2009 RSC Policy Briefs
RSC Policy Brief: Abortion in Sen. Reid's Manager's Amendment (12/21/09)
Early this morning, the Senate invoked cloture on the Reid Manager’s Amendment to H.R. 3590, Senator Reid’s Takeover of Health Care Bill, by a party line vote of 60-40. As of now, the Senate expects to have the final vote on passage of the bill at 7:30 PM on December 24, 2009. Outlined in the attached document are the stark differences between the House-passed abortion-restrictive language and the Senate-passed abortion-encouraging language.
RSC Policy Brief: End of Session Review of Federal Finances (12/18/09)
Attached is an RSC one-pager on the state of the federal budget outlook as the First Session of this Congress comes to a close.
RSC Policy Brief: EPA CO2 Regulation (12/09/09)
On Monday, December 7, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a ruling that will allow it to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through any provision under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The RSC has prepared the following policy brief to overview this unconstitutional action. Please note the RSC Action Item request.
RSC Info Alert: State and National Medical Associations Coalition Letter Opposing the Senate Finance Bill; To Date More Than 40 Medical Societies Have Publically Opposed (12/08/09)
Please see the attached final Coalition letter signed by 17 state and specialty societies with more than 92,000 doctors and 3 former American Medical Association presidents. In addition to this letter there are over 40 medical societies (including the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, the Surgical Coalition, and most recently the California Medical Association among other states) representing nearly half a million physicians that have OPPOSED the Senate healthcare overhaul bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590). Members should be encouraged that the health cares debate is far from over. The new liberal “compromise” proposal to vastly expand Medicaid (to 150% FPL) and Medicare (through early buy-in for those aged 55-64) is sure to add more medical providers, in addition to the American Hospital Association, to the list of opposition.
RSC Policy Brief: Overview of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (12/04/2009)
H.R. 4173, which is scheduled for floor consideration beginning next week, will radically change the way markets function and vastly expand the federal government’s regulation of the free market. This bill may have as big of an impact on the economy as a government takeover of health care or the creation of a national energy tax. Although Democrats argue this is necessary to address the problems plaguing the economy, the legislation will not create a single private-sector job, and this bill will not fix the problems of the economic crisis. Instead, at every turn, this bill expands government bureaucracy and red tape. It hurts small businesses, preventing them from bringing the country out of this economic morass.
RSC Outlook: "Modernizing" the Voter Registration Process (12/04/09)
Given the abuses of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) in recent months, Americans are becoming increasingly more aware of the dangers of vote fraud and its potential to affect the outcome of elections. As proposals are brought forth that would drastically change the voter registration process, conservatives should be wary of any proposal that could increase the incidence of vote fraud, create costly and unnecessary mandates on states, and undermine effective voter registration safeguards already being implemented by many states.
RSC Policy Brief: National Security Working Group Special Report (11/20/09)
Attached is the Republican Study Committee’s National Security Working Group November update, covering the Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Trial, Terrorism at Fort Hood, and Afghanistan
RSC Two-Pager: Illegal Immigrants Receive Healthcare Under Democrat Bill (11/05/09)
Please see the attached RSC document outlining how illegal immigrants will receive healthcare benefits under Speaker Pelosi’s government takeover of healthcare bill.
RSC One-Pager: What You Need to Know About Abortion in H.R. 3962 (11/03/09)
RSC Polity Brief: Highlights of H.R. 3962, The "Pelosi Government Healthcare Takeover Bill" (10/30/09)
In light of Congressional Democrats bringing H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act to the floor next week, the RSC has prepared the attached policy brief.
RSC Policy Brief: Afghanistan (10/22/09)
In light of the recent release of the McChrystal report and the impending decision to increase troop levels in Afghanistan by the Obama Administration, the RSC has prepared the following brief providing a timeline of the events leading to this moment and the policy implications of ignoring the recommendations of the report.
RSC Outlook - The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act (H.R. 2868) (10/13/09)
In response to reports that House Democrats will rush to consider another piece of legislation that over-regulates, overreaches, and over-spends, the RSC has prepared the following brief highlighting major conservative concerns with the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act (H.R. 2868). The legislation has already been marked-up by the Homeland Security Committee, and the Speaker has given the Energy and Commerce Committee & Judiciary Committee a deadline of 10/23 to consider the measure before it is rumored to go directly to the House Floor.
RSC Action Alert: Sign onto Gag-Order Letter (10/01/09)
RSC Chairman Price urges all RSC Members to sign onto the attached letter expressing opposition to the recent gag order Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has placed on all Medicare Advantage plans relating to factual information about how pending health reform legislation may negatively affect their beneficiaries’ access and coverage. American seniors deserve to know how their coverage would be affected by the plans being promoted by the President and Congress. Curiously, the lobbying activities of the AARP, which sponsors Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans, and has been vocally supportive of pending health reform legislation, appear to have been overlooked by CMS. Therefore, the letter to CMS requests the gag order be rescinded on any communication related to pending health legislation in Congress. Furthermore, the letter requests that CMS release all communications between the Agency and AARP since the beginning of this calendar year.
