United States Senate Republican Policy Committee

Obama’s War on Coal

Tue, 15 May 2012 02:30:00 EST

In January 2008, then-presidential candidate Obama said coal-fired power plants would go “bankrupt” and “electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket” under his plan to tax greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade system. After Congress rejected that policy, President Obama defiantly announced there were other ways of “skinning the cat.” His administration bypassed Congress and the will of the American people by drafting environmental regulations that effectively ban the use of coal as an energy source. Abandoning this affordable American energy solution has increased the cost of everyday living.

FY 2013 Budgets: Senate Democrats Complicit in Obama’s Record Debt

Tue, 15 May 2012 01:30:00 EST

President Obama and Senate Democrats have not provided solutions or results to America’s debt crisis. They have refused to make difficult decisions because they are concerned about their next election rather than the next generation. The President’s latest budget is full of tricks, accounting gimmicks and empty promises that encourage wasteful spending and skyrocketing debt. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the President’s budget would spend $1.2 trillion more than current law.

Barrasso: Use Obamacare Wasteful Spending to Help Student Loan Rates

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:30:00 EST

The President’s health spending law set up a “Prevention and Public Health Fund” that Washington Democrats claimed would promote wellness, prevent disease and protect against public health emergencies. We now know that instead of helping Americans prevent health problems, the Administration is using its so-called “prevention fund” as a Washington slush fund. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, eliminating this fund would save $13.6 billion over ten years.

Obama’s Naïve Approach to Iran

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 EST

Vice President Biden gave a speech today in which he said “we” (the United States) have been “the problem” on Iran. After three years of naivety in which Iran’s nuclear program has advanced, the Obama Administration chooses to apologize for America. In April, Iran met once again with the permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council (United States, Britain, China, France, and Russia) plus Germany, known as the P5+1, to continue talks over its nuclear program. The most tangible progress to come out of those discussions was an agreement to another discussion on May 23.

What's Next: Potential Supreme Court Outcomes

Tue, 08 May 2012 04:00:00 EST

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Democrats Steer America Toward A “Fiscal Cliff”

Tue, 08 May 2012 02:30:00 EST

In 2009, with a filibuster-proof Senate, Majority Leader Reid felt that the Senate had a lot of important work on its plate and that the American people expected it to get that work done. Today there are even more pressing issues before the Senate, but Senator Reid has apparently lost his sense of urgency.

Obama Has Only Himself to Blame on Judges

Mon, 07 May 2012 02:30:00 EST

President Obama has been blaming Senate Republicans for vacancies in the federal judiciary. He will continue the hype today at the White House in what the Washington Times has described as a “strategy session on judges” with his political supporters. The facts do not support the President’s hype and blame. Most of the vacancies that exist in the federal judiciary are due to the Administration’s continued failure to nominate qualified individuals.

April 2012 Unemployment

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:30:00 EST

The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 8.1 percent for April 2012, down 0.1 percent from March, and an increase of 115,000 nonfarm jobs, which is the lowest number of jobs added in five months.

Red Tape Review

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:00:00 EST

Yesterday, the Labor Department said it is withdrawing proposed rules that would ban children younger than 16 from using most power-driven farm equipment, including tractors. The rules also would prevent those younger than 18 from working in feed lots, grain silos and stockyards. The plan specifically excluded children who work on their parents’ farms. Senate Republicans, particularly Senator John Thune and Senator Jerry Moran, were instrumental in preventing the agency from enacting its controversial proposed restrictions on youth working on family farms.

The Obama Stagnation

National Review Online — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST

Today we learned that the U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.2% in the first quarter of this year. This rate is far below what our economy needs to recover from the Obama Stagnation.

Democrats Increased Student Loan Rates To Pay for Healthcare Law

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST

Over the past three years, student loan borrowers benefited from a temporary interest rate reduction on their subsidized student loans. Unless taxpayers pay for a rate extension, the reduced rates will expire in July.

Second Opinion: Obamacare Devastates Medicare Advantage

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:30:00 EST

Earlier this week, investigators at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) uncovered another gimmick in the President’s health care law. According to the GAO, the Obama administration put in place a massive $8.3 billion “pilot program” that would temporarily reverse most of the Medicare Advantage cuts until after the election.

Obama’s Policies Bankrupting Medicare

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:30:00 EST

On April 23, 2012, the Medicare Trustees issued their annual report outlining the financial status of the program. The report described a program headed for bankruptcy and severely damaged by the Obama Administration’s budget gimmicks and failure to lead.

Arizona’s Immigration Law at the Supreme Court

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:00:00 EST

On Wednesday, April 25, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on several provisions of Arizona’s immigration law (S.B. 1070). Former Solicitor General Paul Clement represents Arizona. Justice Kagan, who worked on the issue while with the Department of Justice (DOJ), has recused herself, creating the possibility of a 4-4 split.

Legislative Notice: S. 2338 – Hutchison/Grassley Alternative to S. 1925, the VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2011

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:00:00 EST

The Hutchison/Grassley Alternative addresses concerns raised about the constitutionality of Section 904 of S. 1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011.

Legislative Notice: S. 1925 – Violence Against Women

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST

On Wednesday, April 25, 2012, the Senate is expected to proceed to consideration of S. 1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011, also known as VAWA.

Obama and Unions Ambush Job Creators

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:00:00 EST

In November 2011, President Obama’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) approved final language for the controversial “ambush” or “quickie” election rule. This new rule will completely eviscerate employers’ rights and stack union elections in favor of labor organizations. The rule goes into effect in just 10 days -- on April 30, 2012.

Barrasso Audits Obamacare’s IRS Spending

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:00:00 EST

As Americans send their hard earned tax dollars to Washington this week, it’s clear that much of their money will pay for the President’s health spending law.

Obama’s $4.5 Trillion Tax Hike

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:00:00 EST

Unless President Obama changes course, one-quarter of all job creators will see their income taxes increase in 2013. In an economy like this, we can’t afford to raise taxes on anyone—especially not on small businesses and America’s job creators.

Legislative Notice: S. 1789 – 21st Century Postal Service Act

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST

Reported by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on November 9, 2011 by a vote of 9-1; the “no” votes of Senators Coburn and McCain were not counted because they were proxy votes. On Monday, April 16, 2012, a new substitute amendment to S. 1789 was filed by Senators Collins and Lieberman. This legislative notice reflects changes made by the substitute amendment.