Policy Papers
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Economic Costs of the Health Care Law
For the first two years of this administration, President Obama and Democrats lost focus on the economy. Instead they forced through a health care law they claimed would be good for jobs. The law never achieved the popularity Democrats promised, and Americans suffered through a bad economy and a recovery that has been the weakest ever. In selling the law, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi declared: “So this bill is not only about the health security of America, it’s about... Continue Reading
June 25, 2012
Supreme Court Update 062512
The Supreme Court announced decisions in two cases this morning. Miller v. Alabama/Jackson v. Hobbs – the Court held that the Eight Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment forbids a sentence of life without parole for a juvenile who was convicted of murder at the age of 14. Arizona v. United States – The Court held that Section 2(B) of Arizona’s immigration law, S.B. 1070, was improperly enjoined because state courts need to interpret and apply the law... Continue Reading
June 21, 2012
Supreme Court Update 062112
The Supreme Court announced decisions in four cases this morning. Southern Union Company v. United States – The Court extended the reasoning of its prior case, Apprendi v. New Jersey, to the imposition of criminal fines. Thus, a jury must make the determination of facts warranting the imposition of a fine. Knox v. SEIU – The Court held that the First Amendment protects non-union employees by requiring public-sector unions: 1) to get affirmative consent before using funds for general... Continue Reading
June 21, 2012
Farming through Red Tape
Senate Democrats refuse to roll back red tape for our country’s farmers. Some of the Obama Administration’s worst regulations take aim at the family farm. Meanwhile the president tells farmers “don’t always believe what you hear.” Clean Water Guidance (Ongoing) The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking to expand the definition of “waters of the U.S.” beyond its traditional purview of “navigable” waters through a guidance document. EPA... Continue Reading
June 20, 2012
Anatomy of a Leaks Investigation
Democrats’ Screams on the Valerie Plame Leak Democrats’ Silence on Obama’s National Security Leaks The Leaks Robert Novak publishes a column citing “two senior administration officials” for the proposition that Joe Wilson was selected to investigate claims of Iraq seeking uranium from Niger at the suggestion of his wife, Valerie Plame, a CIA “operative.” (July 14, 2003). There have been numerous leaks of highly sensitive national security information... Continue Reading
June 19, 2012
The “Leahy Rule” on Judges
Democrat Leader Harry Reid insisted four years ago that confirming judicial nominees during a presidential election year “is always very tough,” and that by June, “we will have to take a real close look” at further judicial confirmations. Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy made it clear on June 12th of that year that it was already “way past the time” when judges would be confirmed. Senators Reid and Leahy made good on their threats to stop confirming... Continue Reading
June 19, 2012
The Obama Economy: Debt and Downgrade
On August 5, 2011, after the President played a game of political brinkmanship over the nation’s debt limit, Standard and Poor’s downgraded the credit rating of the United States for the first time in our history. S&P cited Washington’s out-of-control debt and the lack of a serious plan to address it as primary reasons for the Obama Downgrade. A year later, with the debt limit in sight once again, nothing has changed. Obama Spends Too Much Last year, President Obama... Continue Reading
June 19, 2012
The “Above the Law” President - updated
On one issue after another, President Obama says he can’t wait for Congress to act. This is the justification Presidents have always used when they find the checks and balances required by democracy to be inconvenient. But President Obama has repeatedly demonstrated a preference for ignoring laws not to his liking and expanding executive power. As liberal legal scholar Jonathan Turley noted, “In many ways, President Obama has fulfilled the dream of an imperial presidency.” This... Continue Reading
June 18, 2012
Supreme Court Update 061812
The Supreme Court decided four cases this morning. Match-E-Be v. Patchak – The Court held that the Quiet Title Act does not preclude lawsuits against the United States government. The Court also held that an owner of land located near a parcel acquired by the Secretary of the Interior for the use of a Native American tribe has a right to challenge the land acquisition. Salazar v. Rama Navajo Chapter – The Court held that the federal government must reimburse Native American tribes... Continue Reading
June 13, 2012
5 Questions: Obama’s “Economic Framing Speech”
Tomorrow, President Obama will deliver what has been previewed as an “economic framing speech.” Five questions that need to be answered in the President’s speech. 1. 3 ½ Years In, When Will America See Robust GDP Growth? The Commerce Department revised down GDP growth for the first quarter of 2012 to 1.9 percent. GDP growth for all of 2011 was 1.7 percent. The Congressional Budget Office projects growth of just 2 percent in 2012 and 1.1 percent in 2013. The post-World... Continue Reading
