The successor to politics will be propaganda. Propaganda, not in the sense of a message or ideology, but as the impact of the whole technology of the times.*
Weekly Republican Address Ron Johnson 11/16/13 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT VIDEO
Weekly Republican Address Bill Johnson 03/15/14 FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT PODCAST VIDEO - WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the Weekly Republican Address, Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) calls on President Obama to address the devastating impact his health care law is having on the nation’s seniors, who – despite his promises – are paying higher premiums and losing access to their doctors.
"Good morning. My name is Bill Johnson, and I’m proud to represent Eastern and Southeastern Ohio in the House of Representatives."
Republican Address to the Nation State of the Union LIVE VIDEO
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.”
White House “Moving the Goal Posts,” Using “Distortion & Confusion” to Demand Tax Hikes to Replace Its Sequester
President Obama got more than $600 billion in tax hikes (with no spending cuts) just last month, and veteran journalist Bob Woodward says the president is “moving the goal posts” in his campaign to replace his sequester with even higher taxes.
“That was not the deal he made,” Woodward writes. And claiming otherwise is a “classic case of distortion and confusion.”
Here are a few more things to keep in mind this week:
This is President Obama’s sequester. “The idea for sequestration did come from the White House, as news accounts made clear at the time,” reports the New York Times. “Jacob J. Lew, then Mr. Obama’s budget director and now his nominee for Treasury secretary, was the main proponent.”
Republicans have passed two bills to replace the president’s sequester with smarter cuts and reforms. The House first passed its sequester replacement bill in May 2012 and then again last December. President Obama’s Senate hasn’t passed a thing. They haven’t passed a budget in nearly four years either.
The president’s “endless campaign” has left him “virtually absent” from the legislative process. The White House even waited until the last minute to lift its “gag order” on Cabinet officials. But lost in their campaign is the fact that the president got his tax hikes; it’s time to address Washington’s spending problem.
If the president were serious about replacing his sequester, he’d cancel his campaign events this week and devote his schedule to pressing his Democratic-controlled Senate to finally pass something.
John A. Boehner | Speaker of the House | Ohio’s 8th Congressional District Representative Office of the Speaker Contact H-232 The Capitol Washington D.C. 20515 P: (202) 225-0600 F: (202) 225-5117
“The Obama Sequester” VIDEO. WASHINGTON - The Republican National Committee (RNC) has released a new web video “The Obama Sequester,” showing President Obama’s hypocrisy with the upcoming sequester cuts. The sequester came from President Obama and now he has decided to place blame on Congress rather than provide a solution of his own. He was for sequestration before he was against it.
“In 2011, President Obama proposed the devastating sequestration cuts and stood by them,” said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. “Now the Democrats continue saying Washington doesn’t have a spending problem, showing just how out of touch the Democrats are with the American people.
“House Republicans have passed two bills that provide common-sense solutions that would reduce spending and preserve and strengthen our safety net for future generations. Instead of admitting we have a problem, Obama and the Democrats would rather find more tax increases. Our nation’s problem is spending and it’s time the president realizes that.”
the Republican National Committee 310 First Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 202-863-8500 www.gop.com
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Cornyn Calls on Obama to Withdraw Hagel Nomination Feb 21 2013
DALLAS— Today in a new letter, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and 14 U.S. Senators are calling on the President to withdraw Chuck Hagel’s nomination to be Secretary of Defense:
“While we respect Senator Hagel's honorable military service, in the interest of national security, we respectfully request that you withdraw his nomination. It would be unprecedented for a Secretary of Defense to take office without the broad base of bipartisan support and confidence needed to serve effectively in this critical position.
“Senator Hagel’s performance at his confirmation hearing was deeply concerning, leading to serious doubts about his basic competence to meet the substantial demands of the office. While Senator Hagel's erratic record and myriad conversions on key national security issues are troubling enough, his statements regarding Iran were disconcerting.”
The letter is signed by Sens. Cornyn, Inhofe (R-OK), Graham (R-SC), Wicker (R-MS), Vitter (R-LA), Cruz (R-TX), Lee (R-UT), Toomey (R-PA), Rubio (R-FL), Coats (R-IN), R. Johnson (R - WI), Risch (R-ID), Barrasso (R-WY), Coburn (R-OK), Scott (R-SC). The full text is attached and provided below.
February 21, 2013
President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama:
Last Thursday, the Senate voted to continue its consideration of your nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel to serve as our nation's next Secretary of Defense. While we respect Senator Hagel's honorable military service, in the interest of national security, we respectfully request that you withdraw his nomination.
It would be unprecedented for a Secretary of Defense to take office without the broad base of bipartisan support and confidence needed to serve effectively in this critical position. Over the last half-century, no Secretary of Defense has been confirmed and taken office with more than three Senators voting against him. Further, in the history of this position, none has ever been confirmed with more than 11 opposing votes. The occupant of this critical office should be someone whose candidacy is neither controversial nor divisive.
In contrast, in 2011, you nominated Leon Panetta, who was confirmed by the Senate with unanimous support. His Pentagon tenure has been a huge success, due in part to the high degree of trust and confidence that Senators on both sides of the aisle have placed in him. The next Secretary of Defense should have a similar level of broad-based bipartisan support and confidence in order to succeed at a time when the Department of Defense faces monumental challenges, including Iran’s relentless drive to obtain nuclear weapons, a heightened threat of nuclear attack from North Korea, potentially deep budget cuts, a strategic pivot to the Asia-Pacific region, military operations in Afghanistan, the ongoing Global War on Terror, the continued slaughter of Syrian civilians at the hands of their own government, and other aftermath of the Arab Spring.
Likewise, Senator Hagel’s performance at his confirmation hearing was deeply concerning, leading to serious doubts about his basic competence to meet the substantial demands of the office. While Senator Hagel's erratic record and myriad conversions on key national security issues are troubling enough, his statements regarding Iran were disconcerting. More than once during the hearing, he proclaimed the legitimacy of the current regime in Tehran, which has violently repressed its own citizens, rigged recent elections, provided material support for terrorism, and denied the Holocaust.
Regarding U.S. policy on Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, Senator Hagel displayed a seeming ambivalence about whether containment or prevention is the best approach, which gives us great concern. Any sound strategy on Iran must be underpinned by the highly credible threat of U.S. military force, and there is broad bipartisan agreement on that point. If Senator Hagel becomes Secretary of Defense, the military option will have near zero credibility. This sends a dangerous message to the regime in Tehran, as it seeks to obtain the means necessary to harm both the United States and Israel.
We have concluded that Senator Hagel is not the right candidate to hold the office of Secretary of Defense, and we respectfully request that you withdraw his nomination. Thank you for your consideration.
