Policy Papers
Obamacare: Critical System Failure
Before the July 4th holiday, the Obama Administration issued its infamous blog post by an Assistant Secretary of Treasury announcing the President planned to delay for one year his health care law’s employer mandate. Three days later, buried in 606 pages of regulations, the Administration quietly revealed that state exchanges will not be required to verify either people’s annual household income or if they get affordable insurance coverage from their employer. When a person applies... Continue Reading
July 11, 2013
Reid Ignores the Facts
All Americans and all states deserve to have their voices heard in the U.S. Senate, regardless of party affiliation. Majority Leader Reid insists on damaging this unique legislative body by changing the rules to shut the minority party – the Americans and states it represents – out of the Senate’s constitutional advice and consent role. He has decided to do this on the flimsy, and false, premise that President Obama’s nominees have not been treated fairly. Worse yet, his... Continue Reading
July 9, 2013
President Obama’s Part-Time Economy
Last Friday’s jobs report showed the unemployment rate unchanged at 7.6 percent for June 2013. Job creation continues to be below what we should have nearly four years after the end of the recession. “Real” Unemployment The number of people working part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) increased by 322,000 to 8.2 million in June. These people were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were... Continue Reading
July 9, 2013
July 2013: Policy by the Numbers
The key number last week was 322,000. According to the June jobs report, people employed part-time for economic reasons spiked by 322,000 jobs last month. This came on the heels of the Obama administration recognizing the health care law’s employer mandate needed to be delayed. Other recent numbers also have major policy implications. Continue Reading
July 9, 2013
Yes, Obamacare Will Make Premiums Go Up
Last week the Wall Street Journal published an analysis showing how the health care law will raise premium rates. Americans – particularly young, healthy adults – “could see insurance rates double or even triple when they look to buy individual coverage” starting next year. Why? President Obama’s health care law. Specifically, the study reviewed proposed premium rates in eight states. In Richmond, Virginia, for example, a 40 year-old nonsmoking male can buy a health... Continue Reading
July 5, 2013
June 2013 Unemployment Report
June 2013 Unemployment Rate: 7.6 percent Unemployed Americans: 11.8 million “Real” Unemployment The “real” unemployment or U-6 rate is 14.3 percent for June 2013, an increase of 0.5 percentage points. This is the total percentage of unemployed and underemployed workers. The “real” number of unemployed Americans is 22.6 million. These are people... Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Questions for FHFA Nominee Watt
The Constitution requires Senate consent of many senior executive branch nominations. This affords the Senate a critical opportunity to review the President’s policies. Congressman Melvin Watt has been nominated to be director of the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA). In addition to advising the President on housing issues, the FHFA director serves as regulator and conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Here are a set of questions that would inform how Rep. Watt, if... Continue Reading
June 25, 2013
Russia Rebuke Replaces Reset
Last week was a tour-de-force for the failed Obama Administration reset in relations with Russia. The week began with President Obama continuing his hat-in-hand diplomacy to Russia on the matter of Syria; continued with the use of the “flexibility” on nuclear matters he previously had promised Russia he would have after his election; and ended with Russia aiding a U.S. person escape criminal justice for the compromise of critical national security information. June 17 On Syria,... Continue Reading
June 25, 2013
Americans Can’t Afford Democrats’ National Energy Tax
President Obama began his rollout to “do more” to combat climate change last week -- not in America, but in a speech abroad at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. Today, in another speech at Georgetown University, he is expected to announce new executive actions to try to make his national energy tax a reality. Instead of approving the Keystone XL pipeline or other job-creating energy initiatives ready now in America, the President is pursuing anti-growth ideological policies embraced... Continue Reading
June 21, 2013
President Obama’s Latest Campaign
President Obama’s health care law is on shaky ground. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office predicts the Administration’s missed deadlines and program delays show potential for “implementation challenges going forward.” While the American people brace for a rocky rollout, the Obama Administration’s mantra remains the same: “Trust us.” Americans are confused, skeptical, and anxious about the law. Four years ago the President sold his health... Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
Ideology Trumps Facts at Brandenburg Gate
