Policy Papers
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Right-to-Work Laws Just Work
Last week Michigan became the 24th state to join the ranks of right-to-work states. The state’s new law ensures workers in the state will not have to pay union dues or join a union in order to get or keep a job. If the experience of the other right-to-work states is any predictor, the people of Michigan will benefit and the state will improve economically. President Obama took the side of the labor unions -- and against increased freedom for workers -- when he said the law takes away... Continue Reading
December 18, 2012
Democrats’ Imbalance on Spending Cuts
Entitlements are unquestionably driving our long-term deficits. The latest monthly deficit numbers prior to the fiscal cliff confirm spending is the problem -- America is on its way to a fifth straight year of trillion dollar deficits. But Democrats have taken off the table even the spending cuts President Obama previously supported. These include modernizing our major entitlement programs: Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Spending Continues to Increase Adjusted for timing shifts,... Continue Reading
December 18, 2012
Better Inflation Measure Would Reduce Deficit
The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates two versions of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to measure inflation. These measures work by assuming that a consumer purchases a certain “basket” of goods, and they track the total cost of this basket. The “CPI-U” is the headline measure and it includes all urban consumers. This measure is used to index the tax brackets for inflation. The “CPI-W” includes urban wage earners and clerical workers -- so it excludes the... Continue Reading
December 12, 2012
Sandy Request Fails Administration’s Own Test
Last Friday, the Obama Administration requested $60.4 billion in supplemental appropriations to respond to Hurricane Sandy. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis finds that 64 percent of the funds will not be spent until fiscal years 2015 – 2022 and after. The Administration’s plan would spend 15 percent of the funds in the current fiscal year, and 21 percent in fiscal year 2014. In his letter requesting the supplemental funds, OMB Deputy Director Jeffrey Zients said that... Continue Reading
December 12, 2012
North Korea’s Missile Test: Past Actions and Next Steps
North Korea has conducted a test of its long-range missile technology specifically designed to threaten the U.S. homeland. The Obama Administration’s diplomacy on nuclear weapons has not worked. And today, North Korea has very little to fear by way of consequences for its actions. History of North Korea Violations and Feckless Responses Consistent with his 2008 promises to negotiate with rogue states without precondition, President Obama continues to believe he can talk the North Korean... Continue Reading
December 11, 2012
IRS Auditing Americans’ Health Care
Regardless of what happens in the fiscal cliff negotiations, President Obama’s health care law guarantees middle class families will pay higher taxes. Hardworking Americans deserve to know that the President’s health care law – and the Administration’s regulatory onslaught – dramatically expands the IRS’ power to enforce these tax hikes. Over the past several weeks, the Obama Administration has released a wave of health care regulations. This regulatory push... Continue Reading
December 11, 2012
Democrats Target Family Farms for Death Taxes
If President Obama and Senate Democrats do not act, the federal government will begin taking more than half the value of family farm estates exceeding $1 million beginning next year. This summer, Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Democrats passed legislation (S.3412) on a party-line vote that allows Washington to take up to 55 percent, a huge increase over today’s top rate of 35 percent, and drop the tax’s exemption from $5.1 million to $1 million. The lower exemption -- combined... Continue Reading
December 11, 2012
The Facts of Senate Dysfunction
Senate Democrats claim that there has been excessive use of the filibuster in the 112th Congress. But a quick look at the number of times Leader Reid has “filled the tree” -- and at the count of cloture votes -- shows that the Democrats’ claim is incorrect. Cloture Petitions Not the Same as Filibusters A filibuster occurs when an attempt to end debate fails, not simply at the filing of a cloture petition. The Majority Leader has the prerogative to file cloture petitions and... Continue Reading
December 7, 2012
November 2012 Unemployment Report
November 2012 Unemployment Rate: 7.7 percent Unemployed Americans: 12.0 million “Real” Unemployment The “real” unemployment or U-6 rate is 14.4 percent for November 2012. This is the total percentage of unemployed and underemployed workers. The “real” number of unemployed Americans is 22.7 million. These are people who are unemployed (12.0... Continue Reading
December 5, 2012
Unprecedented Recess Appointments Go to Court
