Mike Pence Denounces Democrats’ Latest National Energy Tax

This measure will force Americans to pay more for everyday necessities like gas and electricity.

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference and the American Energy Solutions Group, released the following statement today after Senate Democrats introduced their latest version of climate legislation:

"In Indiana and across this nation, Americans want Congress to focus on policies that will create jobs. Instead, Democrats are continuing to push a job-killing national energy tax that will cap growth and trade jobs. This measure will force Americans to pay more for essentials like gas and electricity and force businesses to lay off workers; a point recently confirmed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which said a cap-and-tax system will lead to higher unemployment and lower wages. This bill is essentially an economic declaration of war on middle America.

"What the American people need is an environmentally-responsible all-of-the-above energy plan that develops American resources, creates jobs, and promotes energy independence. House Republicans continue to offer that plan." ###

For Additional Information Contact Matt Lloyd or Mary Vought at (202) 226-9000 or matt.lloyd@mail.house.gov

Kerry-Lieberman Would ‘Crash Dive’ Economy Back to the 1870s

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today made the following statement on the global warming bill announced by U.S. Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.:

“Put me down as skeptical of Kerry-Lieberman’s chances despite the uptick in political pressure now because, as the BBC aptly put it this morning, ‘After the elections, the Democrats may well lose their stranglehold on Congress.’

“Its authors say their new bill isn’t warmed over cap and trade, but there aren’t many differences between Waxman-Markey and Kerry-Lieberman where it counts – Government-set prices on CO2, sweetheart deals for supportive industries and states with their own fledgling cap-and-trade systems, and economic punishments for anybody who doesn’t get with the program. And just like with Waxman-Markey, we’ll need to crash dive the economy back to something resembling the 1870s in order to reach the anti-global warming targets that Kerry-Lieberman sets for 2020, 2030 and 2050.

“I think these kinds of efforts fail largely because most Americans refuse to accept that global warming means our best days are behind us. Nobody I know thinks it’s good that a reenactment of their great-great-grandparents’ lives is the best they can hope to pass on to their children.”

House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans May 12, 2010 2322A Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-3641

Sen. Inhofe on Fox Business Declares Senate Climate Bill Dead VIDEO

Kerry-Lieberman: Cap-and-Trade With a Gas Tax. Inhofe Says Bill Will Kill Jobs, Hit the Heartland Hard

Washington, D.C. - Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, commented today on the Kerry-Lieberman cap-and-trade bill and its eventual political fate in the Senate:

"My first reaction to the Kerry-Lieberman bill is that it's the same old cap-and-trade scheme that the Senate has defeated three times since 2003," Senator Inhofe said. "In fact, it has a strong resemblance to the disastrous Waxman-Markey bill. Only now, along with paying skyrocketing electricity prices, consumers will pay a gas tax.

"The Kerry-Lieberman cap-and-trade proposal is just like Waxman-Markey in another key respect: it will destroy millions of good-paying jobs, many of which will be lost in regions, such as the Midwest, South, and Great Plains, which depend on coal for electricity. Given these facts, it's no wonder that this massive energy tax is opposed by Republicans and Democrats alike, and that is has virtually no chance of passing the Senate."

"The sooner we reject global warming cap-and-trade legislation, and get to work on an all-of the-above energy policy, the sooner the American public will have access to affordable, abundant, American-made energy." ###

U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works :: Minority Page Posted by Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov

Contact:

Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797
David_Lungren@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-5642

VIDEO CREDIT: JimInhofePressOfficea

GOP Leaders to the President: The FCC’s Government Takeover of the Internet Would Kill Jobs, Undermine Our Economy

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) sent a letter to President Obama today urging him to rein in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and stop its new plan to impose job-killing “net neutrality” regulations that will undermine job creation in America.

“We are writing to respectfully urge immediate reconsideration of your administration’s plan for federal regulation of the Internet, and to warn that implementation of such a plan will needlessly inhibit the creation of American private sector jobs, limit economic freedom and innovation, and open the door to Internet taxation,” Boehner and Cantor wrote in the letter. “With nearly 10 percent unemployment the new ‘network neutrality’ plan announced last week by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could hardly come at a worse time for our nation’s economy, which is already struggling against a steady flow of increased government spending and taxation from Washington.”

“The FCC’s political agenda threatens to slow job-creating investments and jeopardizes our economic recovery. It’s not too late to rein in the FCC’s push to regulate the Internet. With so many Americans out of work we should be working together to unleash the full job-creating potential of the private sector, including the Internet, rather than stifling such growth through expansions of federal power and taxation,” the letter concludes.

NOTE: Following is the full letter PDF from Boehner and Cantor to the President. It follows a similar letter PDF from Boehner and Cantor to the President last October.

May 12, 2010

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

We are writing to respectfully urge immediate reconsideration of your administration’s plan for federal regulation of the Internet, and to warn that implementation of such a plan will needlessly inhibit the creation of American private sector jobs, limit economic freedom and innovation, and open the door to Internet taxation. With nearly 10 percent unemployment the new “network neutrality” plan announced last week by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could hardly come at a worse time for our nation’s economy, which is already struggling against a steady flow of increased government spending and taxation from Washington.

