- No Budget: Tuesday, June 12 marks the 1140th day since the Senate has passed a budget under the leadership of Harry Reid (D-NV).
- Difference in Debt: Some of you may have noticed the media claiming that the CBO recently said that our federal debt would reach 70% of GDP sometime this year. But those of us paying attention noted that our debt passed 100% of GDP in December of 2011. So why the difference? The CBO is NOT counting intragovernmental debt. There is publicly held debt (debt held by bondholders, etc.) and debt held by government agencies. The CBO’s numbers only reflect the debt held by the public – they do not account for the debt held by the government! But it’s all debt that we are responsible for paying back, so the accurate number is the one that shows the debt exceeding 100% of GDP.
- Blame Game: The Democrats are now trying to say that the Republicans and the Tea Party have sabotaged the economy in order to win an election. This will be the new narrative for a while, so think about how you would like address it and respond to it.
- Meaning of Austerity: Watch this video of Veronique de Rugy discussing the different types of austerity. Also read her article about how European fiscal austerity doesn’t mean spending cuts. And don’t forget to read the report by Harvard academics about how cutting spending and raising taxes has a historically bad track record, & how spending cuts only are the way to go.
- Tripled: Also in that CBO report was the fact that the debt is on track to TRIPLE in one generation! Now, remember they only looked at publicly held debt, so you can imagine how much worse it really is when we take into account the intragovernmental debt.
- REIN-ing in the Regulators: Last December the House passed the REINS Act, which would have required Congress to vote “on a resolution of approval concerning every “major” regulation (with an economic impact of $100 million or more).” The Senate, of course, is useless when it comes to doing anything. Obama has threatened to veto the REINS Act should it reach his desk. This could be a great campaign issue in 2012 – ask your candidates about where they stand on it. Read more about the REINS Act here.
- Not Hiring: Read about the personal stories of business owners who are afraid to start hiring again because of the regulatory adventurism of this administration, and the uncertainty of future tax rates.
- 3 Lies: Read about the three lies of government statistics on unemployment - Remember this when you hear Obama’s Department of Labor crowing over some less-than-stellar unemployment numbers. And be sure to pass this on to anyone who you talk to that thinks the numbers are looking good. Apparently some people think that adding 69,000 jobs in one month is pretty darn impressive.
Horrible Recovery: In light of Obama’s comment about the private sector “doing fine,” check out this graph from the RSC to see how “fine” the private sector is really doing. Hint: waaaaaaaaaaay below average.
Thank you to the Alexandria Tea Party for collecting these links.
- Religious Freedom Rallies in 49 States
- House Takes Up Job-Killing Device Tax (& it passed this past week)
- Medical Loss Ratios Threaten Insurer Viability
- Home Tax Clobbers Middle Class
- Cost Curve Bent Upwards, Not Down
- Study Finds that Exchanges Won’t Work as Advertised
- High Deductible Plans Lead to Lower Spending
- Obamacare Diagnosed as Quackery
- Does Obama Already Know the SCOTUS Decision?
- Physician Survey – Doctors Not Happy With Obamacare
- Alabama Outlaws Agenda 21 – more info here
- House Defunds Two Egregious Ocean Policies
- UN Wants to Tax America
- Good Article from Tom DeWeese
- VIDEO: Rand Paul on His Bill to Curb the FDA’s Power
- See Agenda 21 Happening in Detroit
House of Representatives
Weekly summary and look-ahead provided by the RSC. Posting information from the RSC does not imply TPP endorsement of the RSC.
Weekly Wrap Up
- Partial Obamacare Repeal — Last Thursday, the House approved H.R. 436, the Health Care Cost Reduction Act, by a vote of 270-146. The legislation combines four bipartisan bills that would remove harmful limitations put in place by Obamacare. This will result in saving up to 47,000 jobs, supporting medical innovation, reducing health care costs, and providing Americanfamilies more choice and flexibility. The bill repeals the 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices scheduled to take place in 2013; repeals the limitation on reimbursement of the over-the-counter medications from health savings account (HSA), flexible spending arrangement (FSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), or medical savings accounts (MSA) that took effect in 2011; and allows 33 million consumers of health FSAs to “cash out” unused funds (capped at $500) at the end of the year. Finally, the bill eliminates exchange subsidy overpayments (the subsidies—refundable tax credits—are determined based on the most recent tax return, thus an overpayment could occur when actual incomes exceed subsidy eligibility thresholds). The Congressional Budget Office estimates that H.R. 436 reduces the deficit by $6.7 billion over the 2013-2022 period. Conservatives remain committed to the full and total repeal of Obamacare, especially in light of the looming Supreme Court decision. Many conservatives worry that partial repeal and “fix-it” bills will divide and distract the coalition for repealing Obamacare and restarting on conservative health care reform.
