McCaskill, Portman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Job-Creators, Prevent Earmarks

Release:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today joined together and introduced bipartisan legislation to simplify federal processes for America’s manufacturers, while continuing to guard against Congressional earmarks for pork-barrel projects.

“This bipartisan bill is an important step to strengthen a valuable tool for our job-creators, while ensuring that tool doesn’t turn into a backdoor for allowing earmarks to worm their way back into the legislative process,” said McCaskill, a longtime and outspoken opponent of Congressional earmarks. “We’ve already seen leaders in the U.S. House try to sneak around the earmark ban and nab taxpayer dollars for their own pet projects, so I’m going to stay vigilant while reducing unnecessary burdens for Missouri’s employers.”

“While it is important Washington does away with unnecessary tariffs that increase costs for Ohio businesses and consumers without benefiting any American producers, we need to do it under a better, more efficient system,” Portman said. “Under this measure, we create a transparent, merit-driven process that would allow businesses seeking tariff relief to go directly to the experts at the International Trade Commission. I believe these reforms are the only way we’re going to get important tariff relief through the Congress this year, and I hope Congress will move quickly to provide more certainty for job creators through this merit-based approach.”

In today’s high-tech and globalized economy, American companies need a host of specialized materials, such as certain fibers or chemicals, to build their products. Often, those materials are not produced in the United States, and can only be purchased from overseas. However, tariffs on those specialized materials produced overseas can make them expensive to import, putting American manufacturers at a disadvantage compared to their foreign competitors. In some cases, tariffs on materials make it cheaper to move production overseas altogether—hurting American job-growth.

In cases where a product is subject to a tariff and is unavailable for purchase from an American company, current rules allow companies needing that product to get tariff relief. Congress has regularly passed a “Miscellaneous Tariff Bill” comprised of hundreds of tariff reductions for such products. However, the process requires those companies to get members of Congress to introduce a bill on their behalf for each item on which they wish to suspend tariffs. Once those businesses have convinced a member of Congress to introduce such a tariff-relief bill, their request can be sent to the International Trade Commission (ITC) for review.

McCaskill and Portman have introduced the Temporary Duty Suspension Process Act to streamline the process for duty-suspensions by allowing companies to submit their proposals directly to the International Trade Commission and retaining final approval for Congress. These changes would bolster accountability by lessening the chance for backdoor earmarks—and would improve the process for job-creators, as they would no longer be forced to hire high-paid lobbyists to help get individual legislation introduced at the start of the process. This process change also ensures that bills introduced in Congress do not inadvertently hurt American competitors.

There would be three paths for an article to be considered for a temporary duty suspension or reduction: (1) initiated by the United States International Trade Commission (USITC); (2) via petition from an outside party; or (3) by a referral from a Member of Congress, although no preference could be shown. Through this process, the USITC would review particular articles for approval, allow public comments and objections, take comments from the Administration and Congress, and submit a draft bill containing its recommendations for duty suspensions or reductions to the appropriate Congressional Committees. The bill preserves the role of Congress in the overall duty suspension process by requiring the USITC draft bill to be processed under regular order.

The bill authorizes the new process to be used for three rounds (2012, 2015, and 2018). While it requires a comprehensive review by the ITC of all possible eligible items in 2015 and 2018, an exception is included for the 2012 round so that it can be completed under a truncated timeline.

A copy of McCaskill and Portman’s bipartisan bill is available online, HERE.

Congressman Latta Announces New Law that Allows Schools to Donate Leftover Food to Charities and Pantries

Release:

BOWLING GREEN – Congressman Latta (R-Bowling Green) announces that a new provision in the Department of Agriculture’s annual spending bill will allow public schools to donate excess food to charities and pantries. The new provision by Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) now ensures schools are covered under the Good Samaritan Act, which protects donors who give to food banks in good faith from all liability. Previously, many school districts didn’t donate food out of concern that they weren’t covered under the Good Samaritan Act.