Delivering the Weekly Republican Address, Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL) calls on President Obama and Senate Democrats to join House-led efforts to replace his harmful sequester – not with more tax increases, but with better, responsible spending cuts that put our budget on a path to balance in 10 years. Rep. Roby, now in her second term representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District, serves on the House Armed Services Committee.
NOTE: The Weekly Republican Address is embargoed until 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, February 16, 2013. The audio is accessible now, and video of the address will be available to view and download once the embargo is lifted. A full transcript follows.
“Hello, I’m Martha Roby. It is my honor to represent Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
“As you may know, a series of deep, across-the-board military spending cuts known as ‘the sequester’ will go into effect in less than two weeks. In his State of the Union address, President Obama himself admitted that these cuts were a 'really bad idea.' What the President failed to mention was that the sequester was his idea, proposed by his administration during the debt limit negotiations in 2011. And now we in the House, on behalf of our constituents, are calling on the president to join us in replacing his sequester with better, more responsible spending cuts.
“Just this week, top military commanders testified on Capitol Hill and confirmed what I had feared from the beginning about how the president’s sequester will hurt military installations in Alabama and around the country.
“My district is home to Fort Rucker, the primary flight training base for Army Aviation. If the president’s sequester takes effect, Fort Rucker would lose 500 students training to be combat aviators and roughly 37,000 hours of aviation training. These numbers are astounding. And remember, this is just one set of cuts at one base.
“There is a smarter way to reduce the size of government than to slash defense spending, threaten national security and hurt military families. In fact, the Republican-led House has already voted twice to replace the president’s sequester with targeted spending cuts based on real budget priorities.
“Unfortunately, the Democratic-run Senate never acted on either bill. And, as the clock is ticking towards his devastating sequester, the President has failed to put forward a plan to prevent it. Why? Because President Obama and Senate Democrats see his sequester as an opportunity to push through another tax increase. If you’re feeling a sense of déjà vu, you’re not alone. After all, the ink has barely dried on the tax hikes the president pushed through in January.
“No one in Washington should be talking about raising your taxes when the federal government is still spending billions of dollars on things like giving people free cell phones. And it is a shame that our Commander-in-Chief is using the military he leads as leverage in an ideological crusade for higher taxes. These games have got to stop.
“Our goal every day in Washington should be coming together on issues like creating jobs for hardworking American families, reining in our out-of-control debt, and ensuring America maintains a strong national defense. To meet these goals, we can come together now to replace the president’s sequester – not with more tax increases, but with better, more responsible spending cuts that put our budget on a path to balance in 10 years.
“Thank you for your time. May God bless the men and women of our Armed Forces and may God continue to bless the United States of America.”
Posted by Speaker Boehner Press OfficeFebruary 15, 2013 H-232 The Capitol Washington D.C. 20515 P: (202) 225-0600 F: (202) 225-5117
Rand Paul Delivers Tea Party Response to State of the Union Address 02/12/13 FULL VIDEO TEXT TRANSCRIPT
TEXT TRANSCRIPT:
I speak to you tonight from Washington, D.C. The state of our economy is tenuous but our people remain the greatest example of freedom and prosperity the world has ever known.
People say America is exceptional. I agree, but it's not the complexion of our skin or the twists in our DNA that make us unique. America is exceptional because we were founded upon the notion that everyone should be free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
For the first time in history, men and women were guaranteed a chance to succeed based NOT on who your parents were but on your own initiative and desire to work.
We are in danger, though, of forgetting what made us great. The President seems to think the country can continue to borrow $50,000 per second. The President believes that we should just squeeze more money out of those who are working.
The path we are on is not sustainable, but few in Congress or in this Administration seem to recognize that their actions are endangering the prosperity of this great nation.
Ronald Reagan said, government is not the answer to the problem, government is the problem.
Tonight, the President told the nation he disagrees. President Obama believes government is the solution: More government, more taxes, more debt.
What the President fails to grasp is that the American system that rewards hard work is what made America so prosperous.
What America needs is not Robin Hood but Adam Smith. In the year we won our independence, Adam Smith described what creates the Wealth of Nations.
He described a limited government that largely did not interfere with individuals and their pursuit of happiness.
All that we are, all that we wish to be is now threatened by the notion that you can have something for nothing, that you can have your cake and eat it too, that you can spend a trillion dollars every year that you don't have.
I was elected to the Senate in 2010 by people worried about our country, worried about our kids and their future. I thought I knew how bad it was in Washington. But it is worse than I ever imagined.
Congress is debating the wrong things.
Every debate in Washington is about how much to increase spending - a little or a lot.
About how much to increase taxes - a little or a lot.
The President does a big "woe is me" over the $1.2 trillion sequester that he endorsed and signed into law. Some Republicans are joining him. Few people understand that the sequester doesn't even cut any spending. It just slows the rate of growth. Even with the sequester, government will grow over $7 trillion over the next decade.
Only in Washington could an increase of $7 trillion in spending over a decade be called a cut.
So, what is the President's answer? Over the past four years he has added over $6 trillion in new debt and may well do the same in a second term. What solutions does he offer? He takes entitlement reform off the table and seeks to squeeze more money out of the private sector.
He says he wants a balanced approach.
What the country really needs is a balanced budget.
Washington acts in a way that your family never could - they spend money they do not have, they borrow from future generations, and then they blame each other for never fixing the problem.
Tonight I urge you to demand a new course.
Demand Washington change their ways, or be sent home.
To begin with, we absolutely must pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution!
The amendment must include strict tax and spending limitations.
Liberals complain that the budget can't be balanced but if you cut just one penny from each dollar we currently spend, the budget would balance within six or seven years.
The Penny Plan has been crafted into a bill that millions of conservatives across the country support.
It is often said that there is not enough bipartisanship up here.
That is not true.
In fact, there is plenty.
Both parties have been guilty of spending too much, of protecting their sacred cows, of backroom deals in which everyone up here wins, but every taxpayer loses.
It is time for a new bipartisan consensus.
It is time Democrats admit that not every dollar spent on domestic programs is sacred. And it is time Republicans realize that military spending is not immune to waste and fraud.
Where would we cut spending; well, we could start with ending all foreign aid to countries that are burning our flag and chanting death to America.
The President could begin by stopping the F-16s and Abrams tanks being given to the radical Islamic government of Egypt.
Not only should the sequester stand, many pundits say the sequester really needs to be at least $4 trillion to avoid another downgrade of America's credit rating.
Both parties will have to agree to cut, or we will never fix our fiscal mess.
Bipartisanship is not what is missing in Washington. Common sense is.