This morning, a panel of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia heard oral argument in Noel Canning v. National Labor Relations Board, a challenge to the appointment of NLRB board members during a pro forma session of the Senate earlier this year. The court considered the extent to which the Senate controls the procedure and manner of carrying out its constitutionally assigned advice and consent role on Executive appointments. While the Senate did not formally appear in the case, 41... Continue Reading
December 4, 2012
Reid vs Reid on the Filibuster
December 4, 2012
Death Tax and AMT: Pain for Middle Class Families
In fiscal cliff negotiations, Democrats have insisted on tax rate increases. By taking this position, they are hurting other tax policies for which bipartisan compromises are readily available. These include the estate tax and the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) -- two policies that require action before the end of the year. Otherwise, many middle-class families will see more of their money go to Washington. Death Tax Will Hit Small Businesses and Family Farms Hard In just four weeks, the estate... Continue Reading
December 4, 2012
Congress Should Not Surrender Debt Limit
“The Congress shall have Power…To borrow Money on the credit of the United States.” -- U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8 Last week, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner delivered President Obama’s wish list for fiscal cliff negotiations to Congress. Among other things, his proposal would make permanent the President’s ability to increase the debt limit on his own, with Congress having the ability to vote to disapprove the increase. This would essentially... Continue Reading
November 27, 2012
On the Fiscal Cliff, Entitlement Reform Is Key
In discussions on the fiscal cliff, Democrats have repeatedly talked about wanting to raise taxes. In contrast, they have said very little about strengthening entitlements. Democrats admit Congress must act on entitlements, but they have not proposed any meaningful reforms. Shoring up entitlements will have a far greater effect on the future stability of our economy and debt than tax increases. Discussions over how to deal with the pending fiscal cliff, and averting a fiscal crisis, will have to... Continue Reading
November 27, 2012
Debt Limit on Agenda Again
The Treasury Department recently announced that it expected the U.S. government to hit its debt limit of $16.394 trillion “near the end of 2012.” Treasury can take certain “extraordinary actions” to keep the debt limit from affecting U.S. government finances for a few weeks, but the President will need once again to ask Congress to raise the nation's debt ceiling in 2013. The 2011 Debt Limit Increase In 2011, Congress increased the debt limit by a total of $2.1 trillion... Continue Reading
November 14, 2012
Presidential Leadership Needed on Fiscal Cliff
Without presidential leadership, the nation will go over the “fiscal cliff” on January 1. This will raise taxes, implement the sequester, and almost certainly throw the U.S. economy back into recession. The fiscal cliff’s tax hikes include the expiration of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, the Alternative Minimum Tax hitting more middle class families, the expiring employee payroll (Social Security) tax cut, various business tax provisions, and various Obamacare tax increases. The... Continue Reading
November 14, 2012
Senate Democrats Trample Minority Rights
Last week, Majority Leader Reid re-stated his ambition to abolish the use of the filibuster on motions to proceed. Under regular order, Senate rules providing for debate on motions to proceed cannot be changed by a simple majority vote. Majority Leader Reid should stick to his promise to follow regular order, abandon this power grab, and respect Senate minority rights. A Change to Rules Must Follow Regular Order Any assertion by Senate Democrats that a rules change would require a simple... Continue Reading
November 2, 2012
October Unemployment Report
October 2012 Unemployment Rate: 7.9 percent Unemployed Americans: 12.3 million “Real” Unemployment The “real” unemployment or U-6 rate is 14.6 percent for October 2012. This is the total percentage of unemployed and underemployed workers. The “real” number of unemployed Americans is 23 million. These are people who are unemployed (12.3 million),... Continue Reading
November 1, 2012
Americans Deserve Leadership
“Never before have a President and a Senate majority party done so little when our challenges have been so great.” – Senate Republican Leader McConnell President Obama and Senate Democrats have failed to lead on the most vital issues of our time: jobs, the economy, the debt, energy, and national security. Americans are not better off than they were four years ago. The American people deserve real leadership. Jobs and... Continue Reading
October 31, 2012
Expiring Intelligence Authorities: Another Year-End Task
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in the continuing efforts of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to eliminate intelligence tools necessary to protect Americans from terrorist attacks. In Clapper v. Amnesty International, the Court is evaluating whether plaintiffs have standing to challenge the 2008 updates to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA). Solicitor General Verrilli pointed out the ACLU is seeking to “invalidate a vitally important... Continue Reading