We wrote you eight months ago expressing our dismay that, with Americans struggling through the worst economic decline in a generation, the FCC was engaged in a counterproductive crusade to regulate the Internet. We noted that private sector investment has been a cornerstone of broadband deployment, and that imposing network neutrality regulations would only serve to stifle one of the remaining bright spots in our economy. To help expedite our recovery and create jobs, we urged you to refocus the Commission on promoting broadband investment and deployment. Many parties, including business leaders, investment analysts, several labor unions, the Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and more than 70 House Democrats echoed our concerns.

Almost a year later, with our economy still in a precarious state, the FCC Chairman continues to hurtle the agency down a misguided path. Since our letter, the Commission’s broadband plan confirmed that our nation’s deregulatory approach has helped the private sector deploy broadband to 95 percent of U.S households and led 200 million Americans to subscribe in the last decade. And last month, the D.C. Circuit rebuked the FCC’s attempt to micromanage Comcast’s network management of Internet congestion. Yet FCC Chairman Genachowski is now threatening to regulate broadband as an old-fashioned, monopoly-era phone service, contradicting a decade of FCC decisions under Democratic and Republican administrations.

As the pretext for this government takeover of yet another sector of our economy, the Chairman claims he cannot implement the broadband plan in the wake of the Comcast decision. Even if this assertion were true, the Chairman’s proper course should be to seek additional authority from Congress. Instead, the Chairman has chosen a politically-motivated end-run around both the courts and the Congress to implement his network neutrality regulations.

The FCC’s political agenda threatens to slow job-creating investments and jeopardizes our economic recovery. It’s not too late to rein in the FCC’s push to regulate the Internet. With so many Americans out of work we should be working together to unleash the full job-creating potential of the private sector, including the Internet, rather than stifling such growth through expansions of federal power and taxation.

Sincerely,

John Boehner
Republican Leader

Eric Cantor
Republican Whip

cc: Chairman Julius Genachowski, Federal Communications Commission #####

Complete The Danged Fence VIDEO

Senator John McCain and Sheriff Paul Babeu discuss the McCain / Kyl 10 Point Border Security Plan. You can view the plan at CompleteTheDangedFence.com

Operating on Counterfeit Money VIDEO

On Thursday, Congressman Paul appeared on Fox News' America Live to discuss the crisis in Greece, its similarities to the U.S.' situation, and what we can expect to see next.

TEXT CREDIT: Campaign For Liberty

VIDEO CREDIT: CongressmanRonPaul

Campaign for Liberty Statement on the Fed’s European Bailout

Below is a statement on the latest Federal Reserve actions concerning the financial crisis in Europe:

Late Sunday, we learned that the Federal Reserve opened a program to ship U.S. dollars to Europe in an attempt to avoid the spread of a financial crisis occurring in that region.

The United States, through the International Monetary Fund, has already pledged the bulk of a $1 trillion aid package to bailout the euro, which is suffering due to the Greek debt crisis. This latest move only further confirms suspicions raised by Congressman Ron Paul in his questioning of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke at an April Joint Economic Committee hearing.

Chairman Bernanke responded with annoyance at the suggestion of the Fed being involved in bailout discussions about Greece, but it has proven to be the case as the Greek crisis continues to drag down the rest of Europe.

Campaign for Liberty has been sounding the alarm about greater Fed transparency. This latest crisis is just a prelude to something much more expansive, so it has never been more critical we know what our central bank is doing.

Greece and the majority of European nations are an example we have yet to take to heart here in the U.S. Our government has been living beyond its means for far too long and delaying the needed corrections through manipulating monetary policy, making the ultimate outcome much worse and prolonging the agony once it arrives.

We must take heed from the example of some of the worst tendencies of Keynesianism now on display. Our leaders continue to believe that spending more money we do not have will get us out of the hole we are in, due to spending money we did not have propping up systems that are unsustainable.

Campaign for Liberty demands that Congressman Paul's H.R. 1207 and its companion, S. 604, which require a complete and thorough audit of the Federal Reserve by the Government Accountability Office, be given an up or down vote as a standalone measure.

Campaign For Liberty | 5211 Port Royal Road, Suite 310, Springfield, VA 22151 | (703) 865-7162 (V) | (703) 865-7549 (F) Posted by Gary Howard on 05/11/10 10:11 AM

Pat Toomey Releases First Campaign Ad; Future Generations Need Taxpayer Hero Toomey in the U.S. Senate VIDEO

Allentown, PA – U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey released his first TV ad of the election, introducing himself to voters across Pennsylvania. The ad begins airing today statewide on broadcast and cable TV stations, and will air for an indefinite period of time.

Titled “Generations,” the ad tells voters about Pat Toomey’s record of standing up for taxpayers. In a time of trillion dollar bailouts and deficits, government-run health care, and record unemployment, Pennsylvanians need a senator with a track record of opposing government waste and understands what small businesses need to thrive.