Trillion-dollar deficits hurt us all.
Printing more money to feed the never-ending appetite for spending hurts us all.
We pay higher prices every time we go to the supermarket or the gas pump. The value of the dollar shrinks with each new day.
Contrary to what the President claims, big government and debt are not a friend to the poor and the elderly. Big-government debt keeps the poor poor and saps the savings of the elderly.
This massive expansion of the debt destroys savings and steals the value of your wages.
Big government makes it more expensive to put food on the table. Big government is not your friend. The President offers you free stuff but his policies keep you poor.
Under President Obama, the ranks of America's poor swelled to almost 1 in 6 people last year, reaching a new high as long-term unemployment left millions of Americans struggling and out of work.
The cycle must be broken.
The willpower to do this will not come from Congress. It must come from the American people.
Next month, I will propose a five-year balanced budget, a budget that last year was endorsed by taxpayer groups across the country for its boldness, and for actually solving the problem.
I will work with anyone on either side of the aisle who wants to cut spending.
But in recent years, there has been no one to work with.
The President's massive tax hikes and spending increases have caused his budgets to get ZERO votes in both houses of Congress. Not a single Democrat voted for the President's budget!
But at least he tried.
Senate Democrats have not even produced a budget in the time I have been in office, a shameful display of incompetence that illustrates their lack of seriousness.
This year, they say they will have a budget, but after just recently imposing hundreds of billions in new taxes, they now say they will include more tax hikes in their budget.
We must stand firm. We must say NO to any MORE tax hikes!
Only through lower taxes, less regulation and more freedom will the economy begin to grow again.
Our party is the party of growth, jobs and prosperity, and we will boldly lead on these issues.
Under the Obama economy, 12 million people are out of work. During the President's first term 800,000 construction workers lost their jobs and another 800,000 simply gave up on looking for work.
With my five-year budget, millions of jobs would be created by cutting the corporate income tax in half, by creating a flat personal income tax of 17%, and by cutting the regulations that are strangling American businesses.
The only stimulus ever proven to work is leaving more money in the hands of those who earned it!
For those who are struggling we want to you to have something infinitely more valuable than a free phone, we want you to have a job and pathway to success.
We are the party that embraces hard work and ingenuity, therefore we must be the party that embraces the immigrant who wants to come to America for a better future.
We must be the party who sees immigrants as assets, not liabilities.
We must be the party that says, "If you want to work, if you want to become an American, we welcome you."
For those striving to climb the ladder of success we must fix our schools.
America's educational system is leaving behind anyone who starts with disadvantages.
We have cut classroom size in half and tripled spending on education and still we lag behind much of the world.
A great education needs to be available for everyone, whether you live on country club lane or in government housing.
This will only happen when we allow school choice for everyone, rich or poor, white, brown, or black.
Let the taxes you pay for education follow each and every student to the school of your choice.
Competition has made America the richest nation in history. Competition can make our educational system the envy of the world.
The status quo traps poor children in a crumbling system of hopelessness.
When every child can, like the President's kids, go to the school of their choice, then will the dreams of our children come true!
Washington could also use a good dose of transparency, which is why we should fight back against middle of the night deals that end with massive bills no one has read.
We must continue to fight for legislation that forces Congress to read the bills!
We must continue to object when Congress sticks special interest riders on bills in the dead of night!
And if Congress refuses to obey its own rules, if Congress refuses to pass a budget, if Congress refuses to read the bills, then I say:
Sweep the place clean. Limit their terms and send them home!
I have seen the inner sanctum of Congress and believe me there is no monopoly on knowledge there.
If they will not listen, if they will not balance the budget, then we should limit their terms.
We are the party that adheres to the Constitution. We will not let the liberals tread on the Second Amendment!
We will fight to defend the entire Bill of Rights from the right to trial by jury to the right to be free from unlawful searches.
We will stand up against excessive government power wherever we see it.
We cannot and will not allow any President to act as if he were a king.
We will not let any President use executive orders to impinge on the Second Amendment.
We will not tolerate secret lists of American citizens who can be killed without trial.
Montesquieu wrote that there can be no liberty when the executive branch and the legislative branch are combined. Separation of powers is a bedrock principle of our Constitution.
We took the President to court over his unconstitutional recess appointments and won.
If necessary, we will take him to court again if he attempts to legislate by executive order.
Congress must reassert its authority as the protector of these rights, and stand up for them, no matter which party is in power.
Congress must stand as a check to the power of the executive, and it must stand as it was intended, as the voice of the people.
The people are crying out for change. They are asking for us to hear their voices, to fix our broken system, to right our economy and to restore their liberty.
Let us tonight let them know that we hear their voices. That we can and must work together, that we can and must re-chart our course toward a better future.
America has much greatness left in her. We will begin to thrive again when we begin to believe in ourselves again, when we regain our respect for our founding documents, when we balance our budget, when we understand that capitalism and free markets and free individuals are what creates our nation's prosperity.
Marco Rubio Delivers Republican Address to the Nation 02/12/13 FULL VIDEO TEXT TRANSCRIPT
Full text of the GOP response to President Obama's State of the Union address as prepared for delivery and given by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.):
Good evening. I'm Marco Rubio. I'm blessed to represent Florida in the United States Senate. Let me begin by congratulating President Obama on the start of his second term. Tonight, I have the honor of responding to his State of the Union address on behalf of my fellow Republicans. And I am especially honored to be addressing our brave men and women serving in the armed forces and in diplomatic posts around the world. You may be thousands of miles away, but you are always in our prayers.
The State of the Union address is always a reminder of how unique America is. For much of human history, most people were trapped in stagnant societies, where a tiny minority always stayed on top, and no one else even had a chance.
But America is exceptional because we believe that every life, at every stage, is precious, and that everyone everywhere has a God-given right to go as far as their talents and hard work will take them.
Like most Americans, for me this ideal is personal. My parents immigrated here in pursuit of the opportunity to improve their life and give their children the chance at an even better one. They made it to the middle class, my dad working as a bartender and my mother as a cashier and a maid. I didn't inherit any money from them. But I inherited something far better – the real opportunity to accomplish my dreams.
This opportunity – to make it to the middle class or beyond no matter where you start out in life – it isn't bestowed on us from Washington. It comes from a vibrant free economy where people can risk their own money to open a business. And when they succeed, they hire more people, who in turn invest or spend the money they make, helping others start a business and create jobs.
Presidents in both parties – from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan – have known that our free enterprise economy is the source of our middle class prosperity.
But President Obama? He believes it's the cause of our problems. That the economic downturn happened because our government didn't tax enough, spend enough and control enough. And, therefore, as you heard tonight, his solution to virtually every problem we face is for Washington to tax more, borrow more and spend more.
