Policy Papers
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Choices Facing the Senate: Offsetting the Cost of Coverage
Since World War II, the federal government has given a tax preference to health insurance purchased through an employer but not for insurance people buy on their own. Obamacare makes the tax inequity worse by giving only some people subsidies to purchase certain types of health plans on the individual market. The American Health Care Act tries to remedy these issues by creating a new tax credit available to most people in the individual market, while also repealing some of Obamacare’s... Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Lowering Premiums by Fixing the Market
On average, individual premiums have increased 99 percent and family premiums have increased 140 percent in the individual market since 2013, according to shopping data from eHealth. This year, 70 percent of the nation’s counties only have one or two insurers selling coverage on the exchange. Republican health care reform efforts are centered on reversing Obamacare’s damage by reducing premiums, stabilizing the market, and providing relief from some of Obamacare’s... Continue Reading
May 11, 2017
Historic Regulatory Relief: Eliminating Obama-Era Overreach
Congress struck down 14 Obama regulations using the Congressional Review Act. These 14 CRAs will save taxpayers at least $3.7 billion and 4.2 million hours of paperwork. This was the first Congress to successfully use the CRA to repeal a regulation since 2001. Congress has passed 14 resolutions disapproving Obama-era midnight rules under the Congressional Review Act. These resolutions have provided Americans substantial relief from the burden of unfair and unwise regulations. The 14 rules... Continue Reading
May 9, 2017
Pre-Existing Conditions Provisions in the AHCA
Under the American Health Care Act, no one will be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. No one who keeps their insurance continuously will be charged more because they are sick or get sick. Only people who avoid purchasing coverage until they need it will be charged more, and the higher premiums are only allowed to last for one year. The bill provides up to $123 billion for states to offset the higher costs these people face. Democrats have been flooding the airwaves with... Continue Reading
May 9, 2017
Medicaid by the Numbers
Medicaid was created as a safety net for the most vulnerable in American society – today it covers about 20 percent of the U.S. population. Spending continues to increase and is projected to reach $957 billion a year in 2025. Under Obamacare’s expansion of the program, Washington pays much more to care for able-bodied, nonelderly adults than it does for the traditional Medicaid population. The Medicaid program has exploded in terms of both enrollment and spending since its... Continue Reading
May 8, 2017
Holding Iran Accountable for its Destabilizing Behavior
The Iran nuclear agreement provided relief from nuclear-related sanctions only. The agreement does not prevent the United States from using sanctions in other contexts. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s recent certification that Iran is meeting its requirements under the nuclear agreement does not prevent the use of sanctions to hold Iran accountable for its continuing support for terrorism, ballistic missile testing, violations of legally binding arms embargoes, and support for Assad in... Continue Reading
May 5, 2017
April 2017 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 4.4 percent Jobs Created: 211,000 Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent for April, down 0.1 percent from last month. Today’s unemployment rate is the lowest since May 2007. Today’s jobs report shows an increase of 211,000 nonfarm jobs in April, higher than analysts’ prediction of job growth of 188,000. Employment for February was revised up from 219,000 to 232,000 jobs created; and March was... Continue Reading
May 2, 2017
The American Health Care Act of 2017
The House bill repeals Obamacare’s tax increases, subsidies, penalties, and mandates. It allows states to waive some of Obamacare’s most onerous insurance regulations. The waiver restores state control over certain aspects of their health insurance market. The bill will stabilize the individual and small group insurance markets by creating a new federal grant program that provides $100 billion states can use to stabilize their markets. Keeping OUR PROMISE The House’s... Continue Reading
May 2, 2017
North Korea: China's Leverage, U.S. Options
China has historically provided large wealth transfers to North Korea through the purchase of coal, amongst other means. China accounts for 90 percent of trade with North Korea. China recently announced it will comply with a U.N. resolution and suspend imports of coal from North Korea for the rest of 2017. The key will be for China to maintain compliance. The United States has other options in addressing the North Korea threat, including improving our missile defense systems and increasing... Continue Reading
April 28, 2017
GDP Shows Need for Pro-Growth Policies
The economy expanded at a rate of 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2017. These numbers show the need for pro-growth tax reform and regulatory relief that Republicans are committed to delivering. Obama-era policies are still preventing the economy from reaching its full potential. The nation’s economy grew at an inflation-adjusted rate of 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2017. This is not the level of growth that we should strive to achieve. It is a continuation of weak growth... Continue Reading
