Policy Papers
Currently showing results in the 113th Congress. See all results
CBO on US Budget: “Unsustainable”
Yesterday the Congressional Budget Office reported on the long-term outlook for the federal budget. This report comes just a few days after the Obama administration released a report showing that the federal budget deficit is declining. Countering that spin, CBO shows that, while short-term deficits have decreased, they grow out of control in the long-term due in part to the president’s unwillingness to deal with Washington’s long-term budget problems. According to CBO, the immediate... Continue Reading
July 16, 2014
Energy Nominations after Reid Broke the Rules
Senate Democrats protect the president’s anti-energy agenda by curbing meaningful debate in Senate committees and on the Senate floor. Last November, Democrats went one step further, breaking Senate rules in order to place in administrative agencies and on judicial benches controversial appointees likely to support the administration’s agenda. Their implementation of the “nuclear option” reduced the threshold to confirm the president’s nominees from 60 votes to a... Continue Reading
July 16, 2014
Ambassador Nominations after Reid Broke the Rules
Last week, Majority Leader Reid and Secretary of State Kerry complained about the Senate’s processing of ambassadorial nominations. Their complaint assumes there should be no consequences for Majority Leader Reid breaking the rules of the Senate to change the rules on the processing of nominations. The consequences of that act were predictable. Senator Obama predicted the consequences himself when a rules change was contemplated in 2005, saying: “if they choose to change the rules... Continue Reading
July 15, 2014
Policy by the Numbers
The key number for July is 25 years. In just 25 years (2039), U.S. public debt will equal the highest point ever seen in our nation’s history – 106 percent of GDP. Other recent numbers that also have policy implications. Continue Reading
July 15, 2014
On Corporate Taxes, Democrats Wrong Again
Recently Democrats have turned a spotlight on two corporate tax issues: “offshoring” jobs and foreign inversions, where a company moves its headquarters overseas to pay lower taxes. Democrats have proposed treating two symptoms, rather than solving the problems themselves. Problem 1: High Tax Rates Since the United States last changed its corporate tax rate – a one percent increase in 1993 – the rest of the world has realized that high corporate tax rates discourage... Continue Reading
July 15, 2014
Democrats’ Political Stunt to Mislead Voters
In last month’s Hobby Lobby decision, the Supreme Court held that a federal law designed to protect the exercise of religion also protects the rights of Americans organized as “closely held corporations.” In response to the decision, Democrats engaged in rhetoric that was un-tethered to the facts of the case. This week, Senate Democrats will take up legislation intended to undo the safeguards set forth by the court. With little expectation that the bill will become law, it... Continue Reading
July 14, 2014
In Her Words: Obamacare’s Negative Impact on Women
This week, Republicans will continue to speak up for women who have been hurt by the President’s healthcare law. Republicans will share real life stories from women across America who have said that the law has increased their costs, made it harder for them to see their doctors, and decreased their paychecks. Here’s what women are saying in their own words about their experiences: Rising Costs "I can't afford that," she said. "There's no way on Earth." "If we could afford it,... Continue Reading
July 10, 2014
Leader Reid Goes to Historic Lengths to Block Republican Amendments
The tactic: filling the tree The result: fewer votes than the House on minority amendments Continue Reading
July 10, 2014
E-Rate Proposal Fails to Make Passing Grade
On Friday, the FCC will meet to consider reforming the E-rate program, the federal broadband initiative for schools and libraries. Ensuring that U.S. students are empowered with the connectivity required to succeed embodies a worthy cause. However, the program has suffered from poor administration and significant waste, fraud, and abuse. The reforms proposed by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, could make the problems even worse. Rather than simplifying the process for participation, for example,... Continue Reading
July 8, 2014
Supreme Court Reins in the Obama Administration
Last month, the Supreme Court unanimously rebuked President Obama for violating the Constitution’s separation of powers in the appointment process. The high court’s decision was not the only ruling from last term to repudiate the governing philosophy of the administration. It also struck down a law that, while not directly admonishing the administration, dealt a blow to its political allies – public-sector unions. NLRB v. Noel Canning In a 9-0 opinion authored by liberal... Continue Reading