This idea – that our problems were caused by a government that was too small – it's just not true. In fact, a major cause of our recent downturn was a housing crisis created by reckless government policies.
And the idea that more taxes and more government spending is the best way to help hardworking middle class taxpayers – that's an old idea that's failed every time it's been tried.
More government isn't going to help you get ahead. It's going to hold you back.
More government isn't going to create more opportunities. It's going to limit them.
And more government isn't going to inspire new ideas, new businesses and new private sector jobs. It's going to create uncertainty.
Because more government breeds complicated rules and laws that a small business can't afford to follow.
Because more government raises taxes on employers who then pass the costs on to their employees through fewer hours, lower pay and even layoffs.
And because many government programs that claim to help the middle class, often end up hurting them instead.
For example, Obamacare was supposed to help middle class Americans afford health insurance. But now, some people are losing the health insurance they were happy with. And because Obamacare created expensive requirements for companies with more than 50 employees, now many of these businesses aren't hiring. Not only that; they're being forced to lay people off and switch from full-time employees to part-time workers.
Now does this mean there's no role for government? Of course not. It plays a crucial part in keeping us safe, enforcing rules, and providing some security against the risks of modern life. But government's role is wisely limited by the Constitution. And it can't play its essential role when it ignores those limits.
There are valid reasons to be concerned about the President's plan to grow our government. But any time anyone opposes the President's agenda, he and his allies usually respond by falsely attacking their motives.
When we point out that no matter how many job-killing laws we pass, our government can't control the weather – he accuses us of wanting dirty water and dirty air.
When we suggest we strengthen our safety net programs by giving states more flexibility to manage them – he accuses us of wanting to leave the elderly and disabled to fend for themselves.
And tonight, he even criticized us for refusing to raise taxes to delay military cuts – cuts that were his idea in the first place.
But his favorite attack of all is that those who don't agree with him – they only care about rich people.
Mr. President, I still live in the same working class neighborhood I grew up in. My neighbors aren't millionaires. They're retirees who depend on Social Security and Medicare. They're workers who have to get up early tomorrow morning and go to work to pay the bills. They're immigrants, who came here because they were stuck in poverty in countries where the government dominated the economy.
The tax increases and the deficit spending you propose will hurt middle class families. It will cost them their raises. It will cost them their benefits. It may even cost some of them their jobs.
And it will hurt seniors because it does nothing to save Medicare and Social Security.
So Mr. President, I don't oppose your plans because I want to protect the rich. I oppose your plans because I want to protect my neighbors.
Hard-working middle class Americans who don't need us to come up with a plan to grow the government. They want a plan to grow the middle class.
Economic growth is the best way to help the middle class. Unfortunately, our economy actually shrank during the last three months of 2012.
But if we can get the economy to grow at just 4 percent a year, it would create millions of middle class jobs. And it could reduce our deficits by almost $4 trillion dollars over the next decade.
Tax increases can't do this. Raising taxes won't create private sector jobs. And there's no realistic tax increase that could lower our deficits by almost $4 trillion. That's why I hope the President will abandon his obsession with raising taxes and instead work with us to achieve real growth in our economy.
One of the best ways to encourage growth is through our energy industry. Of course solar and wind energy should be a part of our energy portfolio. But God also blessed America with abundant coal, oil and natural gas. Instead of wasting more taxpayer money on so-called "clean energy" companies like Solyndra, let's open up more federal lands for safe and responsible exploration. And let's reform our energy regulations so that they're reasonable and based on common sense. If we can grow our energy industry, it will make us energy independent, it will create middle class jobs and it will help bring manufacturing back from places like China.
Simplifying our tax code will also help the middle class, because it will make it easier for small businesses to hire and grow.
And we agree with the President that we should lower our corporate tax rate, which is one of the highest in the world, so that companies will start bringing their money and their jobs back here from overseas.
We can also help our economy grow if we have a legal immigration system that allows us to attract and assimilate the world's best and brightest. We need a responsible, permanent solution to the problem of those who are here illegally. But first, we must follow through on the broken promises of the past to secure our borders and enforce our laws.
Helping the middle class grow will also require an education system that gives people the skills today's jobs entail and the knowledge that tomorrow's world will require.
We need to incentivize local school districts to offer more advanced placement courses and more vocational and career training.
We need to give all parents, especially the parents of children with special needs, the opportunity to send their children to the school of their choice.
And because tuition costs have grown so fast, we need to change the way we pay for higher education.
I believe in federal financial aid. I couldn't have gone to college without it. But it's not just about spending more money on these programs; it's also about strengthening and modernizing them.
A 21st century workforce should not be forced to accept 20th century education solutions. Today's students aren't only 18 year olds. They're returning veterans. They're single parents who decide to get the education they need to earn a decent wage. And they're workers who have lost jobs that are never coming back and need to be retrained.
We need student aid that does not discriminate against programs that non-traditional students rely on – like online courses, or degree programs that give you credit for work experience.
When I finished school, I owed over 100,000 dollars in student loans, a debt I paid off just a few months ago. Today, many graduates face massive student debt. We must give students more information on the costs and benefits of the student loans they're taking out.
All these measures are key to helping the economy grow. But we won't be able to sustain a vibrant middle class unless we solve our debt problem.
Every dollar our government borrows is money that isn't being invested to create jobs. And the uncertainty created by the debt is one reason why many businesses aren't hiring.
The President loves to blame the debt on President Bush. But President Obama created more debt in four years than his predecessor did in eight.
The real cause of our debt is that our government has been spending 1 trillion dollars more than it takes in every year. That's why we need a balanced budget amendment.
The biggest obstacles to balancing the budget are programs where spending is already locked in. One of these programs, Medicare, is especially important to me. It provided my father the care he needed to battle cancer and ultimately die with dignity. And it pays for the care my mother receives now.
I would never support any changes to Medicare that would hurt seniors like my mother. But anyone who is in favor of leaving Medicare exactly the way it is right now, is in favor of bankrupting it.
Republicans have offered a detailed and credible plan that helps save Medicare without hurting today's retirees. Instead of playing politics with Medicare, when is the President going to offer his plan to save it? Tonight would have been a good time for him to do it.
Of course, we face other challenges as well. We were all heart broken by the recent tragedy in Connecticut. We must effectively deal with the rise of violence in our country. But unconstitutionally undermining the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans is not the way to do it.
On foreign policy, America continues to be indispensable to the goal of global liberty, prosperity and safeguarding human rights. The world is a better place when America is the strongest nation on earth. But we can't remain powerful if we don't have an economy that can afford it.