Pat is a former small-businessman who owned and ran a chain of restaurants with his brothers in the Lehigh Valley area. He knows firsthand how excessive government regulation and taxation hinder small business growth. When Pat served in Congress, he was called a “taxpayer hero” by the nonpartisan fiscal watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste and was endorsed by the Allentown Morning Call in his 2000 Congressional race because “he put his principles ahead of party-line obedience” (Morning Call, 10/15/00).

Pat also has a history of standing up to both Republicans and Democrats in order to save taxpayer dollars. In 2000, Pat pushed Republican leaders to use a portion of the federal surplus toward paying down the country’s debt. The Morning Call was so impressed with Pat’s efforts, they wrote, “At a time when both parties were talking about reducing debt, tax cuts, and new spending, Mr. Toomey’s efforts kept everyone honest” (Morning Call, 10/15/00). Pat also led an unheard of “filibuster” on the floor of the House of Representatives in 2002 in order to force both Democrats and Republicans to reduce spending (Associated Press, 07/17/02).

Also appearing in a speaking role in “Generations” is Pat and Kris Toomey’s oldest child, Bridget Toomey, age 9. Younger brother Patrick, age 8, also appears in the ad. Pat and Kris welcomed their third child, Duncan Toomey, into the world just last Tuesday, May 4th. Keen observers might be able to detect that the ad was filmed prior to Duncan’s birth.

Transcript:

Voiceover: Trillion dollar bailouts and deficits, government-run health care, record unemployment. Had enough? Pat Toomey is a former small business owner who’s created Pennsylvania jobs. He’s been called a “taxpayer hero” who “puts principles ahead of party line obedience.” Toomey’s taken on both parties when they waste tax dollars.
Pat Toomey: I’m Pat Toomey and I approve this message because future generations deserve better.

Bridget Toomey (age 9): And I agree.

Voiceover: More jobs, less government. Pat Toomey.

Documentation:

“Taxpayer Hero”
Citizens Against Government Waste rates members of Congress every year based on how fiscally responsible their votes are. Members with a rating of 80% and above are deemed “taxpayer heroes.” Pat received the “taxpayer hero” status every single year he was in Congress.

“Put his principles ahead of party line obedience”
The Allentown Morning Call endorsed Pat Toomey in his 2000 congressional race over Democrat Ed O’Brien, writing: “After having talked in his 1998 campaign about going to Congress to work toward fiscal discipline, he put his principles ahead of party-line obedience. The best illustration of this came in March of this year when he pulled enough conservative allies together to force Speaker Dennis Hastert to negotiate with him to set aside $4 billion in projected surplus funds for debt reduction . . . At a time when both parties were talking about reducing debt, tax cuts, and new spending, Mr. Toomey’s efforts kept everyone honest.” (Morning Call endorsement, 10/15/00)

“Toomey’s taken on both parties when they waste tax dollars”

- Pat criticized Republican leaders in 1999 when they wanted to eradicate spending caps they had passed in 1997. Pat told the Morning Call, “What surprises me is that we have to have this conversation. In 1997, the President and Congress agreed to spending levels that I think were too high then. Now we’re saying, ‘Well gee, do you stick with those commitments or not?’ Well, I think that’s a no-brainer—you stick with the cap.” (Morning Call, 03/25/99)

- Pat took on the Republican leadership and won a guarantee to use a portion of the surplus to pay off the federal debt. The Morning Call wrote: “Just getting debt reduction into the $1.82 trillion budget resolution was a coup. But to do it knowing it could threaten a $9 billion supplemental appropriations bill supported by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, took moxie. The move surprised Speaker Hastert and House Appropriations Chairman Bill Young, and Rep. Young threatened to kill the budget resolution unless Rep. Toomey’s provision was killed. Finally, he agreed to that in exchange for the debt-reduction promise.” (Morning Call, 03/26/00)

- Pat was instrumental in convincing Republican leaders to maintain rules mandating term limits for committee chairs, originally passed in 1995. The Morning Call praised Pat for his effort, writing: “Constituents of the 15th and 8th Congressional Districts can feel a measure of pride in their Republican representatives for the leadership and wisdom they demonstrated in Washington this week. U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey was instrumental in convincing his Republican colleagues Wednesday to keep a three-term limit on committee and subcommittee chairmen.” (Morning Call, 11/17/00)

- Pat and other congressmen led a “filibuster” against his own Republican leadership in order to force House leaders to restrain spending. They offered a series of amendments on the $19.8 billion Interior Department bill, nearly $900 million more than the President’s request (Associated Press, 07/17/02).


Pat Toomey for U.S. Senate Mon, 05/10/2010 Contact—Nachama Soloveichik • 484.809.7994 • 646.528.1029 Tim Kelly • 484.809.7994 For Immediate Release—May 10, 2010

Jon Kyl Statement on Kagan Nomination

“As I made clear when I supported her confirmation as Solicitor General, a temporary political appointment is far different than a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Republican Whip Jon Kyl, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the following statement today regarding the nomination of Elena Kagan to serve as an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court:

“I congratulate Ms. Kagan on her nomination to the United States Supreme Court.