- Transportation Spending – Last week, conservatives used a procedural vote called a “motion to instruct conferees” to force a debate and vote on transportation spending. These motions are used to send a message to the conference committee—this time on the highway bill—regarding the prerogatives of one chamber of Congress. Although not binding, conservatives hope that these motions will highlight conservative priorities on transportation The first motion, offered by Rep. Jeff Flake (AZ), stipulates that states must receive back from the federal government at least 95% of the revenue they pay into the Highway Trust Fund. Under the current system, some states are unfairly rewarded at the expense of other states. The motion passed 259-154. The second motion, offered by Rep. Paul Broun (GA), states that federal highway spending cannot exceed the user fee revenues of the Highway Trust Fund. Currently, highway spending exceeds the revenues of the trust fund and borrows from the general fund. Conservatives have long argued that federal highway spending should not spend money that does not come from the Highway Trust Fund. Unfortunately, this motion was rejected82-323.
- Energy and Water Appropriations — Last Wednesday, the House approved H.R. 5325, the Energy and Water Appropriations Act of 2013, by a vote of 255-165. The bill provides a total of $32.09 billion in non-emergency, discretionary budget authority for the agencies and programs funded through the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. Budget authority in the bill is a reduction of $965 million, or 3 percent below, the spending level requested by the President for FY 2013. Unfortunately, the bill is also $87 million, or 0.2 percent, above the FY 2012 funding level.
o McClintock (R-CA) – Cuts the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program by $1.45 billion. Rejected 113-275.
o Chaffetz (R-UT) – Cuts the Advanced Manufacturing Program by $74 million, to FY 2011 levels. Rejected 140-245.
o Broun (R-GA) – Cuts the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program by $335 million. Rejected on voice vote.
o McClintock (R-CA) – Eliminates nuclear energy research subsidies (saves $514 million). Rejected 106-281.
o Connolly (D-VA) – Eliminates oil shale research and development subsidies (saves $25 million). Passed 208-207-1.
o Chabot (R-OH) – Eliminates funding for the regional commissions, such as the Appalachian Regional Commission (saves $99.3 million). Rejected 141-276.
o Kucinich (D-OH) – Prohibits funding for loan guarantees under Title 17 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (this is the program that funded Solyndra). Rejected 136-282.
o Blackburn (R-TN) – 1% across the board cut to discretionary spending (would cut $321 million). Rejected 157-261.
o Mulvaney (R-SC) – Would bring the bill toward RSC budget levels by cutting $3.1 billion. Rejected 125-293.
o King (R-IA) – Prohibits funding of Davis-Bacon union wage requirements. Rejected 184-235.
o Jordan (R-OH) – Prohibits loan guarantees for renewable energy systems, electric power transmission systems, or leading edge biofuel projects—aka Solyndra. Passed by voice vote.
o Landry (R-LA) – Prohibits funds being used for a national media campaign on green technologies. Passed by voice vote.
o Schweikert (R-AZ) – Prohibits funds being used to enforce federal shower head regulations. Passed by voice vote.
o Flake (R-AZ) – Across the board spending cut that would keep funding at FY 2012 levels ($87.5 million savings). Rejected 144-274.
- Homeland Security Appropriations — Thursday, the House approved H.R. 5855, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2013, by a vote of 234-182. The bill provides $39.1 billion in discretionary budget authority for programs funded through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2013. Unlike previous years, funding for the Coast Guard’s support of the Global War on Terror/Overseas Contingency Operations are not included in the bill and are instead provided via transfer of $254 million from Department of Defense, Navy, Operations & Maintenance. Discretionary budget authority in the bill is $484 million, or 1.2 percent, less than last year and $393 million, or 1 percent, below the President’s request.
o Broun (R-GA) – Reduces administrative expense accouns by 3% (saves $500,000). Rejected 140-273.
o Broun (R-GA) – Eliminates all funding for TSA (saves $5.041 billion). Rejected by voice vote.
o Flake (R-AZ) – Cuts $412.9 million from FEMA state and local programs (a reduction to FY 2012 levels). Rejected by voice vote.
o Black (R-TN) – Prohibits funding for the position of Public Advocate within Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Passed by voice vote.