In the short time I've been here in Washington, nothing has frustrated me more than false choices like the ones the President laid out tonight.
The choice isn't just between big government or big business. What we need is an accountable, efficient and effective government that allows small and new businesses to create middle class jobs.
We don't have to raise taxes to avoid the President's devastating cuts to our military. Republicans have passed a plan that replaces these cuts with responsible spending reforms.
In order to balance our budget, the choice doesn't have to be either higher taxes or dramatic benefit cuts for those in need. Instead we should grow our economy so that we create new taxpayers, not new taxes, and so our government can afford to help those who truly cannot help themselves.
And the truth is every problem can't be solved by government. Many are caused by the moral breakdown in our society. And the answers to those challenges lie primarily in our families and our faiths, not our politicians.
Despite our differences, I know that both Republicans and Democrats love America. I pray we can come together to solve our problems, because the choices before us could not be more important.
If we can get our economy healthy again, our children will be the most prosperous Americans ever.
And if we do not, we will forever be known as the generation responsible for America's decline.
At a time when one showdown after another ends in short-term deals that do little or nothing about our real problems, some are starting to believe that our government leaders just can't or won't make the right choices anymore.
But our strength has never come from the White House or the Capitol. It's always come from our people. A people united by the American idea that, if you have a dream and you are willing to work hard, nothing should be impossible.
Americans have always celebrated and been inspired by those who succeed. But it's the dreams of those who are still trying to make it that sets our nation apart.
Tonight, all across this land, parents will hold their newborn children in their arms for the first time. For many of these parents, life has not gone the way they had planned.
Maybe they were born into circumstances they've found difficult to escape. Maybe they've made some mistakes along the way. Maybe they're young mothers, all alone, the father of their child long gone.
But tonight, when they look into the eyes of their child for the first time, their lives will change forever. Because in those eyes, they will see what my parents saw in me, and what your parents saw in you. They will see all the hopes and dreams they once had for themselves.
This dream – of a better life for their children – it's the hope of parents everywhere. Politicians here and throughout the world have long promised that more government can make those dreams come true.
But we Americans have always known better. From our earliest days, we embraced economic liberty instead. And because we did, America remains one of the few places on earth where dreams like these even have a chance.
Each time our nation has faced great challenges, what has kept us together was our shared hope for a better life.
Now, let that hope bring us together again. To solve the challenges of our time and write the next chapter in the amazing story of the greatest nation man has ever known.
Thank you for listening. May God bless all of you. May God bless our President. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.
2/9/13 - Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Delivers Weekly GOP Address On "America's Energy Future"
Thanks to new technologies, the era of energy scarcity is giving way to one of abundance, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, says in the Weekly Republican Address. Yet despite the brightening energy picture, there are still too many burdensome government regulations, permit delays and overzealous litigation.
To take full advantage of these new energy opportunities, as well as face up to our energy challenges, including job-killing government regulations and red tape, Murkowski this week unveiled a ground-breaking blueprint that charts a path to make energy more abundant, affordable, clean, diverse and secure. "The ideas in my blueprint would create new jobs, generate new revenues, and slash our dependence on foreign energy.
They would shore up our security and strengthen our economy. They would help us minimize the impacts of energy development and reduce the emissions that are blamed for climate change," Murkowski says.
Category: News & Politics. License: Standard YouTube License
Karl Rove Speaks at Ripon College - February 6, 2013 FULL VIDEO. Published on Feb 7, 2013 Ripon College Republicans and Pre-Law Society, with support from the Young Americans Foundation, presented Karl Rove at Ripon College on Wednesday, February 6 in Harwood Memorial Union's Great Hall.
Ripon College is a liberal arts college of around 1,000 students founded in Ripon Wisconsin in 1851. To find out more, visit www.ripon.edu
Category: Education. License: Standard YouTube License
Senator Marco Rubio to Deliver Republican Address to the Nation on February 12
Washington, D.C. – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that they have selected U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to deliver the Republican Address to the Nation following the President’s State of the Union address on February 12, 2013. Sen. Rubio, now in his third year in the U.S. Senate, has been a champion of growing the American middle class through limited government and free enterprise policies, making him a natural choice to outline why the Republican vision can help Americans rise above their current circumstances in the Obama economy.
The address will be delivered in both English and Spanish.
During his first two years in office, Sen. Rubio has been a strong advocate of conservative principles:
He has consistently opposed job-destroying tax increases and spending proposals that fail to stop Washington’s runaway spending.
He has advocated in favor of a strong U.S. role in the world, given voice to the powerless by highlighting human rights abuses around the world, led the fight to protect global Internet freedom, and fought to eradicate the modern day slavery of human trafficking.
He has been a proud defender of religious liberty and the unborn, while stressing the negative impact growing up in unstable and broken homes has on people trying to achieve greater prosperity and stability.
“Marco Rubio is one of our party’s most dynamic and inspiring leaders. He carries our party’s banner of freedom, opportunity and prosperity in a way few others can. His family’s story is a testament to the promise and greatness of America,” said Speaker Boehner. “He’ll deliver a GOP address that speaks from the heart to the hopes and dreams of the middle class; to our party’s commitment to life and liberty; and to the unlimited potential of America when government is limited and effective.”
“Marco Rubio embodies the optimism that lies at the heart of the Republican vision for America. On Tuesday, he will contrast the Republican approach to the challenges we face with President Obama’s vision of an ever-bigger government and the higher taxes that would be needed to pay for it,” said Senator McConnell. “Marco’s own experience as the child of immigrants has always informed his belief in limited government and free enterprise, which is why he has helped lead the fight against out-of-control spending and job-destroying tax hikes that continue to hold our economy back and stifle opportunity for millions. He was a natural choice to deliver the Republicans’ alternative to the administration’s reliance on government and debt.”
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to discuss how limited government and free enterprise have helped make my family’s dreams come true in America,” said Senator Rubio. “Limited government and free enterprise are the very foundation of what makes America special and separates us from the world, particularly through our strong middle class. I look forward to laying out the Republican case of how our ideas can help people close the gap between their dreams and the opportunities to realize them.”
In his U.S. Senate campaign in 2010, Marco Rubio prevailed on a pledge to stand up to Washington’s reckless spending and its assault on the free enterprise system. Today, Rubio proudly represents Florida in the U.S. Senate where he’s working to fulfill his promise to restore fiscal discipline and give job creators more certainty and confidence to open new businesses or expand existing ones. Rubio and his wife, Jeanette, have four young children and live in West Miami. More information on Senator Rubio can be found here.
