Policy Papers
February 2014: Policy by the Numbers
The key number is 2.5 million workers. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the Democrats’ health care law will reduce full-time employment by 2.5 million workers in 2024. Other recent numbers that also have major policy implications. Continue Reading
February 11, 2014
Scathing CBO Scorecard on Obamacare, Economy
Last week the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its 2014 Budget and Economic Outlook. From Obamacare to the unrestrained national debt, this report serves as a warning of the damage the President’s policies are doing to our country. CBO Confirms Obamacare Discourages Work Before the President signed his health care bill into law, Democrats claimed the proposal would create jobs. Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi infamously declared: “So this bill is not only about the... Continue Reading
February 11, 2014
Another Disappointing Jobs Report
In December, the Obama Administration announced the worst monthly jobs gain in three years. A month later, the economy added a disappointing 113,000 jobs. Continued weak jobs reports suggest momentum needed to boost our economy has slowed, along with enthusiasm about an economic upturn this year. “Three months in a row would mean the job market is taking a turn for the worst.” -- Stuart Hoffman, Chief Economist, PNC Financial Services, 2/9/14 Continuing Troubles with Labor Force... Continue Reading
February 7, 2014
January 2014 Jobs Report
Unemployment Rate: 6.6 percent Unemployed Americans:10.2 million Labor Force Participation The labor force participation rate is 63.0 percent, an increase of 0.2 percent from last month and remaining near the lowest level in 35 years. The civilian labor force rose by 499,000 in January, after declining by 347,000 in December. Based on a Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) labor market report, the Wall Street Journal anticipates that only one-third of the millions who have dropped... Continue Reading
February 6, 2014
CBO: Health Care Law Costs U.S. Economy
Before the President signed his health care bill into law, Democrats claimed the proposal would create jobs. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi infamously declared: “So this bill is not only about the health security of America, it’s about jobs. In its life it will create four million jobs – 400,000 jobs almost immediately.” Independent analysis quickly contradicted her statement. By August 2010, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office was predicting the health spending law... Continue Reading
February 5, 2014
A Very Bad CBO Report for Obama’s Policies
Yesterday the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its 2014 Budget and Economic Outlook, which outlines its projections for the next 10 years. The laudable, though limited, restraint in discretionary spending over the past couple of years has led to short-term reductions in the deficit. But mandatory spending reform is still badly needed to prevent fiscal calamity. Democrats want people to believe that we do not have a fiscal problem anymore. “[O]ur deficits [have been] cut by... Continue Reading
February 5, 2014
Americans Don’t Trust IRS to Regulate Political Speech
In late November 2013, the Internal Revenue Service, under the direction of an interim commissioner, proposed new rules unrelated to tax policy. The rules were designed to re-categorize how tax-exempt 501(c)(4) groups – organizations designated as promoting social welfare – may participate in the political process. On February 27th, the 90-day comment period on these proposed rules ends. At stake in the proposed rules is either: The curtailment of the political speech for 501(c)(4)... Continue Reading
February 4, 2014
February 2014 Policy Calendar
February 4, 2014
Five Years, Five Keystone XL Reviews
TransCanada submitted its application for a permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline more than five years ago: on September 19, 2008. Ever since, President Obama has wasted America’s time and money grasping for excuses to reject it. His State Department’s latest, fifth environmental review confirms yet again that the Keystone XL pipeline will cause no significant environmental impacts and support more than 42,000 jobs. Last week, the President proclaimed that “wherever and... Continue Reading
February 4, 2014
Senate Democrats Fight Obama on Trade, Jobs
President Obama used the State of the Union address to point out that increasing international trade and exports can lead to job growth in the United States. He specifically requested Trade Promotion Authority, which expired in July 2007, in order to carry his words into action. Republicans have proclaimed their readiness to work with the President on this, but unfortunately Democrats—led by Majority Leader Reid—have rejected the call. “I’m against fast-track …... Continue Reading
January 30, 2014
President Refuses to Tell the Truth about Obamacare in SOTU Speech
During Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, President Obama conveniently ignored his Administration’s greatest failure of the past year: the catastrophic rollout of the Democrats’ health care law. Not once did he apologize. Not once did he explain how and why his Administration screwed up. Not once did he take responsibility. Instead, the President engaged in another slick sign-up sales pitch, but refused to offer a detailed status report on the law’s... Continue Reading
January 29, 2014
Does Obama take the budget seriously?