“As a result of this clarification, each school and local educational agency participating in the school lunch program may donate any food not consumed under the school lunch program to eligible local food banks or charitable organizations,” said Rep. Latta. “This long overdue, common-sense change will allow schools to boost the inventory of food pantries at a time when donations are greatly needed,” added Latta.

Congressman Latta has sent school principals and food bank directors across the Fifth Congressional District a letter informing them of the new change. A copy of the letter can be found here.

GUEST COLUMN: "Washington Doesn’t Like Me Much: Volume 3"

Rep. Bob Gibbs

By Rep. Bob Gibbs

It has now been one year since I was sent to Washington to fix a broken process and get our economy moving again. But one year later, I am still as frustrated as ever with the way Washington manages to get in the way of our economy. As two bills I passed with bipartisan support join 28 other jobs-bills sitting forgotten on the US Senate’s doorstep for months, I can’t help but realize that I should add the US Senate to the list of “Washington Insiders” who don’t like me very much.

While Republicans and Democrats may disagree over how to best jump-start the economy and boost employment, my bill, The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, has enjoyed broad bipartisan support. It is a common-sense initiative that would ensure that business owners are not subject to two separate federal regulations where one would suffice. It frees up capital to be spent on job-creating investments instead of dealing with redundant requirements that provide no additional health or environmental benefits.

But despite passing the House with a bipartisan super-majority, my bill isn't even considered “active” in the Senate. It’s not only my bills, however. The vast majority of our jobs bills aren’t listed as active legislation as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid refuses to bring them to the floor for a vote. I have repeatedly called the Senate to act on this legislation because it is unacceptable that business owners, farmers and local governments across the country will soon be tied up in yet another layer of red-tape because of Washington gridlock.

As Americans suffer through the Obama economy, it is a disgrace that 28 House-passed jobs bills are collecting dust on Harry Reid’s doorstep awaiting action of the Democrat-controlled Senate. The Senate has the right to either vote on these bills as they are currently written, rework them, or scrap them completely and present their own proposals. What the Senate should not do is dodge the process and obstruct any chance at progress. Furthermore, the Senate has not even passed a budget in over 1000 days.

I join the majority of Ohioans and Americans who are frustrated with the Senate’s "Washington Games" and ask you to join me and share your concerns with your US Senators. Let them know we are tired of Washington’s “business as usual” attitude and we cannot get people back to work if the Senate continues to stall jobs-bills for political gain.

It is long past the time to stop the partisanship and political gamesmanship in Washington and come together to do what is right for the American people. Washington may not like my approach, but I will continue to fight for the people of Ohio and support policies that stop deficit spending, reign in an out of control bureaucracy with commonsense regulatory reforms, reform the tax code to increase our global competitiveness, and pursue an energy policy that responsibly develops both our natural and renewable sources.

Middle Class Tax Cut Doomsday Clock

HR 475: Is Obamacare Unconstitutional?

H.RES. 475

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee (for himself, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, Mr. PALAZZO, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. BARLETTA, Mr. BONNER, Mr. HARPER, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. WOODALL, Mr. CRAWFORD, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, and Mrs. MILLER of Michigan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, House Administration, Rules, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

---

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.

Whereas section 5000A(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, added by section 1501 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and commonly referred to as the `individual mandate', and the penalty provision in section 5000A(b) of such Code that enforces it, are unconstitutional because they were not an exercise of Congress's power to tax, and they are beyond Congress's power under the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause; and

Whereas the individual mandate and the penalty provision that enforces it are not severable from the remainder of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148): Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--

(1) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional in its entirety; and

(2) section 7421 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, commonly referred to as the `Anti-Injunction Act', applies neither to the individual mandate nor to the penalty provision that enforces it, and therefore does not preclude the Federal courts from finding that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional in its entirety.