July 8, 2014
More Part-Timers; Wages Stagnant
Despite employment gains in June, the labor force participation rate remains at 62.8 percent, unchanged from the previous two months and near its lowest level in 36 years. Labor force participation is down 0.7 percentage points compared to June 2013. The labor market remains weaker than the last time we had an unemployment rate of 6.1 percent, in September 2008. The difference is “shadow unemployment,” people who want a job but have stopped looking, or are working part time but... Continue Reading
July 7, 2014
July 2014 Policy Calendar
July 3, 2014
June 2014 Unemployment Report
Unemployment Rate: 6.1 percent Unemployed Americans: 9.5 million Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 6.1 percent for June 2014, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point. It reported an increase of 288,000 nonfarm jobs over last month. Employment for May was revised up from 217,000 to 224,000 jobs created, and April was revised up from 282,000... Continue Reading
June 26, 2014
Supreme Court Update
The Supreme Court has issued opinions in all but two of its cases. The remaining decisions will be released on Monday. In addition to the decision in the Noel Canning case, the court released opinions in several other cases of note: American Broadcast Companies v. Aereo: In an important copyright law decision, the court ruled that Aereo violated copyright laws by retransmitting television programming to consumers. Aereo’s internet-based alternative to cable TV provided equipment that... Continue Reading
June 26, 2014
Supreme Court Rebukes Obama Appointments
Two and a half years ago, President Obama flagrantly bypassed the Senate and appointed three members to the National Labor Relations Board, claiming the Senate was in recess. Today, a unanimous Supreme Court held that the president’s actions were unconstitutional. The court reaffirmed that it is the Senate that controls the procedure and manner of carrying out its constitutionally assigned advice and consent role on executive appointments, not the president. The Ruling In invalidating... Continue Reading
June 25, 2014
Worst Quarter Since 2009
Today the Bureau of Economic Analysis updated its 2014 first quarter economic report. The economy shrank at a staggering 2.9 percent annualized rate, down from the previous estimate of shrinking 1.0 percent. The White House’s projection of 3.1 percent growth for all of 2014 now seems like a pipe dream. CBO’s more modest projection for 2.7 percent growth in 2014 also will be very hard to meet. Looking back at the last three quarters: the economy has actually shrunk in... Continue Reading
June 24, 2014
Republican Solutions: Fiscal Policy
Fiscal policy has languished under Majority Leader Reid. The national debt has increased by nearly $7 trillion under President Obama, and the Senate has not fully addressed the causes of our skyrocketing debt. When crises have happened or we’ve reached some deadline, Democrats have agreed only to the minimum reforms possible – they’ve pushed the real reforms further into the future. In contrast, a Republican-led Senate would take steps to secure our economic future by... Continue Reading
June 24, 2014
Supreme Court Update
The Supreme Court has seven cases still to decide before the end of its term. It is expected to issue the remaining decisions on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and possibly next Monday. Yesterday, the court released its opinion in one case of note: Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA – The court held that the EPA may apply “best available control technology” requirements for greenhouse gases from fixed sources, like power plants and factories, that are already subject to... Continue Reading
June 24, 2014
Obamacare Failing Its Premiums Standard
Last week Mandy Cohen, the head of insurance oversight at the Department of Health and Human Services, told Congress that the Obama administration is pleased with the increases in next year’s health insurance premiums. The administration expects average increases to be less than 10 percent. This is a long way from the president’s promise to lower premiums by $2,500 per family per year. “I think if you look at the rate increases before the Affordable Care Act and what they were... Continue Reading
June 18, 2014
Highway Trust Fund Going Broke
In early August, the Highway Trust Fund is expected, by law, to stop making payments to states to avoid a negative balance. In the past, Congress kept the HTF solvent primarily with general fund money – transferring $54 billion since 2008. But the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 stipulated that any transfer to the HTF now must be offset. Congress is currently working through options to keep the HTF solvent. FY 2014 Estimates for End-of-Month Cash Balances Highway Account of the... Continue Reading