“Every Senator has a constitutional duty to scrutinize judicial nominees, and I will take great care in examining her record to ensure that she possesses the qualities the American people expect in our Supreme Court Justices. I expect Senate Democrats will allow ample time for the Senate to conduct this vetting process.

“As I made clear when I supported her confirmation as Solicitor General, a temporary political appointment is far different than a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.” ###

United States Senator Jon Kyl FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2010 CONTACT: Andrew Wilder or Ryan Patmintra WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE 730 Hart Senate Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-4521 Fax: (202) 224-2207

John Boehner Statement on Solicitor General Elena Kagan’s Nomination

Uploaded on March 20, 2010 by House GOP Leader All rights reserved.

GOP Leader: “Given her lack of judicial experience or time spent as a practicing lawyer, other aspects of her record must be thoroughly examined, including her troubling decision to ban United States Armed Forces recruiters from Harvard Law School.” Washington, May 10 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) released the following statement today on President Obama’s decision to nominate Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court:

“Supreme Court nominees undergo a rigorous examination for a reason. No other appointment in the federal government can be as powerful and as long-lasting.

“Solicitor General Kagan’s record must be scrutinized to ensure that she is dedicated to applying the law equally and impartially to all, not promoting a particular ideological agenda or legislating from the bench.

“Given her lack of judicial experience, or time spent as a practicing lawyer, other aspects of her record must be thoroughly examined, including her troubling decision to ban United States Armed Forces recruiters from Harvard Law School. As one liberal journalist wrote recently, ‘Barring the military from campus is a bit like barring the president or even the flag. It’s more than a statement of criticism; it’s a statement of national estrangement.’

“On this, and other issues – including the Constitutional questions arising from Washington Democrats’ new health care law - Solicitor General Kagan deserves a fair hearing on her qualifications, and her commitment to fairness, the rule of law, and interpreting the Constitution as written.”

NOTE: Peter Beinart, a senior political writer for The Daily Beast, an associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation, wrote on April 19 that, “The United States military is not Procter and Gamble. It is not just another employer. It is the institution whose members risk their lives to protect the country. You can disagree with the policies of the American military; you can even hate them, but you can’t alienate yourself from the institution without in a certain sense alienating yourself from the country. Barring the military from campus is a bit like barring the president or even the flag. It’s more than a statement of criticism; it’s a statement of national estrangement.”

Mike Pence Says No More U.S. Taxpayer Dollars for European Bailouts

Latest Near $1 Trillion Bailout of Euro Comes on the Heels of Bailout for Greece

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, issued the following statement today regarding news that the United States is being asked to participate in a near $1 trillion bailout to keep the Euro afloat. This comes on the heels of American taxpayers being forced to share in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) bailout of Greece. The United States is the world's largest contributor to the IMF. Pence said:

"The bailout of Greece set a dangerous precedent of using American tax dollars for other European bailouts. Now Americans are waking up to the harsh reality that they may be on the hook to keep the Euro afloat as well.

"It is important for world markets that Greece and other European nations right their economic ships, but American taxpayers should not be responsible for bailing out nations that have created their own debt crises through out-of-control spending.

"With Portugal, Spain and perhaps others to follow in Greece's footsteps in the near future, this action shows the Obama Administration is headed down a dangerous path of bailing out European countries at a time when we face our own debt crisis." ###

Contact Matt Lloyd or Mary Vought at (202) 226-9000 or matt.lloyd@mail.house.gov

Tim Bridgewater Thank You

A special thanks to all of our supporters who worked so hard for us through this convention. Yesterday was a great day for Team Bridgewater. Finishing with 57% of the delegate vote. We appreciate all of your hard work, loyalty, and dedication and appreciate getting to know all of the other fine candidates in the race.

We welcome supporters of other campaigns as part of the team and look forward to a Primary Election with Mike Lee.

Here are the final results:

1. Tim Bridgewater – 57.28% (Total Votes 1854)
2. Mike Lee – 42.72% (Total Votes 1383)
Total 3237

TEXT CREDIT: Bridgewater for Senate

PHOTO CREDIT: BridgewaterForSenate

Republicans Urge Careful Consideration of Proposal to Rewrite Civil Rights Laws

Legislation “may enhance protections for lawyers, but do nothing for individuals.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions heard testimony today raising serious questions about a proposed overhaul of anti-discrimination laws, including potential unintended consequences of the proposed legislation on a broad range of existing federal and state laws. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (H.R. 3721) seeks to address the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Gross vs. FBL Financial Services (Gross) regarding claims of employment-based age discrimination:

“Now, one can argue whether the Gross case was properly decided by the Supreme Court – it was a narrowly-divided decision, and included a strong dissent,” said Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), the senior Republican on the Subcommittee for Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions. “Good minds can and will disagree over whether the majority’s holding was the correct one. What is beyond dispute, however, is that despite its title, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination, this legislative remedy goes far beyond simply amending the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and reversing the Gross decision.”

“We all agree that discrimination of any kind, including discrimination based on someone’s age, should not be allowed in the workplace,” commented Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the committee’s top Republican. “The question before the Committee is not whether age discrimination is acceptable, but rather how can we, as federal policymakers, prevent age discrimination in a responsible way. There are serious concerns that the Democrats’ legislation will have negative consequences beyond its intent and those concerns must be addressed.”