NTU: “Super Committee” Lawmakers Start Far Apart on Spending Reduction Ideas, Study of Panel Members’ Bill-Sponsorship Shows

Release:

(Alexandria, VA) – No one said it would be easy for the 12 lawmakers on the latest deficit reduction “Super Committee” to agree with each other, but a new analysis of the bills they’ve sponsored or cosponsored from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation’s (NTUF’s) BillTally system shows just how different their views are on spending programs. The 12 panel members have legislative agendas whose individual impact on the budget would vary widely, from an annual cut in federal expenditures of just over $85 billion to a yearly increase of more than $1.15 trillion.

“Based on the legislative turf that each of them has staked out so far, lawmakers on the Supercommittee will not be approaching the task of cutting spending on a vast plot of common ground,” said NTUF Senior Policy Analyst and BillTally Project Director Demian Brady. “However, BillTally data also demonstrates that if they are willing to explore ground that has already been plowed by other Members of Congress, it is possible to cultivate a package that would fulfill the ten-year, $1.5 trillion deficit reduction mandate of the Supercommittee without raising taxes."

Graphics: Senate Appointee Spending Agendas; House Appointee Spending Agendas; Consensus Spending Cut Proposals

Since 1991, the BillTally cost accounting system has computed a “net annual agenda” based on each Senator’s or Representative’s individual sponsorship or cosponsorship of legislation. This unique approach provides an in-depth look at the fiscal behavior of lawmakers, free from the influence of committees, party leaders, and rules surrounding floor votes. All cost estimates for bills are obtained from third-party sources, Congress Members’ offices, or are calculated from neutral data.

Key findings of NTUF’s BillTally analysis include:

* In the current Congress, the 12 panel Members have legislative agendas whose net effect ranges from a yearly average reduction in the budget of $85.0 billion (Kyl, R-AZ) to an annual increase in outlays of $1.157 trillion (Becerra, D-CA). The total for Becerra is primarily attributable to his cosponsorship of “single payer” health care reform legislation. Supporters of this bill have identified several tax increases – including surtaxes on the top two income brackets and higher payroll levies – to fund this legislation.
* Each House Republican on the “Supercommittee” has sponsored or cosponsored legislation whose overall effect would reduce federal spending, at amounts between $41.3 billion (Upton, MI) and $43.0 billion (Hensarling, TX). However, these amounts are more moderate (by about one-third) than the net budget cut backed by the typical Member of their party in this Congress.
* So far this year none of the three House Democrats named to the panel have sponsored or cosponsored a single bill whose net effect would shrink federal outlays. This is also true of one Senate Democrat (Max Baucus, MT). These lawmakers’ agendas differ from the trend within their own parties. An average House Democrat has sponsored $10.9 billion in cuts (more than offset by increases), while the average Democratic Senator has backed $12.9 billion in reductions.
* All told, Super Committee appointees sponsored or cosponsored 18 non-overlapping bills whose gross savings (not accounting for any spending-increase bills they supported) added up to $89.6 billion a year. None of these 18 pieces of legislation have bipartisan support among the Super Committee Members, but three of those proposals have been introduced in both chambers and have the backing of GOP Senators and Representatives on the panel. The savings of these three “common bills” are estimated at $41.3 billion total.
* Although Senate and House Republicans on the Super Committee could find agreement on this $41.3 billion spending reduction, its single biggest element involves repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – a move that Super Committee Democrats would oppose.
* Two Senate Democrats (Kerry, MA, and Murray, WA) offered four spending reduction bills amounting to $629 million in cuts. While no GOP lawmakers on the panel cosponsored these pieces of legislation, two of them – a suspension of next year’s Congressional salary increase and cutbacks on Congressional printing, worth $10 million in combined savings – have attracted bipartisan interest in the past.

Even though sponsorship data indicates little accord among Super Committee legislators on expenditure-cuts, Brady noted that the combined legislative “raw material” of the entire membership in the 112th Congress would provide additional opportunities. BillTally’s database has recorded the introduction of non-overlapping spending cuts in the House alone of $357.2 billion per year. This is more than twice the average annualized total deficit reduction ($150 billion per year) the Committee is charged with developing for consideration in the full House and Senate.

