House Republicans aren't messing around now that they have taken the Majority back. In the latest push for less spending and government interference, GOP leaders are promoting a "cut-as-you-go" plan that would require old government programs to be cut in order for new ones to emerge. Read the Wall Street Journal report here:
In another nod to conservative activists, House Republicans want to impose new rules that would make it harder for Congress to create government programs.
Oregon Rep. Greg Walden, who’s leading the Republicans’ transition to the House majority, is asking colleagues to support a change to the party’s internal rules that would require lawmakers to cut spending or eliminate programs to offset the costs of any new programs established under fast-track “suspension” bills that require a two-thirds majority for passage and can’t be amended.
House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio first suggested the change during a Sept. 30 speech to the American Enterpise Institute, dubbing it “Cut-As-You-Go” — a play on pay-as-you-go rules that require lawmakers to offset any legislation that adds to the budget by cutting spending or raising new revenue through taxes or fees. He borrowed the idea from Republican Rep. Roy Blunt, who just won a Senate seat in Missouri.
Rep. Cliff Stearns (FL) published a blog post in the Hill today. Please read an excerpt of "Flaws in healthcare law coming to light":
Americans are only eight months into the passage of the more than 2,000-page healthcare bill, but they are beginning to see some of the problems created by this new healthcare law.
When Congress passed the massive healthcare bill, I said that it would lead to millions of Americans losing their current healthcare plans. I was so concerned about this happening that I offered an amendment to the bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee and at the Rules Committee to protect people’s health plans.
It was a very simple amendment. It stated that, “Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent or limit individuals from keeping their current health coverage.” This amendment was voted down in committee, and the Rules Committee prevented it from being offered on the House floor during debate on the healthcare bill.
Did you know that most House Republicans have their own YouTube channels? Many upload videos their lastest floor speeches and guest appearances regularly. Be sure to subscribe to your favorite channels for the most up to date videos. You'd be surprised how inspiring -- or entertaining -- a good floor speech or television appearance can be. Don't miss your favorites! Find all the YouTube accounts here, on the House Republican Conference main channel.
Here's the latest from Rep. Mike Pence's (IN) YouTube page -- a fresh hit from today's "Morning Joe":
GOP leaders met this morning with President Obama for the first bipartisan meeting since Republicans reclaimed the majority in the House. In light of the meeting, the top two Republicans -- Speaker-elect John Boehner and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell penned a joint op/ed in the Washington Post. Read an excerpt below:
When congressional leaders of both parties meet at the White House today, all of us will have an opportunity to show the American people that we got the message of the elections earlier this month.
Republicans heard the voters loud and clear. They want us to focus on preventing a tax hike on every taxpayer, reining in Washington spending and making it easier for employers to start hiring again. Today, Republican leaders renew our offer to work with anyone, from either party, who is ready to focus on the priorities of the American people.
The day after the election, President Obama seemed to acknowledge that a change in course is needed when he conceded that "the overwhelming message" he heard from the voters was "we want you to focus completely on jobs and the economy."
Despite what some Democrats in Congress have suggested, voters did not signal they wanted more cooperation on the Democrats' big-government policies that most Americans oppose. On the contrary, they want both parties to work together on policies that will help create the conditions for private-sector job growth. They want us to stop the spending binge, cut the deficit and send a clear message on taxes and regulations so small businesses can start hiring again.
Rep. Mike Pence (IN) spoke today at the Detroit Economic Club on the state of the economy, making headlines from the AP to National Journal and more. The speech, entitled, "Restoring American Exceptionalism: A Vision for Economic Growth and Prosperity," covered an agenda of five issues including sound monetary policy, tax relief and reform, access to American energy, regulatory reform and trade. Here's a tidbit of the Pence's inspiring conclusion:
“The problem with our economy today is that, after years of runaway spending and growth of government under both political parties, America is on that wall between West and East. No longer the vibrant free market that built cities like Detroit but not yet overtaken by the policies that have engulfed Europe in a sea of debt and mediocrity.
“To restore American economic exceptionalism, we have to decide that we believe in it again and turn and pursue a free market economy again with all our hearts.
“We have to choose. Ronald Reagan said it best:
You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream--the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order -- or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism.
“I choose the West. I choose limited government and freedom. I choose the free market, personal responsibility and equality of opportunity. I choose fiscal restraint, sound money, a flat tax, regulatory reform, American energy, expanded trade and a return to traditional values.
“In a word, I choose a boundless American future built on the timeless ideals of the American people. I believe the American people are ready for this choice and await men and women who will lead us back to that future, back to the West, back to American exceptionalism. Here’s to that future. Our best days are yet to come. Thank you.”