o King (R-IA) – Prohibits funding to enforce an executive order which mandates the Department of Homeland Security to use languages other than English. Passed 224-189.
o King (R-IA) – Prohibits funding to enforce “Morton Memos” concerning administrative amnesty. Passed 238-175.
o Blackburn (R-TN) – Prohibits funding to provide TSA employees badges, shields, or uniforms with epaulets or a badge tab. Rejected 131-282.
o Blackburn (R-TN) – Prohibits funding for TSA employees outside of airports. Rejected 204-210.
o Sullivan (R-OK) – Prohibits funds from being used to prevent state and local law enforcement from enforcing immigration laws. Passed 250-164.
o Barletta (R-PA) – Prohibits funding for sanctuary cities. Passed by voice vote.
o Polis (D-CO) – 2% across the board cut to the bill. Rejected 99-316.
- Legislative Branch Appropriations — Friday, the House approved H.R. 5882, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of FY 2013, by a vote of 307-102. The bill provides a total of $3.33 billion in discretionary budget authority for all non-Senate Legislative Branch activities, which is $34 million, or 1 percent, below last year’s levels and $189 million, or 5.4 percent, below the President’s requested level. The House and Senate traditionally determine their own funding separately and concur with each other’s bill in a conference committee. According to House Report 112-511, which accompanies the legislation, the Senate appropriations estimate is $956.1 million. When House and Senate appropriations are combined, total Legislative Branch funding would be $4.28 billion. According to the Appropriations Committee, since Fiscal Year 2010, the spending overseen by the Legislative Branch Subcommittee has been cut by 10.5 percent.
o Gosar (R-AZ) – Reduces funding for the U.S. Botanic Garden to FY 2009 levels (saves $1.235 million). Passed 213-193.
o Broun (R-GA) – Reduces funding for the Congressional Research Services to FY 2012 levels (saves $878,000). Passed 214-189.
o Scalise (R-LA) – Eliminates all funding for the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund (saves $1 million). Passed 204-203.
o Moran (D-VA) – Prohibits House food service facilities from buying Styrofoam. Rejected 178-229.
o Flake (R-AZ) – Prohibits Members of Congress from using official funds to buy advertisements on non-official sites (like Facebook, etc.). Rejected 148-261.
Check out these weekly updates from caucuses, task forces, working groups, and special projects of the RSC!
- Budget and Spending Task Force – A weekly roundup of budget and spending news in the House from a conservative perspective.
- Money Monitor – The only document that tracks the cost of bills as the pass the House.
- National Security Working Group – Periodic updates on national security and defense issues in the House from a conservative perspective.
- Financial Services Working Group – Provides conservative analysis of financial services issues, including Dodd Frank, GSE’s, and the Fed.
- Health Care Working Group – The latest news on Obamacare and conservative health care solutions.
- 10th Amendment Task Force – Highlights legislation and initiatives that moves power out of Washington and back to the states.
- Repeal Task Force – A weekly bill is highlighted that repeals an entire law (ie. Obamacare, Dodd Frank, Davis Bacon).
- Sunset Caucus – A weekly bill is highlighted that sunsets a federal program or agency.
- Questionable Constitutional Authority Statement – The most egregious examples of the misuse and misapplication of the House’s constitutional authority statement rule.
- If Democrats Controlled The House… - The worst examples of liberal legislation that could be considered if Democrats were in the majority.
- Weekly Updates from the Chairman – To sign up for these weekly updates—usually sent on Monday—from Chairman Jordan highlighting conservative Members, issues, and activities in the RSC, please go here.
The Week Ahead
The House is in recess this week.
Senate
- The Senate resumes consideration of the motion to proceed to a five-year farm bill, although amendment votes are not expected before Tuesday.
- The first vote of the week will be in connection with the confirmation of Andrew D. Hurwitz for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Two Senate Appropriations subcommittees — Labor-HHS-Education and Financial Services— mark up their draft fiscal 2013 spending bills. Later in the week, the full Appropriations panel is expected to consider both measures.
- Environment and Public Works holds a confirmation hearing on two Nuclear Regulatory Commission nominations: Allison M. Macfarlane, who has been tapped to replace Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko, and incumbent Commissioner Kristine L. Svinicki.
- MONDAY: Convenes 2 p.m., Roll call votes expected S 3240 — Farm bill and Nomination — Andrew D. Hurwitz for a judgeship on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
S 3240 — Farm bill
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