“If they are to avoid tax increases that many Americans would find counterproductive, Super Committee Members will need to meet deficit reduction targets through a variety of spending-restraint measures,” Brady concluded. “BillTally’s database from this and previous Congresses shows that there is no shortage of ideas to help achieve this end.”

The NTUF analysis of “Super Committee” Members is available at www.ntu.org. Updates on BillTally data for the current Congress are provided through a weekly e-newsletter, The Taxpayer’s Tab. Click here to subscribe. NTUF is the research affiliate of the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union, a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen group founded in 1969. Click here for more information on the BillTally system.

Ohio Liberty Council on Super Senator Portman

Release:

Columbus, Ohio - The Ohio Liberty Council offered its congratulations to Ohio Senator Rob Portman yesterday on his appointment to the “Super Committee”. Ohio Liberty Council President, Tom Zawistowski, said “We have an excellent relationship with Senator Portman and we are not surprised that someone with his background would be chosen for this important position. He has been very generous in the past in giving Ohio Patriot group leaders the opportunity to communicate our positions on various issues. We expect that relationship to continue and play an important roll in this debate over how to get our nation's spending under control and gets our economy growing again. We offer Senator Portman our congratulation on his appointment.”

Boehner on Senate Killing the House Debt Plan

Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) released the following statement today responding to Senate Democrats’ rejection of House-passed “Cut, Cap, and Balance” legislation:

 

          “Senate Democrats have defied the will of the American people who overwhelmingly support real spending cuts, caps on future spending, and a balanced budget to create a better environment for private-sector job growth. Republicans are standing with the American people and, as I’ve said before, will not pass a bill that fails to cut spending by more than it increases the debt limit, restrain future spending, or that raises taxes on families and job creators. To help avoid a default, I urge the Senate to rethink their decision and immediately approve the responsible, balanced, House-passed ‘Cut, Cap, & Balance’ proposal.”

 

          NOTE: A recent CNN survey showed that two-thirds of the American people support a plan that “would raise the debt ceiling only if a balanced budget amendment were passed by both houses of Congress and substantial spending cuts and caps on future spending were approved.”

Speaker Boehner Statement on Veto Threat of Cut, Cap, & Balance Legislation

Release:

WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement today after the Administration announced that the President would veto H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011. The House is expected to vote on this legislation tomorrow.

“It’s disappointing the White House would reject this common-sense plan to rein in the debt and deficits that are hurting job creation in America. While American families have to set priorities and balance their books, this White House obviously isn’t serious about making the same tough choices. While the House is once again acting responsibly, the Administration still won’t say what cuts it’s willing to make to end Washington’s spending binge and the economic uncertainty it’s creating. This unfortunate veto threat should make clear that the issue is not congressional inaction, but rather the President’s unwillingness to cut spending and restrain the future growth of our government. If we are going to raise the debt limit and avoid default, the White House must be willing to demonstrate more courage than we have seen to date. The House will proceed as planned with its vote on the Cut, Cap and Balance Act.”

Sen. Mitch McConnell (RINO-KY), Wants to Defy the Constitution by Giving Obama Power to Raise Ceiling

Mitch McConnell is no conservative. I am not sure he is a higher order life form. I mean, the man has no backbone, so how can he be an evolved lifeform. He is so afraid of standing on principle that he seeks to defy the Constitution's Article I by giving President Obama authority to raise the debt limit on his own three times a year. From Erick Erickson:

In a nutshell, the President would get to raise the debt ceiling three times in the next year at several billion bucks a pop without making any spending cuts unless two-thirds of both houses of Congress disagree. In his press conference, McConnell says he would not give the President “unilateral authority to make spending cuts on his own,” but this plan would allow the President to raise the debt ceiling pretty much automatically.As the Politico notes,

Senate Republicans are actively pursuing a new plan under which the debt ceiling would grow in three increments over the remainder of this Congress unless lawmakers approve a veto-proof resolution of disapproval.

