Policy Papers
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SCOTUS to Hear Challenge to Executive Amnesty
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court agreed to examine the president’s executive amnesty program, known as DAPA. Oral arguments will likely be in April, with a final decision released in June. The Supreme Court expanded the case to consider whether the president’s actions violated the Constitution. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court agreed to consider the legal challenge to President Obama’s executive amnesty program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent... Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
A Health Care Blueprint for a New President
The House and Senate sent an Obamacare repeal bill to the president’s desk last week. Though the president vetoed the bill, the preparation done in the process provides a blueprint for “repeal and replace” with a new president. Republicans are working on replace plans that respond to what Americans say they want and need in their health care. A bill on the president’s desk Republicans promised the country that they would do everything they could to repeal President... Continue Reading
January 11, 2016
SOTU 2016: A President Looking to His Legacy, Republicans Looking to Solutions
The president will deliver his final State of the Union address on Tuesday. It is likely to be more about his legacy than about the needs and desires of the American people. Obama policies over the last seven years have failed many Americans. The result is a fragile economy, a health care law that is not working, and a world that is less safe. Republicans are putting the American people first with tested, proven solutions to make our economy more competitive, to restore freedom at home, and to... Continue Reading
January 8, 2016
December 2015 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 December, unchanged from last month. It reported an increase of 292,000 nonfarm jobs in December. Employment for October was revised up from 298,000 to 307,000 jobs created; and November was revised up from 211,000 to 252,000. In 2015, the economy added an average of 221,000 jobs per month, compared to an average of... Continue Reading
December 15, 2015
A Republican Agenda That Challenges the President
Under Republican leadership, the Senate is back to work for the American people. The Republican-led Senate has challenged the president – voted on more amendments, reported more bills out of committee, and approved more conference reports. From the highway bill to education reform to health care reform, Senate Republicans have addressed issues that affect Americans the most. The record is clear: after years of a do-nothing Senate under Democrat control, Republicans have put the Senate... Continue Reading
December 15, 2015
Obamacare Timeline for 2016
Old Obamacare challenges will continue into 2016 – and new ones will begin. Republicans will give President Obama an opportunity to provide relief for Americans hurting under Obamacare. There are several Obamacare dates to keep in mind for the new year. Senate offers an Obamacare off-ramp Heading into 2016, Obamacare will continue to create challenges for patients, families, doctors, and small businesses. The Senate passed an Obamacare repeal bill to ease the pain Americans are feeling... Continue Reading
December 8, 2015
Stopping the President’s Climate Slush Fund
Developing countries meeting in Paris say they could want at least $5.4 trillion by 2030 for climate mitigation and adaptation projects. Developed countries, including the U.S., are pledging to contribute $100 billion annually. Congress rejects the Green Climate Fund as no more than a U.N. slush fund. This week, 196 countries that participate in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change continue their meeting in Paris. They plan to reach “a legally binding and universal... Continue Reading
December 8, 2015
President Offers No New Policy on ISIL
President Obama’s Oval Office speech offered no new policy to defeat ISIL. The president tried to pivot to Congress – calling for an AUMF, visa program strengthening, and increased gun control legislation – none of which addresses the threat. The president must be accountable and accurately judge the threat of ISIL, which he has failed to do. President Obama gave a speech from the Oval Office on Sunday night about the threat posed by ISIL. He offered no new plan for how to... Continue Reading
December 8, 2015
Continue to Protect Taxpayers from Obamacare Bailout
Congress has the ability to end Obamacare’s bailout of insurance companies. In the 2014 “Cromnibus,” Congress required Obamacare’s risk corridor provision to be budget neutral – meaning taxpayer dollars could not be used to cover insurers’ excess losses. Congress should continue to protect taxpayer dollars from being used to bail out Obamacare. Risk corridors are an insurance company bailout Obamacare helped insurance companies in many ways: Mandated that... Continue Reading
December 4, 2015
November 2015 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 November, unchanged from last month. It reported an increase of 211,000 nonfarm jobs in November. Employment for September was revised up from 137,000 to 145,000 jobs created; and October was revised up from 271,000 to 298,000. Job growth has averaged 220,000 over the past three months. In 2014, job growth averaged 260,000 a... Continue Reading
