Policy Papers
Capitulation to Cuba Continues
By reestablishing diplomatic ties with Cuba’s Castro regime without requiring it to make a single policy change, President Obama made clear he is in search of a legacy at any cost. The unilateral capitulation to the Castros must end. Before the Senate considers confirming an ambassador or lifting the embargo, Cuba must announce significant political liberalizations and return all U.S. fugitives. While Americans were celebrating their freedoms over the Fourth of July holiday, President... Continue Reading
July 2, 2015
June 2015 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 5.3 percent Unemployed Americans: 8.3 million Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 5.3 percent for June, a decline of 0.2 percentage point from May. It reported an increase of 223,000 nonfarm jobs over last month. Employment for April was revised down from 221,000 to 187,000 jobs created; and May was revised down from 280,000 to 254,000. Unemployment in June among those ages 16-19 was 18.1 percent, up 0.2... Continue Reading
June 25, 2015
Supreme Court Sides with Administration in King v. Burwell
The Supreme Court ruled today the president’s health care law allows premium subsidies for people buying health insurance through exchanges established by the federal government. The petitioners’ claimed that the statute limited subsidies to state-established exchanges. Two federal appeals courts previously split on the legality of the IRS rule that authorized the subsidies in states using the exchange established by the federal government. How the case arrived at the Supreme... Continue Reading
June 24, 2015
Action Needed on Cybersecurity
Last year, there were 67,168 cyber incidents on federal agencies – an increase of 1,100 percent since 2006. Despite the increasing threat, Senate Democrats blocked a vote to improve cybersecurity measures. The bill included significant privacy protections that are supported by the president and both parties. Recent Cybersecurity Attacks on U.S. Government Cybersecurity threat to the U.S. In May 2009, President Obama declared that the “cyber threat is one of the most serious... Continue Reading
June 23, 2015
Supreme Court Update
The Supreme Court is expected to issue decisions in seven cases by the end of this month. It will announce the remaining opinions on Thursday June 25, Friday June 26, and Monday June 29. Continue Reading
June 23, 2015
Scoring Obamacare Repeal
A new report from CBO confirms that Obamacare repeal would boost total economic output and worker compensation by nearly one percent. Obamacare repeal would lead to lower taxes and less spending. CBO’s estimate of the deficit impact of Obamacare repeal depends on significant uncertainties, particularly about the extent of Medicare savings. “While CBO’s report notes that the deficit impact of repealing the law is highly uncertain, and could even reduce the deficit, it does... Continue Reading
June 22, 2015
CBO Offers Sobering Look at the Long-Term
CBO’s latest report on the long-term budget outlook shows debt skyrocketing to a point higher than the record level set after World War II. High debt levels hurt workers, seniors, and future generations. Such a large debt also makes it more difficult to respond to military or economic crises. The Congressional Budget Office has released its annual report on the long-term budget outlook. Since the federal government has not put in place any long-term budgetary savings since last... Continue Reading
June 18, 2015
Supreme Court Update
Today, the Supreme Court announced decision in six cases, including two of particular note: Walker v. Sons of Confederate Veterans – The court held, 5-4, that Texas’ specialty license plates are government speech. As such, the state can decide what messages are put on them without violating the First amendment to the Constitution. Justice Alito argued in his dissent that the messages on these plates is proposed by private parties and so it is private speech. He said that the... Continue Reading
June 16, 2015
King v. Burwell
Contents: Question before the Supreme Court Politics of the time IRS’ writing of the rule Other court rulings on the IRS regulation Administration plan for insurers; no plan for people Five things at stake for Americans Question before the Supreme Court This month, the Supreme Court will rule on yet another Obamacare-provoked controversy. The case – King v. Burwell – involves an IRS regulation that provides health insurance subsidies in the form of refundable tax... Continue Reading
June 11, 2015
Obamacare: A Disaster for Younger and Lower-Wage Workers
Obamacare is forcing employers to cut jobs and move full-time workers to part-time jobs. New data show a decline in the average hours worked per week by lower-wage employees and many more working just below 30 hours per week. 2.6 million people are at risk of having their work hours cut. Sixty-three percent of the people most at risk are female, and nearly 60 percent are 19-34 years old. CBO projects Obamacare will reduce employment by two million full-time jobs in 2017. On June 7, Hillary... Continue Reading
