U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
United States Senator, South Carolina
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Upholding the Constitution






Another Discouraging Jobs Report

By Senator Lindsey Graham

09/07/2012 11:22:00 AM

The August jobs report revealed today that the national unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent because another 368,000 Americans decided to stop looking for work.  The labor participation rate fell to 65.3 percent, its lowest level in more than 30 years.

 

A drop in the unemployment rate is usually good news, but certainly not today.  This report shows thousands of Americans are so discouraged by the Obama economy that they have given up on their job searches and are no longer looking for work.

 

Under President Obama’s economic policies the American Dream is in jeopardy.  It’s clear the failed stimulus plan, Obamacare’s government takeover of healthcare, and massive increases in the national debt continue to take a toll on our economy. It will take a change in leadership to put us back on the path to a growing, vibrant economy

Charleston Deepening Project to Receive $2.5 Million to Continue Study

By Senator Lindsey Graham

02/08/2012 2:04:00 PM

I am pleased the work plan today released by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers set aside $2.5 million to continue the on-going study to deepen Charleston Harbor.  The federal share is matched by an equal contribution from the South Carolina State Ports Authority.

 

This is the most significant federal contribution made thus far to the Charleston Harbor deepening effort.  It is a significant victory given the fact President Obama’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012 had nothing allocated for Charleston.

 

As a result of language we were able to include in last year’s spending bill, Charleston was eligible to receive funding to continue its deepening study.  These funds are being awarded under a more merit-based system. We have always known that Charleston will fare well under that standard as harbor deepening is a worthwhile investment.

 

Today, about one out of every five jobs in South Carolina is tied – directly and indirectly – to the operation of the Port.  Deepening the port will allow us to keep these jobs in our state and also create more jobs in the future.

 

President Obama will release his Fiscal Year 2013 budget next week and I am hopeful funds to deepen Charleston Harbor will be included.  I continue to work with the Army Corps of Engineers and South Carolina State Ports Authority to explore avenues to help expedite the harbor deepening project from its estimated 2024 completion date.

 

Deepening Charleston Harbor is the number-one issue for South Carolina’s economy.  The Port of Charleston is our economic gateway to the world.  We have to ensure the harbor deepening process moves forward in an efficient and cost-effective manner.  This is good news we’ll celebrate today, but we know the President’s budget release early next week is yet another important step in the process.

On President Obama's Recess Appointments to the NLRB

By Senator Lindsey Graham

01/04/2012 5:06:00 PM

Mr. President, hasn’t the NLRB already done enough damage?  Today’s action may impress the union bosses but will deliver yet another blow to job creation.

 

The NLRB has become an out-of-control rogue bureaucracy.  President Obama, by empowering this agency rather than reforming it, is making job creation even more difficult.  I will continue to do everything in my power to put the brakes on the NLRB as currently constructed.

 

I again encourage the appropriate House and Senate committees to investigate the contacts between the NLRB and Machinists Union in their complaint against The Boeing Company.  We have already seen NLRB communications, made available by a Freedom of Information Act, which shows the NLRB had a callous and negative attitude against Boeing’s decision to open a South Carolina facility.

 

A congressional investigation to answer questions about the NLRB’s role, attitude, and relationship with the parties is definitely warranted.  I’m glad the ridiculous complaint against Boeing has gone away, but there are disturbing questions about possible collaboration between the Machinists union and the NLRB against Boeing.  These questions must be answered.

Graham Calls for Investigation Into NLRB-Union Collaboration

Posted by Tate, Press Assistant

12/09/2011 2:48:00 PM

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) is calling for a congressional investigation into collaboration between the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union against The Boeing Company’s decision to build a second 787 Dreamliner production facility in North Charleston, South Carolina.

 

Graham’s announcement comes after the NLRB announced it will drop its complaint against Boeing.

 

Graham also reaffirmed today he will continue to place an indefinite Senate hold on nominations to the NLRB Board.  Beginning in January 2012, the NLRB will have just two members.  The Supreme Court last year ruled that an agency board with just two members lacks the authority to issue case rulings.

 

NLRB Dropping Case against Boeing:

“For the sake of the Boeing South Carolina workers, I’m pleased to hear the frivolous complaint that has put a cloud over their operations has been lifted.  However, it’s hard to celebrate an event which never should have happened.”