The Subcommittee heard testimony from several witnesses, including Mr. Jack Gross, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court Gross decision. The Subcommittee also heard the testimony of Eric Dreiband, former General Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

“Mr. Gross and many others will likewise gain nothing if the bill passes in its current form,” testified Mr. Dreiband. “The bill may provide greater income for some lawyers, but it will do so at a terrible cost. Discrimination victims, unions, employers, and others will become embroiled in years of unnecessary litigation about the bill’s meaning. None of this is necessary, and I request that the Congress resist the urge to enact the bill as proposed.”

“I am deeply concerned that the vague and expansive reach of this law will undo years of settled case law and practice under statutes wholly unrelated to the Gross case, or to the protection of ‘older’ workers,” Price concluded in his opening remarks. “Indeed, in too many ways, this legislation makes broad substantive changes to our nation’s civil rights laws under the facade of narrowly reversing a single Supreme Court case.” # # #

Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Alexa Marrero or Brian Newell (202) 225-4527

MORE RELEASED GITMO DETAINEES RETURNING TO TERRORISM - APPROPS REPUBLICANS INSIST ON IMMEDIATE HALT TO TRANSFERS AND RELEASES

MORE RELEASED GITMO DETAINEES RETURNING TO TERRORISM - APPROPS REPUBLICANS INSIST ON IMMEDIATE HALT TO TRANSFERS AND RELEASES.

Appropriations Republicans Insist on an Immediate Halt to Detainee Transfers and Releases.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several Ranking Republican Members of the House Appropriations Committee today sent a letter to National Security Advisor General James Jones, insisting that the transfer and release of Guantanamo detainees be halted immediately, and that efforts to close the facility be put on hold. The letter indicates that the percentage of former Guantanamo detainees returning to the battlefield has jumped from 14% to over 20%, and that the remaining detainees currently held at the facility are believed to pose an even greater threat to our national security than those already released. In addition, the Ranking Members state concern over press reports unveiling several detainees who have returned to terrorism but have not been counted in Administration reports.

The text of the letter follows:


May 7, 2010

General James L. Jones
National Security Advisor
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear General Jones,

We are writing to you as the President’s National Security Advisor to express our grave continuing concerns regarding the Administration’s current policy regarding the disposition of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as the Administration’s continued failure to keep the Congress fully informed on this critical national security issue. Given the seriousness of this issue, we ask that you recommend to the President an immediate prohibition on the transfer of any detainee out of Guantanamo Bay, and a halt to any action related to the closure of the facility.

It has been almost 16 months since the Administration ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention facility. That mandate was announced prior to any review of the alleged terrorist acts of the detained individuals, the national security risks associated with the release or transfer, or the recidivism rates of previously released detainees. Since that mandate was announced, the Administration has yet to provide the Congress or the American people a comprehensive plan for the disposition of each detainee; including the risk such transfer or release would pose to the national security of the homeland and our troops serving on the battlefield.

In addition, the President’s budget request proposes the lifting of each and every safeguard and notification requirement approved by the Congress in the Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations bills related to the transfer or release of detainees. These safeguards included a prohibition on the transfer or release of detainees in the U.S. except for the purposes of prosecution, and a prohibition on granting detainees’ asylum, refugee status, or any other immigration benefit. In addition, your budget also proposes to lift the requirements that the President submit to the Congress a detailed plan and risk assessment regarding each detainee it plans to bring to the U.S. for prosecution or detention, as well as the requirement that the Attorney General provide advance certification to the Governors of the impacted States that the detainees do not pose a risk to the United States.

Given the serious national security questions and the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, we have growing concerns with the Administration’s aggressive campaign to transfer Guantanamo detainees to other countries.

Based on press accounts, over the last 16 months, the Administration has transferred 66 detainees to other countries, including at least seven to Afghanistan, seven to Yemen, and two to Somaliland. These transfers have been done under a cloak of secrecy with notifications sent to Congress in classified form – which ensures that most Members and the general public will remain unaware of the actions being taken – despite the fact that much of the information in the notifications is derived from unclassified sources. In addition, the required Congressional notifications have failed to include explanations of the findings of the Administration’s detainee reviews, or any other information used by the Administration to conclude that a given detainee could safely be transferred without posing a threat to the U.S. or our troops on the battlefield. We are also concerned by recent news that the Administration may be preparing to lift the temporary ban on transferring detainees to Yemen, and taking steps to proceed with the transfer of a large number of Yemeni detainees back to their troubled home country.

The detainee transfers have occurred, and continue to occur, at a time when the number of former detainees suspected or confirmed to have returned to terrorism is growing. In a January 2010 letter from Deputy National Security Advisor John Brennan to Speaker Pelosi, we learned that the recidivism rate of previously released detainees has climbed to 20 percent – to over 100 terrorists – well above the 14 percent figure Congress was given in the summer of 2009.