There weren't many GOP freshman in 2008 so Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT) was one of the only ones who gained attention for camping out in his office. In fact, he created a personalized video series called "Cotside Chats" to go along with his routine. In 2010, a lot more GOP freshmen are taking after Chaffetz -- planning to save money by sleeping in the office while working in Washington. The Wall Street Journal reports:
Of the 94 incoming members of the House of Representatives, 90% are Republicans, nearly 40% have law degrees and about 35% have never before held elective office.
Oh, and at least 15% plan to bed down in their congressional offices.
It's the ultimate I'm-not-a-professional-politician statement, reminiscent of the 1994 midterm elections, when a GOP House takeover led to a surge in House sleepovers.
With voters again shunning Washington and fiscal excess, a number of incoming House members plan to demonstrate their scorn for both by camping out near their new desks. Many more are still undecided but may well join the sleep-sofa caucus.
"Since I'm here on a temporary basis, I don't see any need to have a permanent kind of residence," says Rep.-elect Joe Heck, a Nevada Republican, who was thinking roll-out cot when he looked at office space this month.
President Obama has proposed a two-year freeze on the pay of federal workers, to show he is attempting to rein in the deficit. But this was an idea Republicans had months ago. Politico reports:
Washington Democrats have antagonized House Minority Whip Eric Cantor with the nickname "Dr. No." But the White House may have to amend that to "Dr. Know" after reversing course and calling for the very same federal pay freeze Cantor promoted earlier this year with his oft-ridiculed YouCut program.
In the second week of balloting for YouCut — an Web initiative that solicits public opinion on budget cuts— online voters picked freezing government salaries as the best possible federal savings.
At the time, Obama's fiscal 2011 budget envisioned a 1.4 percent cost of living adjustment for federal workers. But instead, the administration announced Monday that wages would be frozen at current levels for the next two years, producing a cost savings of $2 billion or likely less than two-tenths of one percent of the deficit for the year.
Cantor said he is "pleased that President Obama is ready to join our efforts. I am encouraged by President Obama's proposal to freeze non-military federal pay for the next two years. This past May, House Republicans, prompted by YouCut voters, offered the very same spending-cut proposal on the floor of the House," Cantor said in a statement to POLITICO.
In a broader sense, the president's embrace of a GOP policy that goes straight to the ideological divide between the parties could be an early sign of White House efforts to move toward the political center in advance of the 2012 election.
It certainly creates a fissure between the president and his own party's union contingent — though early response from Democratic officials in Congress carried a tone of disappointment rather than outrage.
Rep.-Elect Austin Scott (R-GA) shares his thoughts on the Thanksgiving holiday. Last week, the incoming members of the House Republican Conference elected Rep.-Elect Scott to serve as their president. In the address, Rep.-Elect Scott introduces the freshman class, calling it a "new breed of leaders for a new majority and a new Congress." He also outlines Republicans' commitment to listening to the American people and focusing on their priorities: creating jobs, cutting spending, and fixing the way Washington works. These priorities are embodied in the Pledge to America, a governing agenda built by listening to the people. Scott will represent Georgia's Eighth Congressional District in the 112th Congress.
Rep. Mike Pence (IN) visited Afghanistan over the weekend and wrote a lengthy blog post about his visit, including a round of photographs. Here is an excerpt from Day 1 of his journey:
We departed Dubai Airport at 4 a.m. and, after almost five hours in the cargo hold of an Air Force C-130, we touched down in Kabul, Afghanistan. Kabul is a dusty city whose streets are filled with older European cars, donkey carts and pedestrians of every age darting between traffic.
After a command update with International Security Assistance Force personnel, we made our way to Camp Eggers, the center of coalition force efforts in Kabul. From the first moment I arrived, it was apparent that things are different than they were a year ago, and they are different for the better.
One year ago, President Obama announced a July 2011 deadline for U.S. withdrawal, and the effect in Afghanistan was a resurgent Taliban. As the Prime Minister of the Parliament told me during my trip here last year, the Taliban used that date for recruitment, making the case that the Americans would leave and they would be back in power in 2011.
Today, with due credit to the Administration, General David Petreaus, and our troops, that so-called deadline has been adjusted. This very weekend in Lisbon, the president reiterated that 2014 was the proper date when Afghan forces will take the lead. By all accounts, the improvement in morale among Afghan and coalition forces can be traced to this adjusted timetable.
The high point of these trips for me is always the chance to meet Hoosier soldiers far from home. I met a few constituents for lunch and got their take on things. Each of them told me that the security situation is greatly improved from a year ago.
A new report reveals that Republicans, once again, dominate the Twitter machine. This particular list was measured by influence -- not number of followers, as is the traditional measure of Twitter use. The study used an "influence algorithm" to reach their conclusion.