Senator Marco Rubio 317 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC, 20510 Phone: 202-224-3041
Greg Walden: Fostering Innovation and Job Creation Among Top Priorities at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Winter Meeting
Walden to Highlight Subcommittee's 2013 Agenda Tuesday at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Winter Meeting Fostering Innovation and Job Creation Among Top Priorities
WASHINGTON, DC – Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) will address the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at 8:00 a.m. at the Renaissance Washington Hotel. Walden will outline the subcommittee’s 2013 agenda and discuss how Congress can use the communications and technology sector’s success to spur economic growth and job creation.
WHO: Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden
WHAT: National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Winter Meeting
WHEN: February 5, 2013 @ 8 a.m.
WHERE: Renaissance Washington Hotel-Ballroom South
999 Ninth St NW
HOW: Members of the media must contact Rob Thormeyer for registration details at rthormeyer@naruc.org
###
February 4, 2013 Committee on Energy and Commerce 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-2927 tel (202) 225-1919 fax
WASHINGTON—Today, President Obama is required by law to submit his budget request for Fiscal Year 2014. For the fourth time in five years, however, he will miss the statutory deadline. In response, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin issued the following statement:
"I’m disappointed the President has missed his deadline. But I’m not surprised. In four of the last five years, he’s failed to submit his budget on time. We still don’t know when we’ll receive the president’s request. And for nearly four years, Senate Democrats haven’t passed a budget at all. We deserve better.
"We spend $1 trillion more than we take in each year. In fact, we spend $3 for every $2 we take in. And we can’t keep that up. If we stay on this path, our finances will collapse. The economy will stall. And the most vulnerable will suffer. We need a budget that reflects our priorities—that expands opportunity. The fact is, we cannot achieve those goals unless we budget responsibly.
"Every time the President and Senate Democrats shirk their duty, they delay choices we need to make. We’ve still got time, but it’s dwindling. Every missed deadline is a missed opportunity. We need to get serious about spending now.
"The House Budget Committee will do its job. We’ll write a budget—and submit it on time. In the past two years, we’ve offered our solutions to the country’s fiscal challenges. Now the President must do the same."
###
February 4, 2013. Contact: William Allison 202-226-6100 Committee on the Budget: U.S. House of Representatives 207 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Sen. Paul Statement on Sandy Supplemental Bill Jan 29, 2013
This evening, the U.S. Senate voted on a series of amendments to H.R.152, the Sandy Supplemental Appropriations Bill, to fund disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy. While the H.R.152 passed, with a vote of 62-36; the Lee Amendment No. 4 failed.
Following the votes, Sen. Paul issued the following statement.
"When Hurricane Sandy struck the eastern coast of the U.S., I agreed that we needed to assist those in the affected areas. However, this bill lacked any fiscal restraint or responsibility. The bill was completely unpaid for, adding billions to the debt with money being used for programs known to fund cultural festivals and public art exhibits. In addition, of the $60 billion in total disaster funding provided, only a small fraction will be spent this year; more than half will be spent after 2015. Furthermore, while the cost of this bill will never be offset, the government will still just have spent every dollar of this year's tax hike. We can help those in need, but we should do so providing them with only the resources they need today and prioritizing this funding by reducing spending elsewhere."
President exceeds constitutional authority naming members of the National Labor Relations Board federal appeals court rules FULL TEXT
"To adopt the Board’s proffered intrasession interpretation of “the Recess” would wholly defeat the purpose of the Framers in the careful separation of powers structure"
Argued December 5, 2012 Decided January 25, 2013 No. 12-1115 NOEL CANNING, A DIVISION OF THE NOEL CORPORATION, PETITIONER v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, RESPONDENT INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 760, INTERVENOR Consolidated with 12-1153
On Petition for Review and Cross-Application for Enforcement of an Order of the National Labor Relations Board. Noel Canning v. NLRB FULL TEXT PDF
I. INTRODUCTION
At its inception, this appears to be a routine review of a decision of the National Labor Relations Board over which we have jurisdiction under 29 U.S.C. § 160(e) and (f), providing that petitions for review of Board orders may be filed in this
court. The Board issued its order on February 8, 2012. On February 24, 2012, the company filed a petition for review in this court, and the Board filed its cross-application for enforcement on March 20, 2012.
While the posture of the petition is routine, as it developed, our review is not. In its brief before us, Noel Canning (along with a movant for status as intervenor whose motion we will dismiss for reasons set forth hereinafter) questions the authority of the Board to issue the order on two constitutional grounds. First, petitioner asserts that the Board lacked authority to act for want of a quorum, as three members of the five-member Board were never validly appointed because they took office under putative recess appointments which were made when the Senate was not in recess.
Second, it asserts that the vacancies these three members purportedly filled did not “happen during the Recess of the Senate,” as required for recess appointments by the Constitution. U.S. Const. art. II, § 2, cl. 3. Because the Board must have a quorum in order to lawfully take action, if petitioner is correct in either of these assertions, then the order under review is void ab initio. See New Process Steel, L.P. v. NLRB, 130 S. Ct. 2635 (2010). Noel Canning v. NLRB FULL TEXT PDF
Sen. Rand Paul Questions Secretary Clinton at SFRC Benghazi hearing 012313 - FULL VIDEO
Sen. Paul Questions Secretary Clinton at Benghazi Hearing ‘Had I been President, I would have relieved Secretary Clinton of her duties’
Jan 23, 2013. WASHINGTON, D.C. - This morning, Sen. Rand Paul attended his first Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, which involved the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and the subsequent deaths of four Americans. Below is video of Sen. Paul's remarks and questions:
Published on Jan 23, 2013. No description available. Category: News & Politics. License Standard YouTube License.
Crossroads GPS Obama's "liberal" inauguration speech VIDEO
Obama gave the most liberal inauguration speech in history yesterday, according to...the mainstream media (!) Crossroads GPS compiles it all in a new video, here:
Crossroads GPS compiles mainstream media's account of what they call Obama's "liberal" inauguration speech. Category: Nonprofits and Activism. License: Standard YouTube License. Published on Jan 22, 2013.
NRA: Protection For Obama's Kids, Gun-Free Zones For Ours?
Published on Jan 16, 2013. Why is President Obama so skeptical about putting armed security in our schools? It's okay for his kids, but not ours? We want our fair share of security, too. NRA Stand And Fight.
Category: News & Politics. License: Standard YouTube License.
Linn County Oregon Sheriff Tim Mueller puts the Obama administration on notice that he will not enforce unconstitutional gun confiscation programs.
