Policy Papers
Currently showing results in the allth Congress. See all results
The Basics of Transportation Finance
There is widespread agreement that the United States needs better transportation infrastructure. Tools for paying for infrastructure include transportation financing and public-private partnerships. Most infrastructure spending occurs on the state level, and therefore it is generally the states that engage in public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects. America’s Transportation Infrastructure Needs Last year, Congress responded to concerns about America’s transportation... Continue Reading
December 6, 2016
Reining in Obama Regulatory Overreach
Republicans have the opportunity to enact the most significant regulatory reform since President Reagan. Regulatory reform will look at executive and legislative actions, including freezing new regulations, rescinding executive orders, and enforcement discretion. A part of that reform will be Congress passing legislation under the Congressional Review Act to overturn last-minute regulations imposed by the Obama administration. In the new session of Congress, the House and Senate will have... Continue Reading
December 6, 2016
Deference for the President's Nominees
When President Obama took office, Senate Republicans mostly deferred to his cabinet selections – confirming seven cabinet nominees on President Obama’s first day. Many of his other cabinet nominees were confirmed shortly after their nominations were received by the Senate. Democrats should show the same courtesy to President-elect Trump’s nominees. President-elect Trump has made rapid progress in filling his cabinet. He is expected to send most or all of his nominations to the... Continue Reading
December 2, 2016
November 2016 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 4.6 percent Unemployed Americans: 7.4 million Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent for November, down 0.3 percent from last month. Today’s jobs report shows an increase of 178,000 nonfarm jobs in November, slightly lower than analysts’ prediction of job growth of 180,000. Employment for September was revised up from 191,000 to 208,000 jobs created; and October was revised down from... Continue Reading
November 16, 2016
Giving Americans Relief From Obamacare
Obamacare has put health care out of reach for many Americans. After more than six years of Obamacare, Americans can finally see light at the end of the tunnel: relief from this unaffordable, unworkable, and unpopular health care law. The Republican Congress will work with the new administration to repeal and replace Obamacare with patient-centered reforms. After suffering through Obamacare for 6 1/2 long years, Americans can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. Though President Obama... Continue Reading
November 16, 2016
The Senate's National Security To-Do List
Iran Sanctions Act: Expires at the end of the year. Extending it would be consistent with the Iran nuclear agreement. Defense authorization conference report: Congress should complete the bill setting the policy priorities for the Department of Defense. War supplemental: Despite President Obama continually taking credit for ending wars, the administration recently submitted a request for supplemental funds for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. Iran Sanctions The Iran Sanctions Act... Continue Reading
November 16, 2016
What's Ahead In The Lame Duck
The lame duck session of Congress runs until January 3, 2017. The Senate will take on many issues from appropriations to health care to national security. The Senate will not take on other issues such as nominations and trade. There are several issues that the lame duck session of the 114th Congress – which runs until January 3, 2017 – could tackle. The Senate will not take on President Obama’s nominations or trade deals. Appropriations: The current continuing... Continue Reading
November 4, 2016
October 2016 Job Reports
Unemployment Rate: 4.9 percent Unemployed Americans: 7.8 million Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent for October, down 0.1 percent from last month. Today’s jobs report shows an increase of 161,000 nonfarm jobs in October, lower than analysts’ prediction of job growth around 175,000. Employment for August was revised up from 167,000 to 176,000 jobs created; and September was revised up from 156,000 to 191,000.... Continue Reading
October 31, 2016
13 Scary Things the Obama Administration Did This Year
1.) The deficit increased by 34 percent in 2016, and the national debt now stands at nearly $20 trillion. Source: thereadingdate.com 2.) The economy is already moving like the dead, but Obama’s Treasury Department issued regulations to make businesses pay more taxes, hurting more American jobs. Source: www.giphy.com 3.) Played political games with Zika funding instead of working with Congress to protect Americans from Zika. Source: teded.tumblr.com 4.) Doubled down on net... Continue Reading
October 28, 2016
THE ECONOMY EXPANDS … FINALLY
The economy expanded at a rate of 2.9 percent in the third quarter of 2016. This is the highest growth in the last two years. The president's unwillingness to work with Congress in a bipartisan way wasted many opportunities to promote economic growth. The nation’s economy grew at an inflation-adjusted rate of 2.9 percent in the third quarter. While this is good, it shows the weakness of the Obama economy. Growth has averaged approximately 1 percent in the last three quarters, and the... Continue Reading