Though House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came in first, she was followed by Reps. Paul Ryan, Michele Bachmann, John Boehner, Joe Barton and more. GOP Senators made the top ten cut as well, including Sens. Tom Coburn and John McCain. Throughout the top 100 list, Republicans claim the majority of slots.
Read more about it here:
Republicans won the House at the mid-term election -- and they also won on social media.
Democrats can take some solace in the fact that their newly elected minority leader Nancy Pelosi, while ousted as House Speaker, is still the most influential tweeter in Congress.
According to research published today, HP Labs, using its unique "influence algorithm," analyzed 22 million tweets to determine the most influential representatives and Senators on Twitter. Overall, the results show that Democrats might want to reconsider their social media strategy.
Of the top 100 most influential reps, 70 were Republicans. Of the 86 that were up for election this cycle, 79 of these top influencers won their races, while just seven lost.
The report also showed that "popularity" was no replacement for "influence." Though Sen. John McCain boasts 1.7 million followers on Twitter--the most of any member of Congress--he ranks just seventh, behind reps with far less fans. Now-House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi has only 15,000 followers, yet tops the list, according to HP Labs, as the most influential House rep on Twitter. Tea Party figure Michele Bachmann placed third, with only 22,000 followers.
The House Republican policy shop has the rundown on what happened this week with the case of Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani -- Al Qaeda terrorist who participated in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. After being convicted of only 1 of charge of conspiracy, 284 others were acquitted. The following paper discusses the problem with trying terrorists as civilians. One line reads, "Treating terrorist attacks as simple criminal matters rather than acts of war hinders U.S. efforts to fight terrorism..."
Read an excerpt here:
Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani: Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, a 36-year old native of Tanzania and former Islamic cleric, is an Al Qaeda terrorist who participated in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. The bombings killed 224 people (12 Americans) and injured more than 4,000 others. Following the bombings, Ghailani became an icon of Islamist Jihad. He traveled to al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan and consorted with fellow terrorists, including some of the 9/11 conspirators. At one point, Ghailani served as a bodyguard for Osama bin Laden.In October 2001, the FBI listed Ghalaini on its first FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List Ghailani was captured and detained by U.S. and Pakistani forces in 2004 and transferred to Guantanamo Bay in September 2006. The U.S. government then proceeded with the prosecution of Ghailani in a military commission at Guantanamo, with a trial set to begin in late 2009.
Obama Administration Action: The Obama administration, in one of its first acts, halted preparations to try Ghailani before military commission. Instead, The Obama administration made Ghailani its test case to prove that civilian criminal courts are as effective as military commissions for wartime enemy combatants. The decision came despite the fact that military commissions have been used competently throughout American history and were approved by a bipartisan basis in Congress in 2006 and 2009 for trying al Qaeda terrorists. Ghailani faced 285 charges, including numerous counts of murder, before a federal civilian court in the Southern District of New York.
Following in the foosteps of their Senate counterparts, House Republicans unaimously adopted an earmark ban for the 112th Congress. Representative-elect Sean Duffy (WI) offered the ban, which was praised by GOP leadership. Rep. Jeff Flake (AZ), who has been arguably most vocal House Republcan speaking out against earmarks in years passed, was especially excited.
“Earmarks have become symbolic of congressional excess,” said Flake. “We’re not going to be able to balance the budget and reduce the debt by simply eliminating earmarks, but it’s a huge signal to taxpayers that Republicans are serious about getting the federal government back on solid fiscal ground.”
Representative-elect Duffy published an op/ed on the subject today in Politico, entitled "Listen to the people on banning earmarks." In the piece, he emphasizes the GOP's commitment to changing the way Washingtond does business.
House Republican Leader John Boehner, elected yesterday as the next Speaker of the House, said, "We hope President Obama will follow through on his support for an earmark ban by pressing Democratic leaders to join House and Senate Republicans in taking this critical step to restore public trust.”
This is a positive first step as we move into the next Republican majority.
Freshmen-elect Kristi Noem (SD) and Tim Scott (SC) were tapped for House leadership positions yesterday. The Washington Post reports:
Noem and Scott will serve as the freshman class liaisons to the House leadership. Both rising stars had announced bids for the position over the past few days and were considered the two most likely to win the spot.
"I am honored that my freshman class colleagues have put their trust in me to represent our historic class at the leadership table," Noem said in a statement. "The incoming freshman class of Representatives is large and diverse but we share many common goals including cutting wasteful spending, getting our economy back on track and making government smarter and more efficient."
"We didn't come here to become Washington, we came here to change Washington," she added.
Scott and Noem will add to the diversity of House Republicans' leadership team. Scott, along with Rep.-elect Allen West (R-Fla.), is one of the first two African American Republicans to be elected to Congress since former Rep. J.C. Watts (Okla.) retired in 2003. Noem, meanwhile, will join Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) to become the second woman to serve on the GOP's leadership team.
