Policy Papers
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February 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 February, unchanged from last month. It reported an increase of 242,000 nonfarm jobs in February. Today’s job growth figure exceeded analysts’ job growth prediction of 200,000. Employment for December was revised up from 262,000 to 271,000 jobs created; and January was revised up from 151,000 to... Continue Reading
March 1, 2016
Biden's Rules Apply Today
In 1992, Senator Joe Biden argued against confirming an election-year Supreme Court nominee because the confirmation battle would be too bitter and divisive. If that was true then, it is still true today. Senate Democrats have spent the last three decades undermining and politicizing the confirmation process. President Obama has repeatedly demonstrated his contempt for Congress and the Constitution. The best way for the Senate to do its job today is to avoid a bitter, partisan, political... Continue Reading
March 1, 2016
Apple and the San Bernardino Terror Attack
A court has ordered Apple to provide the FBI reasonable technical assistance in accessing the data on the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino terrorists. Apple is contesting the lawfulness of this order. There is also a technical dispute as to whether such assistance can be restricted to only this one phone. In the fight against terrorism, FBI Director James Comey described the phenomenon of “Going Dark.” This involves the use of sophisticated encryption and other technology to... Continue Reading
February 25, 2016
Health Innovation in the Senate
On February 9, the Senate HELP Committee passed a package of seven bipartisan health innovation bills. The committee plans to hold two additional executive sessions – one in March and one in April – to discuss other health innovation bills. Senator Alexander said he intends a package of these biomedical innovation bills to be the Senate counterpart to the House-passed 21st Century Cures bill, and hopes that the Senate and House products can be conferenced together this... Continue Reading
February 25, 2016
A Push to Fund and Regulate Self-driving Cars
Transportation Secretary Foxx has announced plans to spend $4 billion over 10 years on pilot programs testing automated vehicles. Approximately 10 million cars with autonomous driving features may be on the road by 2020. Automated vehicle technology will transform the transportation sector and America’s economy, but real policy challenges exist, including liability, safety, privacy, and security. DOT PLANS TO REGULATE DRIVERLESS CARS Last month U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony... Continue Reading
February 25, 2016
Obamacare Picks Insurers Over Taxpayers Again
On February 12, the Obama administration announced it would distribute $8.2 billion through the Obamacare reinsurance program, with the majority going to insurance companies. Of the $8.2 billion, HHS will distribute only $500 million to the Treasury, an amount that is $3.5 billion short of what Obamacare requires. The inability of the administration to follow its own law is just another example of Obamacare not working. ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES 2015 REINSURANCE FUNDING Earlier this month, the... Continue Reading
February 23, 2016
SCOTUS Appointment Should Wait
The Senate has no constitutional obligation to act on a president’s judicial nomination. The Constitution requires the Senate to act only if it chooses to confirm a nomination. The last time a Senate controlled by the opposing party approved an election-year Supreme Court nominee, there were 38 states in the union. With eight justices on the court, 4-4 decisions are possible in some of the most controversial cases. If the court splits, the lower court decision will stand, and it will not... Continue Reading
February 23, 2016
Supreme Court Stays CO2 Rule
On February 9, the Supreme Court ordered a stay of the Obama administration’s rule governing carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. Countries gathering on April 22 to sign the Paris climate agreement should worry that this means the president will fail to deliver on his promises. The stay ensures the rule cannot be carried out by this president. On February 9, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to stay the Obama administration’s rule governing carbon dioxide emissions from... Continue Reading
February 10, 2016
Americans Still Struggling to Find Work
President Obama is happy to take credit for 4.9 percent national unemployment, the lowest level in his presidency. However, a more complete count of those out of work shows a national unemployment figure of 8.5 percent. According to former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh, “at 8.5 percent, it is easier to understand the frustration of the country and the politics of this moment much better.” The recent jobs report showed that the national unemployment fell to 4.9 percent in... Continue Reading
February 9, 2016
The Obama Budget Fails Again