President Obama asserted in a speech today at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, “so long as nuclear weapons exist, we are not truly safe.” The President then went on to announce that the United States could reduce its “deployed strategic nuclear weapons by up to one-third” while still maintaining a credible deterrent. He further said he would “seek negotiated cuts with Russia to move beyond Cold War nuclear postures” and “seek bold reductions in U.S. and... Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
U.S. Shale Oil Revolution “Grave Concern” for OPEC
America’s shale oil revolution is loosening the grip of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on global oil markets, moderating oil prices, and propelling our nation toward energy self-sufficiency. Over the past four years, U.S. oil production soared by 30 percent, and U.S. oil imports from OPEC members fell by 26 percent, as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling enabled energy producers to tap previously inaccessible shale oil resources. In May, domestic... Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
On Appropriations, Senate Democrats Spend More
This week the Senate will begin its appropriations season, setting both 302(a) [total] and 302(b) [subcommittee allocation] levels. The House has already begun passing individual fiscal year 2014 appropriations bills that will total $967 billion in non-emergency spending. This amount is equal to the total post-sequester Budget Control Act (BCA) cap. The House’s appropriations allocations would breach the BCA’s defense spending limit (function 050); however, the top line amount is... Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
Obamacare Spends Trillions; Leaves Millions Uninsured
Last week in California, President Obama gave another campaign-style speech; this time promoting his health care law. Ironically, the President’s remarks came one day after a national poll showed the law’s unpopularity soaring. The number of people now calling the health care law a “bad idea” reached a high of 49 percent. Americans understand the health care law costs too much and disappointingly doesn’t work the way Washington Democrats promised. But now the... Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
Student Loans by the Numbers
On June 6, the Senate fell short of the necessary votes to address the looming deadline that will return interest rates on new subsidized Stafford student loans to 6.8 percent. Republicans in the House and Senate, along with the Obama Administration, have proposed tying Stafford loans to market-based rates. Senate Democrats, however, are pushing for a permanent tax increase as a temporary, short-term solution. Here are some facts on the issue. An estimated 7.7 million undergraduate students are... Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
Daily Senate Schedule for Wednesday, June 12, 2013
The Senate will next convene at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 12 after standing in adjournment at 6:39 p.m. Tuesday, June 11. 9:30 a.m. Following the Leaders' remarks, the Senate will be in Morning Business for one hour, with the first half under Majority control and the second half under Republican control and Senators permitted to speak up to 10 minutes each. ThereafterThe Senate will resume consideration of S. 744, the Immigration bill. Pending to S. 744 are Leahy amendment #1183 (performing arts... Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
June 2013: Policy by the Numbers
The key number last week was 8,000. According to the May jobs report, the manufacturing sector lost 8,000 jobs last month. This came on the heels of manufacturing activity falling to its lowest level in four years. Other recent numbers also have major policy implications. Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
Democrats, Fact-checkers and the D.C. Circuit
Last week, President Obama nominated three people to judgeships on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In presenting these nominations, the President righteously claimed there was no reason “aside from politics” not to have an up-or-down vote on each of them. Unfortunately, the President ignores the recent history -- including his own -- of Senate Democrats blocking nominees. His rhetoric also ignores the verdict of independent fact-checkers, while his political decision... Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
Job Growth Is Still Too Sluggish
Last Friday’s employment report showed job creation continues to be far below what we should have nearly four years after the end of the recession. The Department of Labor reported an unemployment rate of 7.6 percent for May 2013, an increase of 0.1 percentage points, and an increase of 175,000 nonfarm jobs. “At the present slow pace of job growth, it will require more than a decade to get back to full employment defined by prerecession standards.” -- The Wall Street... Continue Reading
June 7, 2013
May 2013 Unemployment
May 2013 Unemployment Rate: 7.6 percent Unemployed Americans: 11.8 million “Real” Unemployment The “real” unemployment or U-6 rate is 13.8 percent for May 2013. This is the total percentage of unemployed and underemployed workers. The “real” number of unemployed Americans is 21.9 million. These are people who are unemployed (11.8 million), want... Continue Reading