June 12, 2012
“Tear Down This Wall”: The Obama “Reset”
Twenty-five years ago today, President Ronald Reagan spoke before the Brandenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall. Reagan pressed the head of the Soviet Union that if he believed in “freedom and peace,” and if he sought “prosperity” for the Soviet people, the one unmistakable sign confirming this would be to tear down the wall. President Obama made similar connections in his speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, saying support for human rights was critical to peace,... Continue Reading
June 12, 2012
Checks and Balances Work
The Supreme Court has the role, and has carried it out for more than two centuries, of measuring acts of Congress against constitutional limitations. At least 169 acts of Congress have been overturned – both popular and unpopular laws. Neither the Congress nor the President has unlimited authority. Supporters of the President’s health care law have been unable to identify anything in the law that would limit Congress’ power. It is the role of the Court to provide meaningful... Continue Reading
June 12, 2012
Leaking Intelligence: Bad National Security, Questionable Politics
Former Director of Central Intelligence Stansfield Turner observed, “[T]he White House staff tends to leak when doing so may help the President politically.” President Obama’s Administration is choosing to brag about its national security successes by leaking highly sensitive intelligence information. These leaks have consequences that diminish the country’s intelligence capabilities, and make us all less secure. Secret Even In Success Nine days after the September 11... Continue Reading
June 12, 2012
A “Fine” Mess
President Obama’s comment that “the private sector is doing fine” must have shocked most Americans who don’t work for the government. In the Obama economy, workers in private sector industries like manufacturing, telecommunications, and retail have lost their jobs. 1. Manufacturing of Durable Goods: 227,000 Private Jobs Lost: Durable goods jobs lost include manufacturing of wood products, metal products, machinery, computer and electronic products, appliances, and... Continue Reading
June 11, 2012
Supreme Court Update 061112
The Supreme Court decided one case this morning. In Elgin v. Department of the Treasury, the Court held that the U.S. district courts do not have jurisdiction to hear employment-related lawsuits for federal employees subject to the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. Supreme Court Decisions Remaining This Term With today’s decision, there are 13 cases yet to be decided this term. The court has yet to determine the constitutionality of: The Affordable Care Act; The federal law criminalizing... Continue Reading
June 6, 2012
“2012 Long-Term Budget Outlook”: It’s Bad
This week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released “The 2012 Long-Term Budget Outlook,” its annual report that outlines the nation’s long-term fiscal health. The CBO’s “alternative fiscal scenario” calculates current policies that will likely continue. Key findings are: The debt leads to lost income and lower economic productivity. The debt will be twice the size of the U.S. economy by 2037. Spending on major health care programs will double, to 10... Continue Reading
June 5, 2012
“Recovery Summer”: Another Season of Stagnation
In June 2010, the White House announced “Recovery Summer.” The campaign was an effort to convince Americans that the Obama Administration’s policies to create jobs were working. David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to the President, said, “This summer will be the most active Recovery Act season yet …” Tim Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury, wrote, “Welcome to the Recovery.” Now, two years later, Americans are still waiting for a real recovery. The... Continue Reading
June 4, 2012
Supreme Court Update 060412
The Supreme Court issued rulings in two cases this morning. In the first case, Armour v. City of Indianapolis, the Court held that the Constitution allows a city to refuse to refund taxes some taxpayers paid up front, even if it forgave the remaining taxes of others paying on an installment plan. In the second case, Reichle v. Howards, the Court held that two Secret Service agents are entitled to qualified immunity from a lawsuit claiming they arrested a man in retaliation for his remarks about... Continue Reading
June 1, 2012
May 2012 Unemployment Report
May 2012 Unemployment Rate: 8.2 percent Unemployed Americans: 12.7 million Employment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 8.2 percent for May 2012, up 0.1 percent from April, and an increase of 69,000 nonfarm jobs. Most of the new jobs were in health care, transportation and warehousing, and wholesale trade. This makes 40 straight months under President Obama with unemployment over 8 percent. The economy lost 552,000 net jobs since February 2009 when the Democrats’... Continue Reading
June 1, 2012
Ten Thousand Commandments
President Obama's government-controlled society has burdened America's job creators with some of the most expensive regulations in American history. The cost -- in time spent on paperwork and in money -- is hurting economic freedom. We need less government control and more individual economic freedom. Continue Reading