In effect lawmakers would be surrendering the very power of approval that the GOP has used to force the debt crisis now. But by taking the disapproval route, Republicans can shift the onus more onto the White House and Democrats since a two-thirds majority will be needed to stop any increase that President Barack Obama requests.

Yes, instead of putting the burden on the White House, McConnell would make it damn near impossible to block a debt ceiling increase. We’ve seen this before. The House once had the Gephardt rule that required the debt ceiling vote be attached to a more popular measure so members of Congress could escape a tough vote.

Consequently, the debt ceiling has gone up to $14 trillion without Congress ever having to make a tough choice about debt.

And now Mitch McConnell wants to make it even easier by allowing Congress to go through a dog and pony show of feigned cuts that never get cut while allowing escalation of our national debt. So much for accusing Barack Obama of smoke and mirrors.

Typical Spineless RINO. Rather than take any heat and actually stand for something, B*tch McConnell (RINO, KY) decides he wants to cut a deal so he can look like a hero to the lamestream driveby media. Who cares if it subverts the very framework of our government and destroy the division of powers, it will get B**** a lifetime invite to all the cool Sunday talk shows and all the cool DC parties?

Our government is one of separated powers so the executive cannot run roughshod. Congresses over the past few decades have ceded more and more power to the executive, without engaging in next to any oversight. The threat of the purse is one of the last refuges Congress has. Doing this deal will basically create an unfettered executive branch that has little to answer to Congress. But, it does mean that B**** McConnell won't have to hurt his itty bitty brain and make a decision.

Flood the lines to DC and tell the GOP Senators that this proposal doesn't just suck, it blows.

Rep. Davis introduces REINS Act Website

From the Speaker's Blog:

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) launched a new website today highlighting the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, legislation designed to eliminate excessive regulations and red tape that are holding back job growth.

The REINS Act would require that Congress take an up-or-down vote on every new major rule (more than $100 million annual economic impact) before it could be enforced on the American people and businesses.

It is about time Congress got back to keeping the executive in check, instead of just allowing more authority to be taken. Unnecessary and overreaching regulations are killing our economy, whether by accident or design (see the energy industry, etc.). This bill seeks to finally but a check on it. From the website:

Excessive delegation of Congress’ constitutional responsibility for making the law of the land to the Executive Branch has created a lack of accountability in Congress for many of the most burdensome federal regulations.

Although this trend is not new, allowing major decisions to be made by unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats is not consistent with the constitutional responsibilities of our representative government.

To restore Congressional accountability for the regulatory process, Congressman Geoff Davis [KY-04] introduced the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. The REINS Act would require Congress to take an up-or-down, stand-alone vote, and for the President to sign-off on all new major rules before they can be enforced on the American people, job-creating small businesses, or State and local governments.

Major rules are those that have an annual economic impact of $100 million or more. Last year, 100 major rules were finalized by the Executive Branch.

A recent study commissioned by the Small Business Administration found that annual regulatory compliance costs in the United States hit $1.75 trillion in 2008. A staggering figure that exceeds the total collected from income taxes that year ($1.449 trillion).

The REINS Act has been numbered in both Houses (H.R. 10 / S. 299) and is part of both the Senate and House Republicans' plans for economic recovery and job growth.

Link: REINS Act Website (you can actually read the full text of the bill and get updates)

Rep. Gibbs Applauds Senate Committee Action on H.R. 872

Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  Congressman Bob Gibbs issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry approved H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011.  Congressman Gibbs introduced this bipartisan legislation that passed the House on March 31, 2011 by a vote of 292-130 with over 30 Democratic co-sponsors and 57 Democrat “yea” votes.

 

“I am pleased to see that my bill, The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, has been approved by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. 

 

“HR 872 is a bipartisan effort to remove duplicative and costly ‘red-tape’ requirements that provide no additional health or environmental benefits.  Failure to pass this legislation would prove to be a huge barrier to job creation, as well as a disastrous, unnecessary expansion of government.