April 25, 2017
A Decision on Paris
President Obama entered into the Paris climate agreement on his own – he never sought the Senate’s advice and consent. The agreement treats countries differently, with the U.S. cutting emissions more than Russia, China, Iran, and India. The disparity puts U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage and raises energy costs for Americans. The Paris climate agreement was a vital part of President Obama’s attempts to build his legacy. The Trump administration is expected... Continue Reading
April 25, 2017
Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor
Alex Acosta has previously been confirmed unanimously by the Senate for three different positions. He was a U.S. attorney for four years and was the first Hispanic to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. He wants to make sure that the Labor Department does a better job of aligning job training with the skills that workers need to have. Biography On March 7, the Senate received the nomination of Alexander Acosta to be secretary of labor. A native of Miami and the son... Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Sonny Perdue to be Secretary of Agriculture
Sonny Perdue has more than 20 years of experience as a public servant. He grew up on a farm, worked as a veterinarian, and led a state with a $74 billion agriculture sector. Governor Perdue’s nomination has received widespread bipartisan support, and he should be expeditiously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Biography George “Sonny” Perdue served two terms as governor of Georgia, from 2003 to 2011. He served in the Georgia Senate from 1991 to 2001, rising to the role of... Continue Reading
April 7, 2017
Executive Order on Energy Independence
President Trump signed an executive order last week that calls for a dramatic shift in policy to provide energy security, job growth, and economic prosperity. Breaking down barriers to responsible domestic energy development will benefit all Americans. This executive order builds on the Senate’s oversight of the Obama administration’s war on fossil fuels. On March 28, President Trump signed an executive order promoting American energy independence. It calls for a shift away... Continue Reading
April 7, 2017
March 2017 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 4.5 percent Jobs Created: 98,000 Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent for March, down 0.2 percent from last month. Today’s jobs report shows an increase of 98,000 nonfarm jobs in March, lower than analysts’ prediction of job growth of 175,000. Employment for January was revised down from 238,000 to 216,000 jobs created; and February was revised down from 235,000 to 219,000. Job growth for the first... Continue Reading
April 4, 2017
Why Treat This Nomination Differently?
Democrats are attempting to filibuster a highly qualified, mainstream nominee. Democrats may force Republicans to reform precedent and restore the Senate to the practice of giving qualified nominees an up-or-down vote. Judge Gorsuch will be confirmed to the Supreme Court. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, Democrats have treated Judge Neil Gorsuch exactly as expected. Every time a Republican president nominates someone for the Supreme Court, Democrats use the same... Continue Reading
April 3, 2017
CBO Shows We Need to Act on the Debt
The country is set to break the record for largest public debt in U.S. history. Revenue is not the problem – mandatory spending is the problem. Not acting has huge risks, including the risk of another financial crisis. CBO released its latest report on the long-term budget outlook last week. As it did during the Obama administration, the office predicts that the debt, while high now, will quickly get out of control unless we act. President Obama seemed more interested in lofty rhetoric... Continue Reading
March 28, 2017
Gorsuch Gets Great Reviews
At Judge Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing, Democrats tried all of their standard attacks. Nothing worked, and Judge Gorsuch showed why his nomination is so widely supported. Judge Gorsuch will be confirmed to the Supreme Court. At last week’s confirmation hearings for Judge Neil Gorsuch, Democrats on the Judiciary Committee unsuccessfully tried to create outrage and controversy where none existed. They asked Judge Gorsuch to answer hypothetical questions and questions on issues... Continue Reading
March 28, 2017
15 Resolutions of Disapproval
The Senate could pass 15 Congressional Review Act resolutions of disapproval, negating Obama-era regulations. The Senate has passed 11 so far, and four more are ready for consideration. The Senate has passed 11 resolutions disapproving Obama-era midnight rules under the Congressional Review Act. These resolutions have provided Americans substantial regulatory relief. The four resolutions below are ready for consideration. Title X Grants (Ernst): Title X of the Public Health Service Act... Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Mending the U.S. - Israel Relationship
After eight years of President Obama, there is much to remedy in the U.S. relationship with Israel. To assist in that effort, the Senate should confirm David Friedman to be U.S. ambassador to Israel. He would be a forceful advocate for U.S. interests in the region. Repair efforts would also include reassuring Israel that the Obama administration’s abandonment of Israel at the United Nations is no longer U.S. policy. Obama’s Pièce de Résistance of Abandoning Israel at... Continue Reading