January 29, 2014
Obama’s Missing Foreign Policy Substance
Last night President Obama ran through a checklist of foreign policy issues during the State of the Union address. Today, the White House is hosting a “virtual ‘Big Block of Cheese Day,’” in homage to President Andrew Jackson opening the White House doors to share cheese with the public. The Obama Administration will answer questions on social media regarding a variety of its policies. Here are some questions that deserve more than the cursory, cheesy answers that are... Continue Reading
January 28, 2014
Obamacare Website Still Not Secure
Over the past several weeks, consumers around the country have been warned about a data security breach at Target. The company notified customers, apologized, and is putting resources behind fixing the problem. Target did something that the Obama Administration will not agree to do if something similar happens with HealthCare.gov. Target admitted its problem, but Democrats still refuse to admit the extent of the flaws with their health care law. The Administration knows the law is on shaky... Continue Reading
January 28, 2014
SOTU 2014: What the President Won’t Say
Tonight, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address to Congress and the American people. He and his advisors have undoubtedly scripted numerous sound bites designed to get standing ovations from the Democrats’ side of the aisle. The President will offer plenty of complaints about Republicans and plenty of excuses about why he has not done a better job. What he is not likely to do is take responsibility for any of his failures, offer a plan to help unemployed Americans by... Continue Reading
January 16, 2014
Obamacare Sign-Ups Going Badly
Long before HealthCare.gov’s disastrous rollout, internal Health and Human Services (HHS) projections pegged Obamacare’s enrollment target at 3.3 million people by December 31, 2013. Just one day before HealthCare.gov went live, however, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius upped the ante. She set seven million sign-ups by the end of March – including 2.7 million young, healthy adults – as what “success looks like.” This week, HHS issued a report updating its... Continue Reading
January 15, 2014
Anti-Energy Dems Leave Americans Out in the Cold
Last week, a “polar vortex” froze Americans with record low temperatures. Nationwide demand for natural gas reached historic highs as homeowners and power generators burned it to fend off the bone-chilling cold. Faced with high demand for a limited supply, natural gas prices in the New York region skyrocketed for the week. Spot power prices in Texas surged 19,000 percent within hours. Forthcoming utility bills could shock many Americans. The cold weather lasted a few days, but the... Continue Reading
January 14, 2014
January 2014: Policy by the Numbers
The key number is 24 percent. According to the Obama Administration, just 24 percent of people who have selected an Obamacare plan are 18-34 years old. The Administration’s goal was 40 percent of people need to be in that age group to prevent a rise in future health insurance premiums. Other recent numbers that have major policy implications. Continue Reading
January 14, 2014
Worst Monthly Jobs Gain in Three Years
The U.S. economy added a disappointing 74,000 jobs in December 2013, well below the consensus estimate of 200,000 new jobs. While the national unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent in December, the decline is attributed to a sharp drop in the labor force rather than people finding jobs. There are 10.4 million unemployed Americans looking for work. Employment Hinges on Job Growth Last month’s employment gain is the lowest since January 2011. We’re now more than four years into... Continue Reading
January 14, 2014
Court Questions President’s Recess Appointments
On Monday, the Supreme Court heard more than 90 minutes of arguments 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 in January 2012. The Court considered three questions: Whether recess appointments may be made during an intra-session recess of the Senate; Whether the vacancy to which a recess appointment is made must have arisen during the recess; and Whether the recess appointment power may be... Continue Reading