 

Congressional Probe into Possible NLRB-Union Collaboration against Boeing:

“I have real concerns the NLRB complaint was used as a negotiating tool against Boeing.  It would be completely unacceptable for the NLRB, which is supposed to be an independent arbiter, to be used and help in the union’s bidding.

 

“If this turns out to be the case, the NLRB would have abandoned its role as an agency that arbitrates disputes and become an advocacy group for union causes.  And few things would do more damage to job creation than having a government agency abuse its power and unfairly alter sound decisions made by business.

 

“I find the whole episode between the Machinists union and the NLRB against Boeing highly suspicious.  We have already seen NLRB communications, made available by a Freedom of Information Act, which shows the NLRB had a callous and negative attitude against Boeing’s decision to open a South Carolina facility.

 

“A congressional investigation to answer questions about the NLRB’s role, attitude, and relationship with the parties is definitely warranted.  I would urge the appropriate Senate committees to look closely into this matter.  If the Senate refuses to act, I would strongly encourage the House of Representatives to move forward.

 

“I’m glad the ridiculous complaint against Boeing has gone away, but there are disturbing questions about possible collaboration between the Machinists union and the NLRB against Boeing.  These questions must be answered.”

 

Indefinite Hold Against Obama Nominees to the NLRB:

“I will continue to block all nominations to the NLRB until we get satisfactory answers regarding their role in this entire saga.  Given its recent actions, the NLRB as inoperable could be considered progress.”

 

#####

I Oppose President Obama's American Jobs Act

by Senator Lindsey Graham

10/12/2011 10:57:00 AM

Last night I voted against President Obama’s $447 billion American Jobs Act.  The measure needed 60 votes to advance and failed in the Senate 50-49. 

 

President Obama’s jobs proposal was nothing more than an expansion and continuation of the policies which have made our economy worse than when he took office. Rather than changing course when it is clear his policies are not working, President Obama seems to be doubling-down.  It’s why there is bipartisan opposition to his plan. Should it ever become law, President Obama’s jobs bill will prove to be as ineffective in creating jobs as Obama health care was in lowering premiums.

On Senate Passing Legislation Pressing China to End Currency Manipulation

by Senator Lindsey Graham

10/11/2011 6:37:00 PM

I am very pleased that the U.S. Senate, in a strong bipartisan vote of 63-35, tonight passed legislation I introduced with Senators Jeff Sessions, Chuck Schumer, and Sherrod Brown giving the United States new tools to deal with Chinese currency manipulation.  The Chinese yuan is generally viewed by economists as being undervalued by up to 40 percent.

 

Passage of the legislation comes on the heels of the Obama Administration last week expressing concerns about the bill even though he strongly supported similar legislation while campaigning for President.

 

I hope President Obama will be as hard on the Chinese, who are cheating Americans out of jobs, as he is on American business.  It is universally accepted that the Chinese intentionally manipulate their currency to create an advantage for themselves in the marketplace. Manufacturing jobs in South Carolina and across the country are being destroyed because the Chinese continue to defy the rules of international trade.

 

Under current law, the Treasury Department is required to identify countries that manipulate their currency for purposes of gaining an unfair competitive trade advantage.  In recent years, Treasury has found that certain countries’ currencies were ‘undervalued,’ but based on a narrow interpretation of the law Treasury has refused to cite such countries as ‘manipulators.’ The Senate-passed legislation replaces that with a new framework which will require Treasury to identify misaligned currencies and imposes trade remedies if countries fail to correct the misalignment.

 

Over the past week, China took a rather unusual step in sending several strongly-worded messages to the United States warning of Chinese opposition to the legislation.

 

This vote showed we will not be bullied by China when it is clear they are in the wrong.  We ignored the threats and do not apologize for taking this action.  I want a good trading relationship with China and think we can have a relationship which is beneficial to both countries. But the current Chinese policy on currency is clearly unfair and designed to benefit them at our expense.

 

Tonight’s vote was one of my most satisfying moments in Congress.  Finally, after seven years of effort, the Senate is now on record in taking steps to address Chinese currency manipulation.  This is welcome news to manufacturers in South Carolina and across the nation.  Now I strongly encourage the House of Representatives to take up the legislation at the soonest possible opportunity.

On President's Plan to Raise Taxes

by Senator Lindsey Graham

09/19/2011 2:19:00 PM

The President’s $1.5 trillion dollar tax increase on investors, job creators, and American business is poorly-timed, ill-conceived, and dead on arrival.