However, the accuracy of these numbers is unclear, and we fear that the number of detainees released and returned to terrorism may be even larger. For example, we know that these numbers do not include Abdul Hafiz, who was released from Guantanamo to Afghanistan along with 3 other detainees in December of 2009. In March 2010, Newsweek reported that, according to three U.S. counterterrorism officials, Hafiz had already returned to the battlefield to fight with Taliban insurgents. If these accounts are true, this former detainee returned to the fight within less than four months of his release.

It is also unclear whether these figures include the following Guantanamo Bay detainees reported in the media to have returned to the battlefield:

· Said al-Shihri and Mohammed Al-Oufi –These two former Guantanamo Bay detainees who, after completion of the Saudi Rehabilitation program, announced on January 23, 2009 that they had returned to Yemen to join Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Press reports indicate that Said al-Shihri is now the AQAP’s second in command is believed to be behind the car bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa in September of 2008 which killed 16 people, and may have had a role in the Christmas Day bombing plot. These two individuals are among 11 former Guantanamo detainees included on the Most Wanted List released by the Saudi Government in February 2009.

· Abdul Qayem Zakir – This former detainee is reported to have been appointed second in command of the Taliban by Taliban leader Mullah Omar, replacing Abdul Baradar who was arrested by Pakistani forces in Karachi in February. According to reports by Newsweek, a spokesman for the Taliban indicated that this action was meant “to convey a good message that, despite our leader's arrest, the Taliban is back to business-as-usual operations without a problem."

We all acknowledge that many detainees who returned to the fight were released based on assumptions by the previous Administration that they were no longer a threat or could be rehabilitated. In hindsight, these assumptions have proven to be flawed. The remaining population at Guantanamo is now believed to be comprised of individuals whose transfer or release would pose the greatest danger to our national security, and it is clear that sound national security policy dictates a constant re-evaluation of prior policies, lessons learned, and changes in circumstance. We have been disappointed to see the Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, John Brennan, choose to engage in political posturing and public blaming of the previous Administration’s policies related to detainees, rather than have a serious dialogue with the Congress regarding this very critical national security issue.

General Jones, we believe it is incumbent on the Administration to reconsider its policy with respect to the detainees currently remaining at Guantanamo, and we ask that you: 1) recommend to the President an immediate prohibition on the transfer of detainees to the U.S. or any other country; 2) halt any activity related to the closure of Guantanamo while an overall re-evaluation can take place, including input and participation of the Congress. Specifically, we believe the Administration should remove its pending request for almost $1 billion requested in FY 2011 to pay for the costs associated with moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States for indefinite detention or trial. Additionally, now that the Detainee Review Task Force has completed its work and disbanded, we request that you immediately transmit to the Congress a complete report on the work of the Task Force including the findings and recommendations for the disposition of each detainee case, since such information is being used as the basis for all decisions being made with respect to each detainee.

It is essential that we work together – across branches of government and across the aisle – to thwart terrorism in our homeland and around the globe. The American people are depending on us to make decisions that will stop dangerous terrorists in their tracks and keep our families and communities secure. We cannot and must not let them down.

Thank you for your timely response to our request.

Sincerely,

S/
Jerry Lewis
C.W. Bill Young
Harold Rogers
Frank Wolf
Kay Granger
Michael Simpson
Zach Wamp

cc: Secretary Robert Gates, Department of Defense
Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair
Attorney General Eric Holder
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Department of State
Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security

Contact: Jennifer Hing, 202-226-7007

###

Senator Richard Shelby Weekly Republican Address TEXT VIDEO 05/08/10

Remarks by Sen. Richard Shelby, provided by the National Republican Senatorial Committee

I’m Alabama Senator Richard Shelby, the ranking Republican on the Senate Banking Committee. The Senate is currently debating legislation to reform our nation’s financial system. The outcome will have serious consequences for our financial system and our economy for years to come. That’s why we need to get this right.
Republicans believe that meaningful financial reform is necessary. And such reform should address the causes of the financial crisis, promote economic growth, and end bailouts for good. The legislation that the Democrats proposed failed each of these tests.

At its core, the recent financial crisis stemmed from a meltdown in the mortgage market. At the heart of this market lie the government-sponsored housing agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. For decades, these multi-trillion dollar institutions leveraged the implicit backing of the American taxpayer to encourage mortgage lending to people who could not afford to repay the loans.

But when home prices finally collapsed, these ticking time bombs exploded, saddling taxpayers with hundreds of billions of dollars of debt. This situation remains unresolved today. In fact, Freddie Mac just this week asked for another 10.6 billion of your dollars.

For years, Democrats blocked meaningful reform of Fannie and Freddie, and not much has changed. Their legislation to reform the financial system touches nearly every corner of the economy, but these major contributors to the crisis are left unscathed.

A recent Wall Street Journal editorial observed, ‘Reforming the financial system without fixing Fannie and Freddie is like declaring a war on terror and ignoring al Qaeda.’ Well said. In the days to come, Republicans will be demanding that financial reform include Fannie and Freddie.

And, while the Democrat bill fails to address, in any way, this central cause of the crisis, it does, however, dramatically expand the reach of the federal government into parts of our economy that had nothing to do with the financial crisis.

If the Democrats have their way, the so-called Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could reach into every small business who provides credit and place unreasonable burdens on them, which only means higher costs and fewer choices for consumers.