June 10, 2015
EPA CO2 Rule Raises Rates, Harms Economy
The Obama EPA has proposed a CO2 rule that would force twice as much coal-fired power to close as would happen otherwise. The rule would lower coal production, raise electricity prices, and reduce GDP. Policymakers should defend Americans’ access to affordable energy and economic opportunity by rejecting the rule. In May, the Energy Information Administration issued a report concluding that the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule regulating carbon dioxide... Continue Reading
June 9, 2015
Dodd-Frank Agency’s Massive Data Collection
Far less scrutiny has been given to the massive data collection of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created by Dodd-Frank than to the data collection under the Patriot Act. CFPB is currently amassing data on nearly 600 million consumer credit card accounts. The CFPB is unchecked, unaccountable, and lacks real transparency in the collection of Americans’ financial information. “The CFPB’s massive data collection effort is an unwarranted, unwelcome intrusion into the... Continue Reading
June 9, 2015
Supreme Court Update
The Supreme Court will close out its current term at the end of this month. Before it adjourns for the summer, it is expected to issue decisions in 20 remaining cases. Yesterday, the court released its opinion in one case of note. In Zivotofsky v. Kerry, the issue was a federal statute that allowed U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem to request that their passport indicate their place of birth as “Israel.” Executive branch policy gives “Jerusalem” as the place of birth, but... Continue Reading
June 9, 2015
Appropriations Start with Fully Funding Defense
The Republican Congress is ready to return to the basics of governing – passing appropriations bills and conducting oversight of the executive branch that accompanies the appropriations process. Senate Democrats are refusing to even debate appropriations bills, because they are unhappy with non-defense spending levels. They, and President Obama, agreed to these spending levels when they were in the majority. Senate Democrats reportedly will filibuster any attempt to debate appropriations... Continue Reading
June 5, 2015
May 2015 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 5.5 percent Unemployed Americans: 8.7 million Employment and Unemployment The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent for May, an increase of 0.1 percent from April. It reported an increase of 280,000 nonfarm jobs over last month. Employment for March was revised from 85,000 to 119,000 jobs created; and April was revised down from 223,000 to 221,000. The number of unemployed people in May was 8.7 million, an increase of 125,000... Continue Reading
June 4, 2015
Millions to Face Obamacare Sticker Shock in 2016
HHS released rate filings in which insurers requested double-digit premium increases for 676 individual and small group plans. More than six million people are enrolled in individual market plans that are seeking average rate increases of 10 percent or more. The weighted average premium increase is 21 percent. By May 15, insurers had to file 2016 premiums with their state regulatory agencies and provide an explanation for rate increases exceeding 10 percent. On June 1, the Department of Health... Continue Reading
June 3, 2015
More Evidence Obamacare Is Underperforming
CMS released data yesterday showing 2015 exchange enrollment is 30 percent below projections the government made in 2012. Evidence of significant premium increases for 2016 means exchange enrollment numbers are likely to continue to underperform CBO’s already downgraded estimates. In July 2012, CBO projected that there would be 14 million people with exchange plans this year, growing to 23 million in 2016. Enrollment data released yesterday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid... Continue Reading
June 2, 2015
June 2015 Policy Calendar
June 2, 2015
Water Rule Is Another Washington Power Grab
The EPA and Army Corps of Engineers issued a final rule that expands federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act to non-navigable waters. The rule is another Washington power grab that has more to do with controlling land-use decisions than ensuring access to clean water. Republicans have better, bipartisan solutions such as S.1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act. “Not only does this rule break promises EPA has made, but it claims federal powers even beyond what EPA... Continue Reading
June 2, 2015
Cost of Obamacare Plans Skyrocketing
According to an HHS release yesterday, insurers are filing large increases on Obamacare plans all across the country. In 41 states plus D.C., insurers requested double digit increases on 676 individual and small group plans. In most states, insurers with large market share have proposed rate increases in excess of 20 percent for next year. By May 15, insurers had to file 2016 premiums with their state regulatory agencies and provide an explanation for rate increases exceeding 10 percent.... Continue Reading