RSC Policy Brief: American Energy Freedom Day (9/30/09)
Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of American Energy Freedom Day. In response to the Obama administration’s decision to create a de facto ban on offshore energy development on America’s Outer Continental Shelf, the RSC has prepared the following document.
RSC Policy Brief: National Security Working Group Update (9/24/09)
In light of the fact that yesterday’s RSC meeting was cut short by votes, Chairman Price has asked National Security Working Group Chairman Franks to provide an electronic update for Members and staff to review issues surrounding the European shield, Afghanistan, and CIA probe. Also attached are the remarks made by Rep. Turner at the 2009 Multinational Ballistic Missile Defense Conference where he discusses the implications of the Obama Administration’s announcement to abandon plans to deploy missile defense assets in Poland and the Czech Republic.
RSC Policy Brief: National Energy Tax Update (9/18/09)
In response to recent reports in the media that the Senate will soon release draft legislation of an energy bill that could contain another version of a national energy tax, the RSC has released the following update on significant developments that have occurred in the past week.
RSC Policy Brief: The Proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (9/16/09)
On June 30, 2009, President Obama proposed a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) as one of five objectives in the President’s White Paper on proposed reforms to the financial services sector. On July 8, 2009, Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced H.R. 3126, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009, which embodies the basic outline of the President’s proposal. In light of proposals by Congressional Democrats and the President to create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency, the RSC has prepared the attached policy brief analyzing the proposal.
RSC Policy Brief: A Closer Look at Joint Sessions of Congress (9/08/09)
In light of the President’s Joint Session Address tomorrow on health care, the RSC has prepared the attached policy brief analyzing the history of joint sessions of Congress.
RSC One-Pager: Mandatory Binding Arbitration and the Employee Free Choice Act (9/02/09)
It has been widely speculated that a “compromise” the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) will likely exclude card check and maintain mandatory binding arbitration – forcing employers and unions into “agreements” with which they might not agree. In the coming months, the deceptive anti-worker, pro-union aspects of mandatory binding arbitration in EFCA will be the subject of heated debate.
RSC Outlook: "Net Neutrality" & Internet Obstruction (8/26/09)
On Friday, July 31, 2009, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) reintroduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act (H.R. 3458), and asserted that the bill will ensure that “non-discriminatory framework that allows the Internet to thrive and competition on the Web to flourish is preserved at a time when our economy needs it the most.” In reality, the Markey bill accomplishes the exact opposite by forcing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate commercial activity over the Internet for the first time. Since House Democrats will likely consider this legislation in the 111th Congress, the RSC has prepared the following background points on the issues related to so-called “network neutrality.”
RSC Heads-Up: Minimum Wage Increase and Unemployment (7/22/09)
In light of the scheduled minimum wage increase this Friday, please see the attached RSC Heads-Up bulletin. Conservatives have long argued that increasing the minimum wage impedes growth and is anti-free market. The empirical evidence shows that a raise will be particularly harmful during this economic climate.
RSC Policy Brief: The 111th Congress Is Bad for Business (6/8/09)
Since the opening minutes of the Democrat-controlled 111th Congress, job creators have been under attack. Hardly a week has gone by that a bill that would increase costs for, or regulations on, American businesses hasn’t passed the House.
RSC Outlook: The Consequences of Reconciliation (6/3/09)
President Obama has proposed to eliminate the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. The proposal would offer all loans directly to students through the Direct Loan (DL) program. Such a move may potentially eliminate up to 30,000 private-sector jobs, and the RSC has prepared the following report on how many jobs will be lost in each state. We encourage you to share this with your respective delegations.
RSC Special Report: Obama GITMO Plan Threatens National Security (5/22/09)
In light of yesterday’s decision by the Senate to reject an effort to close the Guantanamo Bay prison and President Obama’s comments that he still intends to transfer GITMO prisoners to the United States, the Republican Study Committees’ National Security Working Group has prepared the following document.
RSC Update: Federal Land Ownership (5/19/09)
In response to rumors that Congressional Democrats intend to acquire and restrict even more federal land from development, the RSC and Congressional Western Caucus have prepared an updated report on the land ownership by the federal government in the United States. This report includes maps of the Federal Lands of the United States and the Federal Lands of the Western United States.
RSC Outlook: Education and Workforce Training Policy (5/14/09)
Many conservatives have serious concerns over an agenda proposed by Democrats that aims to increase federal involvement in state and local education. In light of these concerns, the RSC has prepared the following document highlighting a number of Democrat education and workforce training proposals likely to be considered in the 111th Congress.
RSC Special Report: Obama's Weakening of Air Superiority (4/29/09)
President Barack Obama and the Democrat Leadership in Congress have imposed an exorbitant spending plan on the American people. But there is one part of the budget that is going to take a cut - our national defense. In light of these facts, the RSC National Security Working Group, in coordination with Congressman Trent Frank’s office, has prepared the following document of how these cuts affect our nation’s air supremacy.
RSC Outlook: Cap & Tax Overview (4/21/09)
In light of the fact that House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) will be conducting hearings this week on the “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009”, the RSC has prepared the following document detailing the Cap & Tax proposal that lies within the bill. Additionally, click here for a brief one page overview of the entire legislation.