October 7, 2016
September 2016 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 5.0 percent Unemployed Americans: 7.9 million Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 5.0 percent for September, up 0.1 percent from last month. The jobs report shows an increase of 156,000 nonfarm jobs in September, lower than analysts’ prediction of job growth around 170,000. Employment for July was revised down from 275,000 to 252,000 jobs created; and August was revised up from 151,000 to 167,000.... Continue Reading
September 27, 2016
Democrats' Obamacare Solution: More Obamacare
Democrats say Obamacare’s failures can be solved with a “public option” – government-run health care. When writing Obamacare, Democrats decided that a public option was too extreme. Democrats’ push for a Washington-run health care plan would do even more harm to Americans’ health care than Obamacare already has. Americans are nervous about their health insurance coverage for next year. Obamacare premiums will be higher than ever before, and families will face... Continue Reading
September 26, 2016
A Clean Continuing Resolution
The continuing resolution funds the government through December 9 at current levels. Zika is provided $1.1 billion in emergency funding. Flood relief is provided $500 million in disaster funding. There is $37 million in new funding for opioid adiction and recovery. On Tuesday the Senate will vote on legislation that provides funding through December 9, 2016, at a rate equal to fiscal year 2016 funding – $1.067 trillion for base discretionary funding and $74.096 billion for “overseas... Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Obamacare Failing Americans
Obamacare is crumbling, and Senate Democrats and President Obama are doubling down on the law’s failed policies. Last week a majority of Senate Democrats introduced a resolution praising Obamacare and proposing a government-run health insurance plan. On November 1, Americans face higher costs and fewer choices under Obamacare. Last week, Senate Democrats introduced a resolution praising Obamacare and pleading to give Americans more of it with a government-run insurance plan. While record... Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Key Data on the American Economy
This year’s deficit will increase by 35 percent due to a poor economy, lower tax revenue, and higher Washington spending. The U.S. median income rose significantly in 2015 for the first time during the Obama administration, but is still below 2007 levels. Economic growth is disappointing – near 1 percent for the last three quarters. Americans say that the economy under President Obama is not working for them. In the most recent Gallup poll, the economy ranks as the most important... Continue Reading
September 14, 2016
An Update On The FCC's Busy Few Years
Over the past few years, the FCC has taken steps to impose significant new mandates on telecommunications providers. These regulations include last year’s net neutrality rules and several ongoing rulemakings involving video feeds, privacy, and commercial internet service rates. The FCC’s rulemakings go beyond its statutory authority and neglect rigorous economic analysis. OPEN MARKETS HAVE SPURRED INNOVATION The growth in innovation, consumer choice, and access in the... Continue Reading
September 13, 2016
Obama's Foreign Policy Summer Vacation
The Obama administration’s failed foreign policy continued this summer, leaving the world a more dangerous place than it was eight years ago. The administration gave Iran $400 million in cash within 24 hours of Iran releasing American hostages. Russia launched air strikes from Iranian territory against opposition forces in Syria. Because President Obama allowed Assad repeatedly to cross a red line with impunity, a recent U.N. report found that Assad makes “repeated use” of... Continue Reading
September 13, 2016
Internet Transition Deadline Approaches
The Commerce Department’s contract with ICANN is set to expire on September 30, which would end the U.S. government’s stewardship of the internet’s address book. Critics of the transition warn of foreign government control over the internet and say that transition plan falls short. House and Senate committee chairmen have asked the Obama administration to reconsider the planned October transition. WHAT IS ICANN AND WHAT DOES IT DO? The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names... Continue Reading
September 7, 2016
Obamacare Is Running Out Of Options
As Obamacare continues to unravel, Americans across the country have fewer options – and many will have no choice at all. This fall, people living in one-third of the country will have only one option on their Obamacare exchange. Premiums will be significantly higher in 2017 than they were in 2016. This summer, Obamacare’s death spiral accelerated, with insurers fleeing the exchanges, states approving huge rate hikes, and Americans reporting that they are less healthy since... Continue Reading
September 2, 2016
August 2016 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 4.9 percent Unemployed Americans: 7.8 million Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent for August, unchanged from last month. The jobs report shows an increase of 151,000 nonfarm jobs in August, lower than analysts’ prediction of job growth around 180,000. Employment for June was revised down from 292,000 to 271,000 jobs created; and July was revised up from 255,000 to 275,000. In 2016, employment growth has... Continue Reading