Moreover, the Democrats’ new bureaucracy is completely divorced from regulators who are responsible for monitoring the safety and the soundness of our banks. Separating consumer protection from safety and soundness is the same ill-conceived approach that led to the demise of Fannie and Freddie Mac.
This week, Republicans stood with America’s small business owners and offered a rational alternative that strengthens consumer protections without burdening Main Street with unnecessary regulations. The Democrats chose, once again, to ignore the American people and unanimously rejected our amendment. The vast array of Main Street business groups who wrote in support of the Republican alternative deserved better.

And although this legislation still has many flaws, there has been some improvement on one important front. After insisting that changes be made, Republicans were able to close significant loopholes in the Democrats’ bill that would have perpetuated taxpayer funded bailouts. These changes demonstrate our determination to protect the American taxpayer and the future of our economy.

Ultimately, this debate is about the appropriate role of the federal government in the economy. Republicans believe that the federal government should protect taxpayers and promote economic growth. We will continue to support changes to this legislation in an attempt to achieve these goals. Thank you. ####

TEXT CREDIT: National Republican Senatorial Committee

VIDEO CREDIT: TheNRSC

Eric Cantor Statement on Unemployment Report

Uploaded on March 11, 2010 by EricCantor All rights reserved

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Eric Cantor (VA-07) today issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its unemployment report: “An employment report that shows job growth is always a good thing, period. What concerns me, however, is whether we are creating long-term, sustainable jobs that will help America reclaim its place as the world’s sole economic superpower.

The agenda being pursued by Democrats in Washington—fueled by a spend-now, pay-later governing philosophy—is a barrier to the kind of job growth that America so desperately needs.

“Out-of-control spending in Washington has produced a Mount Everest of debt that we are asking future generations to climb. Even if the economy added 250,000 jobs every month, it would take nearly five years to get back to full employment. Five years is too long. It doesn’t help matters that job creators have already indicated that the new health care law will substantially increase their costs causing workers to lose their jobs.

“I look at the horrible images coming out of Greece and I am struck by the reality of what can happen when a country goes on a shopping spree without paying its bills. Thank goodness America is not at that point. We have time to right the ship and get serious about tackling our own debt crisis. But we have to start now. Until we do, sustainable job growth may not be possible.

"Beginning this month, college seniors will receive their hard-earned diplomas and go out in search of jobs that will be hard to find. We owe it to them—our future innovators and job creators—to start acting responsibly in Congress." ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2010 CONTACT: Megan Whittemore (202) 225-7440 DC Office | 329 Cannon House Office Building | Washington, D.C. 20515 p: 202-225-2815 | f: 202-225-0011 |

John Boehner to FCC: Keep the Government’s Hands Off the Internet

GOP Leader: “Today’s FCC announcement amounts to a government takeover of the Internet.” Calling it a “government takeover of the Internet,” House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) blasted the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new plan to impose job-killing “net neutrality” regulations that will undermine our economy and the success of Internet-related American employers. Boehner released the following statement:

“Today’s FCC announcement amounts to a government takover of the Internet, and yet another government takeover of a large portion of the private sector by the Obama administration. Under this job-killing big government scheme, the Obama administration is seeking to expand the power of the federal government.

“The success of the Internet is a perfect example of what happens when entrepreneurship and innovation are allowed to flourish, but today’s decision will undermine its success and hurt our economy. The American people are asking ‘Where are the jobs?’ They aren’t asking for yet another government takeover that imposes new job-killing federal regulations and puts bureaucrats in charge of the Internet. Congress should listen to the American people and act to reverse this unnecessary federal government power grab.”

NOTE: Last October, Boehner and Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) sent a letter to President Obama saying: “We all share the common goal of restoring America’s economic vitality. The FCC should not undermine that goal by imposing harmful regulations that will delay economic recovery and deprive Americans of faster, more sophisticated broadband services.”

Office of the House Republican Leader H-204 The Capitol | Washington, DC 20515 | p. (202) 225-4000 | f. (202) 225-5117 | Click here to email the Republican Leader

Sarah Palin Endorses U.S. Senate Candidate Carly Fiorina

Uploaded on March 13, 2010 by CarlyForCA All rights reserved.

SACRAMENTO, CA – In yet another sign of the groundswell of conservative support building behind her campaign, U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina today earned the endorsement of former Alaska Governor and Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. “Carly is the Commonsense Conservative that California needs and our country could sure use in these trying times. She’s not a career politician. She’s a businesswoman who has run a major corporation.

She knows how to really incentivize job creation. Her fiscal conservatism is rooted in real life experience. She knows that when government grows, the private sector shrinks under the burden of debt and deficits. We can trust Carly to do the right thing for America’s economy and to make the principled decisions she has throughout her professional career,” said Governor Palin. “Please consider that Carly is the conservative who has the potential to beat California’s liberal senator, Barbara Boxer, in November. I’m a huge proponent of contested primaries, so I’m glad to see the contest in California’s GOP, but I support Carly as she fights through a tough primary against a liberal member of the GOP who seems to bear almost no difference to Boxer, one of the most leftwing members of the Senate.”