Tax Increase Proposals (4/16/09)
The RSC has prepared a one-pager highlighting the various tax increases proposed by President Obama and Congressional Democrats.
Impending Tax Increases (4/13/09)
Unless Congress takes action, the following tax increases will automatically occur for the following tax-years.
Tax Facts (4/13/09)
With Tax Day looming, the following information might be useful in conveying the growing burden of complying with the federal tax code.
RSC Special Report: Obama Cuts to Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) (4/9/09)
President Barack Obama and the Democrat Leadership in Congress have imposed an exorbitant spending plan on the American people. But there is one part of the budget that is going to take a cut- our national defense, and especially, our ballistic missile defense system (BMDS). In light of these facts, the RSC’s National Security Working Group in coordination with Congressman Trent Frank’s office has prepared the following document.
RSC Policy Brief: Democrat Cap and Tax Proposal (4/1/09)
This afternoon, House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman released a discussion draft of legislation that will, according to a press release, "create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance America's energy independence, and cut global warming pollution." Really? Please review the attached RSC document that sheds some transparency on these claims.
The Incredible Expanding National Debt (3/25/09)
President Obama and Congressional Democrats talk about “refus[ing] to leave our children with a debt that they cannot repay.” Yet they have already set us on a course over the past two years to do just that. It’s the Incredible, Expanding National Debt.
RSC Policy Brief: District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act (2/27/09)
Due to scheduled consideration of the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act next week, the RSC has prepared the attached policy brief.
RSC Policy Brief: Highlights of the President's FY 2009-2019 Budget Proposal (2/26/09)
In light of the President’s FY 2009-2019 budget proposal, the RSC has prepared the attached policy brief.
RSC Outlook: Health Policy (2/19/09)
Anticipating a lively debate on health care this year, the RSC has prepared the following policy brief highlighting a number of Democrat proposals that are likely to be considered over the course of the first several months of the 111th Congress.
Bringing Back the "Fairness" Doctrine? (2/19/09)
Not long after Democrats took control of Congress in 2007, many in their leadership (including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and former Presidential nominee Senator John Kerry) publicly asserted the need to restore the so-called “Fairness Doctrine.” The Fairness Doctrine was a regulation promulgated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1949 that required over-the-air broadcasters to present opposing viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance. Realizing this rule was outdated and of questionable constitutionality, President Reagan had the wisdom to instruct the FCC to formally repeal the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. Now, over 20 years later, many Democrats are intent on reinstituting this federal speech control, presumably because conservative talk radio has been exceedingly more successful than liberal talk radio.
The Economic Consequences of "Stimulus" Spending (2/12/09)
In light of anticipated consideration of a conference report on the “stimulus” bill, the RSC has prepared the following policy brief analyzing the efficacy of deficit-financed “stimulus” spending as a response to the current crisis.
Labor Policy Brief (2/09/09)
Big organized labor initiatives are going to be a high priority for Democrats during the 111th Congress. With a Democrat in the White House, this is their first opportunity to enact labor reforms, especially those aimed at expanding union membership. We have already seen this approach in President Obama’s recent reversal of a number of Bush-era Executive Orders, which made workplaces more favorable toward unions. While many of the legislative measures discussed below have either passed the House in the 110th Congress or are expected to pass in the 111th, there is still doubt as to whether cloture on many of these bills is achievable in the Senate – especially on major bills like the Employee Free Choice Act. Nevertheless, conservatives should remain on guard.
Energy and Natural Resources Outlook (2/09/09)
In response to last year’s record high crude oil prices, energy issues dominated much of the debate in the House during the waning summer months of the 110th Congress. Anticipating what will be another lively debate this spring, the RSC has prepared the following policy brief highlighting a number of Democrat proposals that are likely to be considered over the course of the first several months of the 111th Congress.
The Secret Ballot Protection Act (2/03/09)
RSC Chairman Price encourages all RSC Members to become original cosponsors of the Secret Ballot Protection Act, soon to be introduced by Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee Ranking Member Kline, Education and Labor Committee Ranking Member McKeon, and Chairman Price. The bill, introduced by the late Congressman Charlie Norwood in the 110th Congress (H.R. 866), ensures that workers, faced with the decision of whether to unionize, maintain their right to a secret ballot.
How Much Is $818 Billion? (1/27/09)
H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, includes a total of $818 billion in deficit spending: $358 billion of discretionary budget authority, $248 billion of entitlement spending, and $212 billion of revenue reductions. The purpose of this one-pager is to put this amount of spending in perspective.
How PAYGO Works (1/05/2009)
Proponents of PAYGO argue that the rule requires spending increases and tax cuts to be “paid for.” However, in practice, PAYGO exempts all sorts of spending increases from the rule’s requirements. On the other hand, PAYGO applies to 100% of the tax revenue collected by the federal government, and it even applies to tax legislation that would just extend current law. The RSC has prepared the attached policy brief analyzing how PAYGO works in practice, as well as how its requirements were often waived or ignored during the 110th Congress.
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