It’s true of New Jersey and all the people who live here, they’re ready to live that way, too. as you governor it’s never mattered to me where someone is from, whether they voted for me or not, what the of their skin was or their political party. for me being governor has always been about getting the job done first. now, that doesn’t mean that we don’t have principles. we have many of them. and we have stood and fought every day to cut taxes, to reduce the size of government spending, to reform pensions and benefits, to reform a broken education system and to make sure that we create opportunity again for New Jerseyans.

And for the next four years, we will fight to make those changes permanent, and we will fight to make them bigger. I did not seek a second term to do small things. I sought a second term to finish the job – now watch me do it.

I want to thank a few people in addition to my family before we go tonight. I want to tell you that I, over the last year have had the greatest campaign team any governor could ever ask for, they ran a flawless campaign and I thank them for it.

And I want to thank my cabinet and my senior staff, who especially over the last year have worked tirelessly with me to help bring back — bring back the great state of New Jersey from the second worst national disaster to ever hit this country.

And I want to thank the second woman, who said yes to me when I asked – New Jersey’s great Lt. Governor, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.

I used to tell folks all the time that I had the greatest job in the world – for a Jersey kid to be elected Governor of the state where I was born and raised.

It’s the greatest job that you could ever have in your life – I loved it every day, I would get up and know that I would have a chance to do something great. I didn’t do something great every day, but I had a chance to do something great every day for people that I would probably never meet.

But on October 29th of last year, that job changed. It’s no longer a job for me. It’s a mission. You see, a mission is different than a job. A mission is something that’s sacred. It’s a sacred trust that was thrust upon me and you on October 29th of last year.

And that mission, that mission is to make sure that everyone, everyone in New Jersey who’s affected by Sandy is returned to normalcy in their life. And i want to promise you tonight, i will not let anyone, anything, any political party, any governmental entity or any force get in between me and the completion of my mission.

You see, for those veterans out there tonight, you know — you know how sacred a mission is. Sacredness of the mission of a soldier is that no one ever is left behind. No one is ever left behind on the battle field. And on the battle field that Sandy turned this state into, New Jerseyans will never leave any New Jerseyan behind.

I’m resolved to complete this mission, not because of me, but because of you. For the last year I’ve had a lot of people ask me for hugs. A lot of people. [inaudible crowd] You’ll get your hug later, brother. And I can tell you this. [Inaudible crowd]. I guess there is open bar tonight, huh?

People ask me for hugs to comfort them. People asked me for hugs to make sure I wouldn’t forget them. People asked me for hugs just to know that the leader of this state cared about them. And people came up to me all the time in the aftermath and said to me, “Governor, where did you get the energy? Where did you get the energy day after day after to do that?” And I told them, “You don’t understand, do you? Those hugs gave more to me than I could ever give back to them. They gave me hope and faith and optimism for our future.

The people of New Jersey have given me much more than I could ever hope to give back to them. They’ve given me hope. They’ve given me faith. And they’ve given me their trust. And it’s with that hope, with that optimism, that faith, and that trust that we together confront the next four years of opportunity for our state.

I know that tonight a dispirited America, angry with their dysfunctional government in Washington looks to New Jersey to say, “is what I think’s happening really happening? Are people really coming together? Are we really working, African Americans and Hispanics, suburbanites and city-dwellers, farmers and teachers, are we really all working together?” Let me give the answer to everyone who is watching tonight – under this government, our first job is to get the job done. And as long as I am governor, that job will always, always be finished.

I think tonight most particularly – and I know my dad and my brother and sister who are here tonight with me share this same view. I think tonight most particularly about my mother.

All of you who have heard me over the last four years know that she was and still is the dominant influence in my life. As I said on the video, as I said on the video, my mom used to say to me all the time, “Christopher, be yourself. Because then tomorrow you don’t have to worry about trying to remember who you pretended to be yesterday.”

Powerful words from a woman who I miss every day. But tonight, tonight I know that my mom is looking down on New Jersey and saying to me — I can feel it – she’s saying to me, “Chris, the job’s not done yet. Get back to work and finish the job for the people of New Jersey.” That’s exactly what I’ll do. I love you, New Jersey. Thank you very much!

- See more at: http://blogs.app.com/capitolquickies/2013/11/06/chris-christies-victory-speech-in-text-and-word-cloud/#sthash.kWvuMzvY.dpuf

Congressman Robert Hurt: A Bipartisan Call for Delay of the Individual Mandate within the President's Healthcare Law

This week, after watching the failed roll out of Healthcare.gov take the spotlight, several new and unnerving facts emerged as Congress held hearings to investigate further the inner workings of the Administration’s handling and implementation of the President’s healthcare law. Maintaining and introducing the website should have been the simplest aspect of this complex piece of legislation, and if its failed roll out is any indication, it alarms me to think of what lies ahead.

The American people are now seeing that the President misled us about the consequences of this misguided law. The President promised the American people that “if you like your health care plan, you can keep it;” yet, reports this week indicated that millions of people will lose their current plan, being forced to obtain plans that are much more expensive and may not allow them to see their current doctor. This fact was known to the Administration for more than three years, yet it continued to assuage Americans’ fears with a false promise. Apparently, the President’s motto should have stated that, “if the government likes your health care plan, the government will let you keep it.”

The President also promised that health care costs would decrease for everyone, saving on average $2,500 per family. Instead, rates and deductibles are skyrocketing, and Americans are not only facing higher healthcare costs, but some are being forced to reduce their working hours because of compliances being enforced by the ACA.

While members of Congress are trying to conduct oversight to get answers from the Administration about how and why this law is failing so badly, the Administration seeks to hide the truth from the American people. On October 8th, Congress requested enrollment figures; and while the Secretary did not offer up that information, major news outlets have recently reported that just 6 people enrolled in the exchanges on its first day. This is a testament to both the website’s inoperability and the fact that the American people are wary of government-run health care.

The Administration has admitted on numerous occasions that the President’s health care law is not working. Businesses, but not American citizens, have been granted a one-year delay from the law’s mandates, the website is a debacle, and there is little to no transparency when it comes to the law’s implementation. Now, it is time that individuals are granted the same reprieve from the Affordable Care Act that businesses have received. I am encouraged that some of our Democratic colleagues in the Senate have begun to call for a delay in the individual mandate, especially after Republicans in the House requested it last month. Ultimately, a full repeal of the damaging healthcare law is in the best interest of the American people; however, until we are able to achieve this long-term goal, I remain committed to ensuring its harm is minimized as much as possible through delaying its implementation.


Congressman Robert Hurt Washington, D.C. 125 Cannon Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4711 Fax: (202) 225-5681

President Obama "If you like your current health care plan, you can keep it." A Promise He Could Not Keep

A Promise He Could Not Keep . President Obama repeatedly promised Americans that, "If you like your current health care plan, you can keep it." Now, millions of Americans are discovering that is a promise the President could not keep.

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