 

“I call on Senator Reid to allow the Senate to vote on this common sense legislation that will reduce the regulatory burden weighing down our economy and stifling job creation.   Then, not only will we continue to have a safe environment, but also a better environment for economic growth.”

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) already comprehensively regulates the distribution, sale, and use of pesticides.  H.R. 872 provides assurance that the regulated pesticide community is not subject to redundant and unnecessary permitting requirements if they are in compliance with EPA’s current regulations.  Without a legislative fix, the requirement would impose an economic burden to agricultural producers, foresters, public health agencies, the federal government, state agencies, and every day citizens.

Schmidt Joins Other House Repubs in Calling for Cut, Cap, and Balance

2nd Congressional District Congresswoman Jean Schmidt joined members of the Republican Study Committee in putting forth their ideas about the budget and spending crisis we find ourselves in as a country, with such a massive debt on our hands. The proposal was sent in a letter to Speaker Boehner and Majority leader Eric Cantor. The main parts of the proposal are:

1. Immediate spending cuts to slash the deficit in half next year. According to March projections from the Congressional Budget Office, this would require spending cuts of approximately $380 billion in the 2012 fiscal year.
2. Statutory, enforceable caps that align spending with average revenues by ratcheting total federal spending down to 18% of GDP.
3. House and Senate passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that includes a spending cap at 18% of GDP and a high hurdle for tax increases. 47 Senators have already endorsed a Balanced Budget Amendment along these lines.

This proposal is known as Cut, Cap, and Balance. It has garnered support from the American Conservative Union, the American Family Business Institute, Americans for Limited Government, Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens United, the Club for Growth, the College Republicans, and the Conservative Action Project. Other supporters include the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, the Family Research Council, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action, Let Freedom Ring, the Life & Liberty PAC, the National Taxpayers Union, and RedState.com.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Congressman Bob Gibbs: This Spending Deal is Only the Beginning

Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Bob Gibbs today released the following statement following passage of H.R 1473, Making Appropriations for Department of Defense and Other Departments and Agencies for FY2011:

 

“Today, I supported the agreement on the largest non-defense spending cut in history to help begin to create a better environment for private-sector job growth. 

 

“This historic spending agreement cuts $315 billion over the next ten years, eliminates dozens of federal programs, and undermines the job-crushing health care law.  These are the kind of concrete steps we need to take if we are going to end the Washington spending binge that causes uncertainty for American job creators. 

 

“It is important to note is that we are forced to vote on this short-term budget because the last Congress ignored its Constitutional responsibility to pass a budget.  The Administration and Senate leadership ignored the American people’s demands for more spending cuts and defended their reckless spending addiction instead of making the tough decisions necessary to craft a budget.   

 

“I was elected to challenge President Obama and Senator Harry Reid reckless spending addiction, and enacting a responsible budget that ensures our military gets paid signals the official end of a period of unprecedented government spending.

 

“However, the agreement is far from perfect, and we need to do much more if we’re serious about creating new jobs, fixing our spending-driven debt crisis, and ending the uncertainty that continues to plague our economy.   But it is a positive first step and tomorrow, I will support a budget proposal that cuts $6.2 trillion from the President’s budget and offers a long-term blueprint for American job creation.”

Congressman Bob Gibbs Eliminates $17.75 Billion Obamacare Slush Fund

Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – US Congressman Bob Gibbs today released the following statement following passage of H.R. 1217, a Bill to Repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund:

 

“Today, I voted in favor of H.R. 1217, a bill repealing the large discretionary slush fund of $17.75 billion hidden in the thousands of pages of the burdensome healthcare law.  Not only does this fund give the Secretary of Health and Human Services the absolute discretion to spend billions of dollars without Congressional approval, it continues to fund these undefined efforts for decades to come.

 

“We must not grant unregulated power and money to un-elected federal officials who expand the arm of the federal government if we are going to rein in unnecessary government spending.”

 

The law gives the Secretary the power to spend $17.75 billion within the next ten years in addition to another $2 billion each year after 2015 on any prevention, wellness, and public health activities authorized in the Public Health Service Act.  Eliminating the slush fund does not cut any specific programs because the fund was not directed at any specific program.

