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Marsha's Legislation
In the 112th Congress, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) introduced or co-sponsored a series of bills aimed at cutting spending, eliminating waste, and reducing the size of government.
Health Care
Health care costs continue to rise and have become unsustainable for the American government and the American family. Congressman Blackburn believes that patient based reform that uses market forces to give consumers leverage is the best way to bring down cost, improve quality, and expand access to health care.
The Health Care Choices For Seniors Act allows seniors to delay enrollment in Medicare until age 70 without putting their Social Security benefits at risk. Under this act, Seniors may also choose a voucher towards a health savings account, high deductable health insurance plan, or both.
HR 371: The Health Care Choice Act will allow Americans to buy insurance policies across state lines. The bill would allow insurance companies to compete for your business, offering plans with the benefits you want at a price you can afford.
Spending:
As she has in every Congress in which she has served, Congressman Blackburn is offering her colleagues a choice of spending reduction bills. Blackburn agrees with Speaker Boehner that federal funding levels should immediately return to 2008 levels. She hopes that one of these bills will be adopted thereafter to re-set federal spending baselines and accrue compounding savings.
The CAP Act: HR 1605, will reduce federal spending – both discretionary and mandatory – to 20.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) over 10 years. 20.6% federal spending of GDP is the historical average. Spending caps will be formulated by using the average GDP of the first three of the previous four fiscal years (fiscal year 2009, fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2011 for target year fiscal year 2013, and so on) multiplied by 25% for FY2013. In the future, if federal spending is projected to exceed the CAP Act designated amount for that year, OMB will be required to begin a sequestration to eliminate the excess spending so that it complies with the CAP Act mandated levels. Sequestration amounts are to be determined proportionally to outlay growth from the previous fiscal year for mandatory spending (Social Security, Medicare, and other such programs), discretionary security spending, and non-security discretionary spending.
To make 5% across the board spending cuts in non-defense (including Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs) discretionary spending for 2011 and 2012.
To make 10% across the board spending cuts in non-defense (including Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs) discretionary spending for 2011 and 2012.
To make 15% across the board spending cuts in non-defense (including Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs) discretionary spending for 2011 and 2012.
This legislation would freeze federal spending for two years, with an estimated savings to the taxpayers of $27 billion. The bill would cap spending for Fiscal Years (FY) 2013 and 2014 at the FY 2012 spending cap level in the Budget Control Act of 2011.
Congressional Authority
Over the past decade, unelected bureaucrats have expanded their powers well beyond Congressional intent. These agencies can impose regulations with disastrous impacts on our economy. Blackburn and her Republican colleagues have pledged to review all regulations with an economic impact greater than $100 million. Blackburn believes that two regulations deserve particular scrutiny.
The Internet Freedom Act expressly prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from regulating the Internet. The bill acknowledges that as a prosperous free marketplace, the Internet is greater than the jurisdiction of five unelected commissioners at the FCC.
The Free Industry Act is similar to HR 391 which Rep. Blackburn introduced last Congress. The Act expressly removes any authority for the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate "greenhouse gasses" under the Clean Air Act.
Immigration
Congressman Blackburn knows that addressing America's immigration crisis is a priority for Congress. She believes that constructive debate on immigration policy can only happen after our border is secured. In the meantime, addressing the urgent need to remove criminal aliens and preempt fraud.
The Clear Act is also a bill Congressman Blackburn has introduced in the past. It empowers state and local authorities to determine the immigration status of persons who have been arrested and obligates federal authorities to detain and deport criminal aliens.
The No Visa Without A Visa act limits the forms of identification that can be accepted by the Federal Government or financial institutions. It prohibits illegal aliens from using fraudulent identification to apply for loans, credit cards, or federal benefits.
Good Government
Too often, in a rush to address the hot issue of the day, Congress fails to consider ideas that just make good common sense, save the tax payer money, or holds Washington accountable. Congressman Blackburn has filed two bills with that purpose in mind.
The Savings for Seniors Act would finally force Congress to do something about Social Security and stop spending Social Security money for non-Social Security programs until action is taken to protect our seniors. This act would establish in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund a Social Security Surplus Protection Account to hold the Social Security surplus and prevent this money from being spent on anything other than Social Security benefits.
The Stop TSA's Reach In Policy (STRIP) Act aims to rein in the Transportation Security Administration and provide more transparency for American travelers. This legislation would prohibit any TSA employee not trained as a federal law enforcement officer or eligible for federal law enforcement benefits from wearing law enforcement uniforms or wearing a police-like metal badge.
This resolution address the proliferation of "czars," extremely powerful Executive Branch staff who may act in a capacity commensurate with Senate confirmation, though they have not gone through rigorous Senate vetting. H.CON.RES.3 urges the President to disclose to the House the scope, authority, and any conflicts of interest any "czar" may have, much as nominees for Senate confirmation are required to do.
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