Our economy desperately needs to grow so more Americans can get back to work. Tax increases on job creators, like President Obama is proposing, will be a death blow to any recovery.

Our tax code needs to be reformed. I support tax code simplification which combines lower rates with the elimination of deductions and loopholes.

However, increasing tax burdens on job creators is the last thing we ought to do in a weak economy. The President’s 1.5 trillion tax increase will certainly make it more difficult to grow the economy and create jobs.

On House Passage of Protecting American Jobs Act

by Senator Lindsey Graham

09/19/2011 10:27:00 AM

Unelected bureaucrats at the NLRB should not be able to shut the doors on the $1 billion Boeing plant in North Charleston.  Congratulations to Congressman Tim Scott and the South Carolina congressional delegation for their hard work passing this legislation through the House. I have introduced it in the Senate and will continue to press Harry Reid to bring it up for a vote.

I Voted Against the Debt-Limit Deal

by Senator Lindsey Graham

08/02/2011 1:48:00 PM

I cannot in good conscience support this deal.

Simply stated, it locks us into more debt, bigger government and most devastating of all, a weakened Defense infrastructure at a time when threats to our nation are increasing, not decreasing.

This agreement still adds over $7 trillion in new debt over the next decade and only makes small reductions in future spending.  We hardly address the future growth of entitlements, a major contributor of future budgetary problems.

Instead of our nation running toward bankruptcy we will be walking toward bankruptcy.

The only part of our nation’s budget which is really exposed to serious consequences is the Department of Defense.  Their budget could be reduced by nearly $1 trillion under this plan.  And if these proposed cuts ever become reality, the biggest loser will be our men and women in uniform.

I firmly believe defense spending should be placed under a microscope and we can find savings.  However, this agreement places Defense on the chopping block and slowly moves the Republican Party away from the Reagan model of a strong national defense.  I fear it legitimizes the concept that Defense spending is not only equal to other areas of federal spending, but is of lesser importance.

The U.S. Constitution's preamble is unequivocal where it states one of the federal government’s primary responsibilities is to “provide for the common defence.”  I fear this deal could ultimately weaken that principle.

I always believed we have to raise our nation’s debt-ceiling but should do so in a responsible manner.  I strongly supported Cut, Cap and Balance and will continue to work for passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.  I thought we could have raised the debt-ceiling for a period of nine months, the historical average since 1940, accompanied by a dollar-to-dollar spending cut to debt-ceiling increase while we work to enact these important structural changes to the way the government operates.

The debt-limit debate offered us a prime opportunity to finally stop kicking the can down the road and bring discipline to the way Congress spends.

Because of our $14.5 trillion and growing national debt, we are in jeopardy of losing the American Dream where children are able to do better than their parents.

Unfortunately, I fear we will see that this agreement does not really move the needle when it comes to reducing government spending.

For these reasons, I vote No.

 

I Oppose the Debt-Limit Compromise

by Senator Lindsey Graham

08/01/2011 11:30:00 AM

I cannot in good conscience support this deal. Simply stated, it locks us into more debt, bigger government and most devastating of all, a weakened defense infrastructure at a time when we face growing threats.

This agreement adds over $7 trillion in new debt over the next decade and only makes small reductions in future spending.  We hardly address the future growth of entitlements, a major contributor of future budgetary problems.  Instead of our nation running toward bankruptcy we will be walking toward bankruptcy.

If fully implemented, the consequences to our nation’s defense infrastructure would be severe.  And these deep cuts would come at a time when threats to our nation are increasing, not declining.  What has happened to the Party of Reagan who viewed the primary purpose of the federal government was to provide a strong national defense?

This agreement legitimizes the concept that defense spending is not only equal to other areas of federal spending, but is of lesser importance.  This is a philosophical shift I will have no part of.

I fear this agreement will destroy our nation’s defense infrastructure at a time when we need them the most.  The only part of our nation’s budget which is really exposed to serious consequences under this compromise is the Department of Defense.

I have always believed we have to raise our nation’s debt-ceiling but it should be done in a responsible manner.  I support raising the debt-ceiling for a period of nine months, the historical average since 1940, accompanied by a dollar-to-dollar spending cuts to debt-ceiling increase.  In effect, this basically is the first portion of the Boehner-Reid proposal.



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