Tom Blumer: Call Your Office

$4 TRILLION in budget cuts to be proposed.

You Boehner haters can just go on ahead and STFU now...

IER: Anti-Energy Senators Resurrect Bogus "Use-It-Or-Lose-It" Claim

Release:

WASHINGTON- Today, Senate Democrats are dusting off the 'use-it-or-lose-it" regulations that attempt to dictate how energy companies may do business in America. In response, Thomas Pyle, president of the Institute of Energy Research, issued the following statement:

"Anti-energy advocates are using the same debunked myths that they used when gas prices increased in 2008. Showing a complete lack of any elementary understanding of how energy production works, they want to dictate from Washington how companies do business in America. And then they wonder why businesses are fleeing to other countries."

"These senators are attempting to portray energy producers as hoarders of taxpayer-owned lands. The truth is that the federal government only makes 3 percent of these lands available for leasing, while the remaining 97 percent are off-limits for energy exploration and production."

"As long as the federal government continues to hoard these energy-rich, taxpayer-owned lands and keeps them off limits to the American people, the U.S. will continue to rely on foreign state-owned oil companies. No amount of rhetoric from Washington will change that fact."

Rep. Allen West (R-FL) Votes Against Three-Week Continuing Resolution

Release:

(WASHINGTON) --- Congressman Allen West (FL-22) today, along with 53 other Republican members of the House of Representatives, voted against the
three-week Continuing Resolution.

Below is an excerpt from the statement Congressman West entered into the Congressional Record:

"I rise today to take a stand, a stand that may not be popular with the Leadership of the House of Representatives, but a stand I must take because I believe we cannot kick the can down the road for even another three weeks. The American people recognize that we must no longer take these small calculated measures.

We are in this position today because the Democrats in the last Congress failed to pass a budget. The Democrats failed to show leadership last year and the President is showing a lack of leadership today. I will show what I consider appropriate leadership now and that's why I voted against this Continuing Resolution.

My “No” vote should not be construed as my willingness for a “government shutdown. My vote is based on a simple principle that we need to complete the federal budget for 2011.

We cannot wait any longer. The time has come to have this debate on federal spending and get our nation back on track by cutting spending for the long term economic restoration of our Republic."

Rep. Latta Votes to End EPA Oversight Over Greenhouse Gases

Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling) voted to pass out of committee H.R. 910, the "Energy Tax Prevention Act, which amends the Clear Air Act to state that greenhouse gases are not "air pollutants," and, therefore, cannot be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The committee also approved H.J.Res. 37, disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with respect to regulating the Internet and broadband industry practices. Upon the vote, Congressman Latta issued the following remarks:

“Not only are the EPA’s green house gas regulations and the FCC’s net neutrality rules bad policy, I do not believe that either agency possesses the authority under current law to put these rules into effect. Limiting these agencies powers will help prevent government intervention of the Internet, keep energy prices affordable and stop job killing regulations.

“While Democrats scream in opposition of the energy act, we should note that even the author of the 1990 revision of the Clean Air Act, a Michigan Democrat, says the act was never intended to address the climate.

“House Republicans are doing the right thing for our country and Democrats should join us.”

Rep. Johnson Statement on Short-Term Budget Measure

Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bill Johnson (OH-6) today issued the following statement regarding the short-term budget measure passed by the U.S. House of Representatives:

 

“I’m disappointed that we’re still having to negotiate short-term budget solutions when we should be moving forward on a responsible federal budget that achieves our goals of defunding Obamacare, reducing the national debt and slashing federal spending. Instead, we’re forced to clean up the mess left by Democrats’ refusal last year to bring forth a full budget. House Republicans pledged to cut federal spending, and in the two stopgap measures, we’ve cut more than $10 billion in federal spending, including eliminating 33 federal programs. We’ve slashed earmark slush funds and are holding government accountable to the tax payers.”