December 1, 2015
Concerns with the Visa Waiver Program
Nearly 20 million travelers entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program in 2013. The Visa Waiver Program relies on intelligence sharing and systems like the “no-fly list” to screen applicants. Reliability of these programs has been called into question. The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens from participating countries to enter the U.S. as temporary visitors for business or tourism without first obtaining a visa from a U.S. consulate abroad. Currently, 38 countries... Continue Reading
December 1, 2015
Keeping the Promise of Repealing Obamacare
Obamacare increases health care costs: higher premiums and deductibles for patients; higher Medicaid bills for states; more burdens on job creators; and higher taxes. Obamacare has led to dysfunction at every turn – exposing consumers’ personal data to cybersecurity risks, causing health insurance plans to be canceled and provider networks to narrow, even discouraging marriage. Obamacare continues to be unpopular and unworkable, and it must be repealed. Obamacare’s Higher... Continue Reading
November 17, 2015
Appropriations Riders Are Good Governance
Democrats are criticizing riders to appropriations bills that prohibit or place conditions on funds as unreasonable, or “vexatious” in the characterization of Harry Reid. Appropriations riders are not only a proper use of Congress’ authority, they are a necessary component of Congress’ check on presidential power. Riders limiting the use of appropriated funds have been used since the 1870s. In January 2014, President Obama declared his willingness to use his “pen... Continue Reading
November 17, 2015
Obamacare’s Higher Deductibles
In addition to their higher premiums, many Obamacare plans will have higher deductibles next year. Deductibles for the lowest-cost Obamacare plans have increased from last year by 10.6 percent for individuals and 10 percent for families. High deductibles are causing many to be unable to use their health insurance. Obamacare Deductibles Are Growing Obamacare continues to make health care unaffordable for Americans. There have been headlines across the country about higher premiums. For many... Continue Reading
November 17, 2015
Jobs and Energy at Stake with CO2 Rules
President Obama’s CO2 rules for new and existing power plants are potentially unlawful and will be harmful to the economy. The CO2 rules are another EPA power grab that will devastate America’s energy economy with negligible environmental benefit. The Senate will vote on bipartisan resolutions of disapproval filed by Senators McConnell and Capito to block the CO2 rules. The Obama administration’s rules governing carbon dioxide emissions from new and existing power... Continue Reading
November 10, 2015
SCOTUS Hears More Obamacare Challenges
The Supreme Court will decide whether Obamacare’s contraception mandate accommodation violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. These new cases, brought by religious non-profits, are a follow-up to the successful challenge to the birth-control mandate by Hobby Lobby in 2014. RFRA was popular, bipartisan legislation enacted by a Democratic House, Senate, and president. It is now under attack by the Obama administration. Challenges to Obamacare Continue Last Friday, the Supreme... Continue Reading
November 6, 2015
Democrats Block Effort to Improve Water Rule
The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers issued a rule giving themselves broad new power over water and land across the country. On Tuesday, Democrats filibustered the Senate’s best opportunity to revise the rule in a strong, bipartisan way. Then 11 Democrats sent a letter complaining about the flaws in the rule they just voted to keep in place. On June 29, the Obama administration published a final rule expanding the definition of “waters of the United States” for purposes of... Continue Reading
November 6, 2015
October 2015 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 October, down 0.1 from last month. It reported an increase of 271,000 nonfarm jobs in October. Economists had anticipated job growth in October to be 180,000. Employment for August was revised up from 136,000 to 153,000 jobs created; and September was revised down from 142,000 to 137,000. Job growth has averaged... Continue Reading
November 3, 2015
Enrollment Opens to Higher Premiums
The premium increase for benchmark silver plans on the federal exchange – 7.5 percent – is more than triple last year’s increase. For Obamacare’s lowest-tier plans – bronze plans – both premiums and deductibles are higher. As Obamacare struggles to bring in young and healthy enrollees – and insurers get more data about enrollees’ costs – prices will keep rising. Obama Administration Downplays Premium Increases Open enrollment started on... Continue Reading
November 3, 2015
Everyone versus the EPA on WOTUS
The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers issued a rule giving themselves broad new power over water and land across the country. The rule is another Washington power grab that has more to do with controlling land-use decisions than ensuring access to clean water. The Federal Water Quality Protection Act – S. 1140 – is the Senate’s best opportunity to revise the rule in a strong, bipartisan way. On June 29, the Obama administration published a final rule expanding the... Continue Reading