Palin served most recently as governor of Alaska, a post to which she was elected in 2006. Palin was a candidate for vice president in 2008, serving as Senator John McCain’s running mate and making her the Republican Party’s first female vice-presidential nominee. Previously, Palin was a member of the Wasilla City Council from 1992 to 1996 and was mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002.

“I am honored and grateful to have Sarah Palin’s support. She, too, is a political outsider and a strong fiscal conservative, and we share a common concern for the direction our country is headed in under Barbara Boxer and her allies in Washington,” said Fiorina. “Californians across the state have had enough of Washington insiders and their political games, and together, I am confident we will help restore integrity to our nation’s capital by bringing Barbara Boxer’s 28-year career to an end.”

Yesterday, Fiorina earned the endorsement of the National Right to Life Political Action Committee, the largest pro-life political action committee in the nation. Previously, Fiorina was endorsed by the National Right to Life Committee’s California affiliate, the California Pro-Life Council, and the Susan B. Anthony List, another national pro-life political action committee.

Sarah Palin: Let’s Shake It Up In California

Sarah Palin talks to Nome, Alaska, native 1st Sgt. Dewey Green. Palin visited the Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, Alaska National Guard to learn about their mission in Kuwait. Derivative work: Ferrylodge, original photo by Pfc. Christopher Grammer, 50th Public Affairs Detachment.

I’d like to tell you about a Commonsense Conservative running for office in California this year. She grew up in a modest home with a school teacher dad, worked her way through several colleges, and then entered an arena where few women had tread. Through a combination of hard work, perseverance, and common sense, she proved the naysayers wrong to reach the top of her field, where she led with distinction – facing hard truths, making tough decisions, and showing real leadership through a rocky transition period. Where others had failed, her company had weathered the storm and settled on a stronger new foundation. Her name is Carly Fiorina, and I’m proud to endorse her for U.S. Senate.

Carly is the Commonsense Conservative that California needs and our country could sure use in these trying times. Most importantly, she’s running for the right reasons. She has an understanding that is sorely lacking in D.C. She’s not a career politician. She’s a businesswoman who has run a major corporation. She knows how to really incentivize job creation. Her fiscal conservatism is rooted in real life experience. She knows that when government grows, the private sector shrinks under the burden of debt and deficits. We can trust Carly to do the right thing for America’s economy and to make the principled decisions she has throughout her professional career.

Please consider that Carly is the conservative who has the potential to beat California’s liberal senator, Barbara Boxer, in November. I’m a huge proponent of contested primaries, so I’m glad to see the contest in California’s GOP, but I support Carly as she fights through a tough primary against a liberal member of the GOP who seems to bear almost no difference to Boxer, one of the most leftwing members of the Senate. Carly needs our support in this crucial election year when we have a real chance of putting an end to the Pelosi/Reid “Big Government” agenda.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting Carly. Visit her website here, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter. Read up on her positions and plans to help get us on the right track.

California is still Reagan Country, and Carly promises her “Reagan Conservative” values will be put to good use for her state and for our great nation. Shaking it up in California is long overdue. Let’s help Carly do it!

- Sarah Palin

Update: I’d like to add a few things about my Carly endorsement because some reaction right out of the chute calls for more information:

Carly has been endorsed by the National Right to Life, the California Pro-Life Council, and the Susan B. Anthony List. She is pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-military, and pro-strict border security and against amnesty. She is against Obamacare and will vote to repeal it and prevent the government takeover of private companies and industries. Carly is also a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. Like me, she is a member of the NRA, has a 100% NRA rating, and she and her husband are gun owners. She is pro-energy development and believes as I do in an all-of-the-above approach to energy independence. She is against cap and tax. And most importantly, Carly is the only conservative in the race who can beat Barbara Boxer. That’s no RINO. That’s a winner.

- Sarah Palin

This endorsement was originally posted on Facebook.

Carly for California 915 L Street, Suite C-378 Sacramento, CA 95814 (877) 664-6676

Dan Coats's Primary Victory Speech VIDEO

Dan Wins Nomination! Thank you for all your hard work and support Dan Coats it the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate!

Let’s re-cap: Dan announced he was running. Evan Bayh dropped out. Dan joined the other Republican hopefuls at dozens of events across the state spreading his message of Conservative Leadership and Hoosier Values. Tons of stuff was thrown at Dan but today he is not only still standing but he’s the Republican nominee!

Tomorrow, Dan is headed to Evansville to take the general election campaign directly to Southern Indiana – directly to the backyard of Congressman Brad Ellsworth, the presumptive Democrat nominee. With your continued help and support – we will see a great victory in November!

Best, The Dan Coats for Indiana Team

TEXT CREDIT: DAN COATS FOR INDIANA - P.O. BOX 301141 - INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46230 - (317) 251-2200 Posted May 5th, 2010 | Category: Blog Contact: Pete Seat, Press Secretary, at 317-395-3232 or pseat@coatsforindiana.com

VIDEO CREDIT: wish May 05, 2010 Dan Coats's Primary Victory Speech.