“Any federal regulation enacted by Congress or by executive order of the president offending the constitutional rights of my citizens shall not be enforced by me or by my deputies,” ... “Nor will I permit the enforcement of any unconstitutional regulations or orders by federal officers within the borders of Linn County, OR.” - Sheriff Tim Mueller
On June 1, 2005 Tim Mueller was sworn in as the 38th Linn County Sheriff, replacing Sheriff Dave Burright who assumed the executive director`s position with the Oregon State Sheriff`s Association.
In May 2006, in a three-way race, Sheriff Mueller was elected Sheriff in his own right when Linn County voters gave him 77 percent of the votes. In 2010, he ran unopposed and was re-elected. He is currently serving his second term.
The letter below explains Sheriff Tim Mueller's stance on unconstitutional firearms regulations.
Linn County Sheriff @LinnCountySO is the official Twitter of the Linn County Sheriff's Office in Albany, Oregon - Sheriff Tim Mueller. Albany, Linn County, Oregon · LinnSheriff.org
Sheriff Tim Mueller is humbled and amazed by the support of people near and far in response to his letter to VP Biden. Thank you!
1/12/13 - Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) Delivers Weekly GOP Address On Cutting Out-Of-Control Spending
In the Weekly Republican Address, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) points out that with the tax debate over, Washington can now focus on the real source of our nation's deficits: out-of-control Washington spending. Sen. Fischer calls on Congress to make the difficult decisions now: "It's time for serious action. No more kicking the can down the road.
No more using the threat of middle class tax hikes to force last minute deal-making. The debate over taxes and revenues is done. Tax increases barely pay for a few days of government spending and in all my years of public service, I have never had constituents ask me to raise their taxes. The problem is not that the American people are taxed too little; it's that the federal government spends too much."
Category: News and Politics. License: Standard YouTube License.
George P. Bush at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Date 18 June 2011
George P. Bush "We are for sure running, the question is the office,"
"we want to be team players in the party, providing a younger, fresher vision for our values."
"I don't necessarily agree with the idea that having a candidate of Hispanic origin, or someone who can speak Spanish, can automatically obtain these votes," ... "It's important tactically to have candidates that understand the issues of the community."
"It's always been a thing of my grandmother to say, 'Go out and make a name for yourself' and that's something that I've followed," ... "But who better to ask for advice on politics than two former presidents and a former governor? They're not involved in the day-to-day operations. They're not involved in formulating my ideology. It's more of an informal advice."
Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling Responds to CFPB’s New Mortgage Rules.
Washington, Jan 10 - Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling made the following comments about the Ability to Repay and Qualified Mortgage rule released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today:
“The CFPB has been given a job that is both impossible and dangerous. Impossible because the CFPB is a big government bureaucracy in Washington attempting to determine which mortgages are appropriate for 100 million Americans, each of whom have their own personal circumstances that the CFPB knows nothing about. Dangerous because the CFPB has been given vast, unprecedented and unchecked power, all delegated to a single director whose alleged recess appointment by the President is legally questionable. Rather than bringing greater certainty to the marketplace, every decision made by the CFPB will therefore be under a cloud. All could be overturned because the CFPB director’s appointment is possibly unconstitutional, unlawful or both.
“These types of ‘one-size fits all’ solutions always – always – are fraught with unintended consequences. After all, government regulations and policies that strong-armed, incented and cajoled financial institutions into loaning money to people to buy homes they couldn’t afford are a major reason why we had the financial crisis to begin with. Ironically, now we have government regulations attempting to tell financial institutions not to do what the government was telling them to do before.
“We have already started to see a consolidation in this market as participants, including banks and other mortgage loan originators, pull back from offering their products and services. As the Financial Services Committee examines this and other mortgage rules, we will look to see how they will impact a community financial institution’s ability to compete and offer sustainable, affordable mortgages, or whether they will cause a further consolidation toward our nation’s perceived ‘too big to fail’ banks. We will also examine the extent to which these rules impact a qualified consumer’s ability to access credit, particularly for consumers in small and rural markets.”
House Committee on Financial Services: 2129 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 T (202) 225-7502 Press (202) 226-0471
Rand Paul traveling through Israel this week. This via Lone Star Communications press release Wednesday.
“Historically America has sought stability with very mixed results around the world by arming both sides of conflicts,” ... “I fear that one day our Israeli friends might face American-made F-16s and Abrams tanks that our foreign aid has been providing to some very questionable countries that sit on Israel’s border.”
This via Lone Star's Facebook page: Lone Star Communications is one of Israel's most dynamic public affairs and media relations consultancies. Specializing in both international and domestic media, LS is headed by Charley J. Levine.
Founder and President of the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies Corinne Sauer welcomes US Senator Rand Paul for a private briefing to review US Foreign Aid to the Middle East
The Office of the House Clerk today announced that House floor summaries are now available for bulk download in XML. Each House session (roughly a calendar year) is available in one bulk file, going back to the 109th Congress (2005). Click here and select the “Download XML” tab to try it out.
This project is the first of several to be rolled out in the 113th Congress that were coordinated or initiated by the Legislative Branch Bulk Data Task Force. The task force was created to expedite the process of providing bulk access to legislative information and to increase transparency for the American people. It includes the House Clerk, legislative branch agencies such as the Government Printing Office and Library of Congress, representatives from House leadership and key committees, and the House Chief Administrative Officer.
Open government is and has been a priority for House leaders. In fact, the Clerk began offering real-time updates on House floor proceedings in XML back in 2011. The feed of real-time information complemented HouseLive.gov, a new video streaming feature they set up for desktop and mobile devices. The House also began utilizing new low-cost video conferencing tools, streaming committee hearings online, working with developers and transparency advocates, and more.
Today’s announcement is yet another step in the effort to make the legislative process more open and accessible – and there are more to come. Stay tuned.
Office of the Speaker H-232 The Capitol. Washington, DC 20515. Phone: (202) 225-0600. Fax: (202) 225-5117.
Washington, DC – Today, Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) released the following statement in reaction to the December jobs report from the U.S. Department of Labor. A net total of 155,000 jobs were created, and the unemployment rate for December rose to 7.8 percent from the 7.7 percent rate previously reported for November.
"It is clear there is still a long way to go before we can declare the economy is healthy again. This week, we took a critical step toward strengthening our economy by making Republican tax cuts permanent so that more money stays in the hands of families and job creators, but that was a first step and not the last step. The simple truth is that our tax code is a nightmare. Washington must work with the American people to pass and enact comprehensive tax reform that makes the tax code simpler and fairer so they are in control of their economic security, rather than Washington."