For the final time, President Obama submitted his budget proposal to Congress. The proposal makes no difficult choices, instead choosing to increase taxes and increase spending. The president’s budget is dead on arrival in Congress. The president’s budget is radically liberal. It proposes to raise taxes to 20 percent of GDP in a decade – a level only seen once since the end of World War II (in 2000), and far above the 17.4 percent average of the last 50 years. It seeks to... Continue Reading
February 9, 2016
Being Prepared for Zika
The Zika virus is rapidly spreading through the Americas and poses significant public health risks. Links between the Zika virus and neurological disorders and birth defects in unborn children are strongly suspected. Federal, state, and local governments need to work with other health organizations to share information, find tests and solutions, and make them available quickly. The Senate continues to take action to ensure U.S. preparedness. Zika in the United States The Zika virus was... Continue Reading
February 9, 2016
Combatting Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. have quadrupled since 1999, with 44 people dying every day. Prescription opioid abuse is associated with a sharp rise in heroin use and overdoses. The Senate is working on bipartisan legislation across committees to protect against opioid and heroin abuse. The Rise in Prescription Opioid Abuse In 2014, 61 percent of all drug overdose deaths in the U.S. were related to opioids, primarily prescription pain relievers and heroin. Prescription opioid... Continue Reading
February 5, 2016
January 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 January, down 0.1 percentage point from last month. It reported an increase of 151,000 nonfarm jobs in January. Employment for November was revised up from 252,000 to 280,000 jobs created; and December was revised up from 292,000 to 262,000. Today’s job creation figure is lower what was anticipated by... Continue Reading
February 2, 2016
Act Now to Capture America’s LNG Opportunity
The Obama administration spends an average of seven months after an LNG export project’s final environmental review to consider whether it’s in the “public interest.” Slow-walking LNG export projects jeopardizes their widespread economic and geopolitical benefits. S. 2012 would ensure timely decisions on LNG export applications. The first cargo of liquefied natural gas exports from the continental U.S. is scheduled to sail by early March. This will mark a stunning... Continue Reading
February 2, 2016
Medicaid Needs to Be Improved, Not Expanded
The White House will propose in the president’s budget to provide states that have not yet expanded their Medicaid programs with another opportunity for three years of 100 percent federal funding. Beneficiaries only get 20 to 40 cents of value for every Medicaid dollar spent. Medicaid needs to be reformed, not expanded – low-income Americans should not be relegated to second-class health care. White House wants to expand Medicaid expansion ... Continue Reading
January 29, 2016
Obama Policies Continue Drag on Economy
The economy grew at an inflation-adjusted rate of just 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, and a total of 2.4 percent in 2015. Ranking all 66 years since 1950 in terms of economic growth, the Obama years rank 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, 54th, 55th, and 66th. Today the Bureau of Economic Analysis released the first estimate of GDP growth for calendar year 2015. Adjusted for inflation, the economy expanded at a tepid 2.4 percent rate in 2015. This includes the fourth quarter of 2015... Continue Reading
January 27, 2016
2016 Health Care Policy Calendar
JANUARY 1 – Employer mandate went into effect for employers with 50 to 99 full-time workers; Next Generation ACO program began 12 – HELP executive session on FDA commissioner nominee, Robert Califf 15 – Last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start February 1 19 – CBO January baseline summary released 20 – HELP hearing on mental health 21 – Finance hearing on co-ops with CMS acting Administrator Andrew... Continue Reading
January 27, 2016
Big Government Crushing the Little Guy
In order to avoid public, judicial, and congressional scrutiny, the Obama administration uses voluntary compliance to make policy. As a result, it is undermining the rule of law. Limited judicial review and the high costs of challenging agency action make it impossible for most Americans to do anything but voluntarily comply with agency dictates, whether or not they are supported by law. As rulemaking becomes more rigorous and transparent, agencies will turn more toward flexible policymaking... Continue Reading
January 20, 2016
Obama Escalates His War on American Energy
Last Friday, Interior Secretary Jewell ordered a halt to new coal mining leases on federal land and a review of the federal coal program. This order will accelerate deteriorating market conditions in the coal industry and undercut economic opportunity across America. It is the latest attack in the administration’s war on American energy. Last Friday, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell ordered the Bureau of Land Management to stop issuing new coal mining leases on federal land for three... Continue Reading
January 20, 2016