###
House Committee on Ways and Means: 1101 Longworth HOB, Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone (202) 225-3625 Fax (202) 225-2610 Michelle Dimarob, or Sarah Swinehart (202) 226-4774
Chairman Ryan Statement On Raising NFIP’s Debt Ceiling - WASHINGTON—House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin issued the following statement upon passage of legislation to increase the FEMA’s borrowing authority to carry out the Flood Insurance Program:
"I agree with my colleagues that we must help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. We should meet all of their needs as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, Washington's legislative response fails on both counts. It refuses to distinguish—or even prioritize—disaster relief over pork-barrel spending.
"Today’s legislation concerns the National Flood Insurance Program, a program $20 billion in debt and in desperate need of reform. The GAO has said that, in the future, NFIP may need to borrow money just to meet its interest payments. This legislation proposes to increase the program’s borrowing authority by $9.7 billion. It would be irresponsible to raise an insolvent program’s debt ceiling without making the necessary reforms.
"Likewise, CBO projects that nearly half of the money in the bill won’t be spent until 2014 or beyond. In fact, some of the new spending would be for claims unrelated to Hurricane Sandy. In a time of crisis, we must ensure that every dollar we spend is on those who need it. President Obama and Congress owe the people of New York and New Jersey better."
###
Committee on the Budget: U.S. House of Representatives 207 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Contact: Conor Sweeney, William Allison 202-226-6100
Rules Package for the 113th Congress. Date: January 2, 2013 (113th Congress, 1st Session) Staff Contact: Kimberly Betz
the House is scheduled to adopt H. Res. 5 – House Rules for the 113th Congress.
On Thursday, January 3, 2013, the House is scheduled to adopt H. Res. 5 – House Rules for the 113th Congress.
At the beginning of a Congress, the House must not only constitute itself, but must also approve rules. A newly elected House typically adopts the rules of the previous Congress with specific amendments. The proposed rules are offered in the form of a House resolution, which is considered under “general parliamentary law” which is interpreted to include the rules of the previous Congress (CRS RL 30725).
H. Res. 5 provides that the Rules of the 112th Congress are the Rules of the 113th Congress, with the following amendments and orders:
The frequency of committee activity reports is reduced from four times per Congress to two times per Congress, and end of session reports are allowed through January 2 of each year.
The Chair is authorized to reduce the time from five minutes to not less than two minutes for a vote after a quorum call in the Committee of the Whole, and the Speaker is authorized to reduce the time for a vote on any question under consideration by the Committee of the Whole.
The jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security is clarified to include general management of the Department of Homeland Security. The jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources is clarified to reflect terminology used by Departments of State and Interior.
The current nepotism rule is expanded to prohibit Members from employing their grandchildren.
Restrictions on the use of private aircraft by House members are amended to conform to Senate rules. Members are allowed to pay their pro rata share of a flight based on the fair market value of the flight, and may use personal or official funds to do so.
The requirement for printing Member Financial Disclosures is eliminated, due to the online disclosure requirement under the STOCK Act.
The prohibition on any former Members, former officers, or spouses who are registered lobbyists from accessing House exercise facilities is continued.
The provisions in H. Res. 451 (110th Congress) directing the Committee on Ethics to empanel investigative subcommittees within 30 days after a Member is indicted or criminal charges are filed are continued.
Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that would limit the ability of the House in considering recommendations from the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) are eliminated.
Section 306 of the Budget Act (which prohibits consideration of legislation within the Budget Committee’s jurisdiction unless referred to or reported by the Budget Committee) is clarified to only apply to bills and joint resolutions, and not to simple or concurrent resolutions.
Section 303 point of order (requiring adoption of budget resolution before consideration of budget-related legislation) is applicable to text made in order as an original bill by a special rule.
The Committee of the Whole is prevented from rising to report a bill that exceeds the 302(b) subcommittee allocations as estimated by the Budget Committee.
The current House Budget Resolution spending authority will be in effect until a budget for FY14 is adopted.
The Spending Reduction Accounts provided in appropriations bills are continued, allowing Members to rescind funds in the bill under consideration via the amendment process. The overall discretionary spending cap would remain unaffected.
The Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Affairs are allowed up to seven subcommittees each, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is allowed up to six subcommittees.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is authorized to continue litigation to enforce a subpoena against the Attorney General regarding the “Fast and Furious” incidents.
The following entities are reauthorized: Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, House Democracy Partnership, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and the Office of Congressional Ethics.
The Speaker is allowed to recognize Members for the reading of the Constitution on any legislative day through January 15, 2013.
The Speaker is allowed to reduce votes on all motions to recommit to not less than 5 minutes.
For any bill reported by a committee, the accompanying report must include an estimate of the number of directed rule-makings in the accompanying legislation.
Committee reports must include provisions of current law that surround modifications if doing so is useful to enable the intent and effect of the amendment to be clearly understood.
Legislative counsel and others who draft legislation are required to include parallel citations to U.S. Code when they are available.
Any standing committee of the House may request GAO to complete an analysis of legislation referred to that committee to assess whether it creates duplicative or overlapping federal programs. Bill reports must disclose the establishment of any known duplicative federal program.
Budget resolutions are required to contain information about the historical and projected growth of means-tested and non-means-tested direct spending.
Miscellaneous technical and conforming amendments.
On January 5, 2011, the House passed H. Res. 5, the House Rules for the 112th Congress, by a vote of 240-191.
House Republican Todd Rokita spoke with News 18 over the phone Monday afternoon about the impending fiscal cliff VIDEO
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - House Republican Todd Rokita spoke with News 18 over the phone Monday afternoon about the impending fiscal cliff.
He said he doesn't have a line in the sand for income levels for tax cuts, whether it's $400,000, or any other number. He said what he's more interested in seeing is the things that are attached to that number, whether an extension of unemployment benefits or fixing Medicare payments for doctors.
He said the number of House Republican votes will depend on those numbers.
Even with Monday night's proposed agreement, he added, it doesn't really solve what he calls the real fiscal cliff - the impending financial issues with programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. But he's hopeful recent financial impasses over temporary fixes have made everyone realize that a permanent fix is needed.
"The more we have this discussion, and the more times we have this discussion, the more of America I think wakes up and says, 'Look, we are not doing this to our children and grandchildren anymore,'" Rokita said. "I've seen the momentum gained over the two years I've been in Congress."
The House is due back at noon Tuesday and will get the bill once the Senate passes it.
Rep. Rokita talks fiscal cliff. Updated: Tuesday, 01 Jan 2013, 8:09 AM EST. Published : Monday, 31 Dec 2012, 11:33 PM EST. Dan Klein. Category: News & Politics. License. Standard YouTube License
U.S. Representative Todd Rokita. Washington, DC 236 Cannon HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5037 Fax: (202) 226-0544
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.
