Tag: Congress

All of Michigan's Republicans stepped up to the plate to 'repeal' the 'affordable' health care act, with a couple of them making sure you know they did. It marks the third time the House has voted to fully repeal this law since 2011. Rep Tim Walberg (R-CD7) voted in favor of H.R. 45 to repeal the President's health care law, and said the following:

"The reality of Obamacare is millions of Americans losing access to their current health care coverage, job destroying tax hikes and mandates, and massive health insurance premium increases.  This government takeover of health care will hurt families, hurt small businesses, hurt retirees, and hurt Americans seeking to find work in our tough economy, so I voted today to repeal it.  I support common sense, patient-centered solutions such as ending lawsuit abuse, expanding the flexibility of medical savings accounts, and allowing the purchase of insurance across state lines, that will truly make health care more affordable and help families."

Fred Upton (R-CD6) heads the Energy and Commerce committee, which uses the platform to examine the costs of Obamacare (and actually uses THAT Name for it, which I find inappropriate and strange)as reported by insurers.

Candace Miller (R-CD10) referencing previous appropriations efforts alongside the repeal vote says:

"There is nothing more personal to each and every American than their health care and their relationship with their doctor.  And no issue is more important to each and every American than having a growing economy and job security.  Today the House acted for the 37th time to repeal ObamaCare because it puts at risk the doctor-patient relationship and it will destroy jobs and put countless others at risk.

To make matters even worse, last Friday the IRS admitted that it unfairly and improperly targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny by using purely political motives for conducting their duties to enforce the tax code.  So now because of ObamaCare every American will not only have to submit all private information about their income and earnings to the IRS, they now will also now have to supply their most private health information to a government agency that currently does not have the trust of the American people.

ObamaCare has a myriad of fatal flaws that call for one action - the full repeal. The House has once again acted to get this job done and now if the Senate will join us we can get to work on a replacement to ObamaCare that has patient-centered reforms focused on protecting the doctor-patient relationship instead of putting it at risk, reducing costs instead of raising them, expanding access to care for all Americans instead of putting current care at risk, and finally creating jobs instead of destroying jobs."

And Dave Camp (R-CD4) listed a few reasons a couple days ago why repeal is a good plan.

Camp (R-Midland), and Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, made the following statement upon announcement that Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Acting Commissioner Steve Miller would resign effective early June.

"The American people should be able to trust and have faith that, not only the IRS, but that the tax code will treat them fairly.  This resignation does nothing to change the culture of discrimination at the IRS.  And, it certainly does nothing to change the fact that the tax system is targeting honest, hardworking taxpayers instead of working for them.  There are still far too many unanswered questions and until we know what truly happened, we cannot fully fix what is wrong.  This Committee wants the facts, and the American people deserve answers to why they were targeted on the basis of their political beliefs.  The IRS has demonstrated a culture of cover up and has failed time and time again to be completely open and honest with the American people.  This investigation will continue so Congress can ensure that no taxpayer is unfairly targeted.

"The Committee and the American people deserve honest answers from Mr. Miller at our hearing this Friday."

Or if it will matter.

Will Democrat congressmen from Michigan join the common sense crusade to repeal the miserable legislation that has proven to be too costly for families and business, or will they double down on the progressive stupidity that brought it about? Will Gary Peters, who plans on advancing his career with a US Senate run stand with working families who are finding their hours reduced, and premiums exploding?

Today, Michigan Congressman and 2014 Senate candidate Gary Peters will have another opportunity to vote against the train wreck, formerly known as ObamaCare.

For years, Gary Peters has been a "proud", staunch supporter of the President's costly health care law. But, a report by the non-partisan Society of Actuaries shows that ObamaCare will increase the costs of medical claims in Michigan by more than 25% and by an average of 32% nationally.  Personally, I have seen 70% increase already.  It has forced our business to make other changes.

And how does Senate Democratic Leadership think the ObamaCare roll-out is going?

Recall the words of ObamaCare Architect, Sen. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus

"I just see a huge train wreck coming down." -

"unless we implement this properly it's going to be a train wreck, and I agree with [Baucus]."

"ObamaCare could raise premiums"

Remember when..."The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act--ObamaCare--was sold to Americans as the solution to the problems plaguing our nation's healthcare system."?

"The recent revelation that the IRS took steps to intentionally target a range of conservative groups is deeply disturbing, and the acceptance of the IRS acting commissioner's resignation today is the bare minimum that the President should accept.  Asking the Treasury Department to further investigate itself is not good enough.  The Administration must consider appointing an outside special counsel to make certain that those responsible are brought to justice.

"The American people will not stand for this blatant affront on free speech and harassment.  The truth must be brought forward, and the Congress will hold firm on bringing all those responsible to the forefront and ensure the proper protections are in place to protect each and every citizen's constitutional rights.  The American people must be able to trust their government, and in this case clearly there was abuse of power.  That cannot happen in America."

There should be non-stop congressional hearings on ALL the activities this administration has been involved in.  The IRS is merely the tip of the proverbial iceberg. A special investigator should not have hands tied to merely THIS violation of first amendment rights, but should be encouraged to root out ALL the corruption Obama has cultivated during his term.

Today 'ForAmerica' Chairman L. Brent Bozell III released a statement regarding reports that Republican leadership in Congress is in secret negotiations to exempt themselves and their staffs from ObamaCare.

"Recent news reports reveal that the Republican leadership in Congress is participating in the ultimate hypocrisy: months of secret meetings with Democrats to betray the most important promise they made to their supporters in 2010. Rather than forcing repeal of ObamaCare, they are discussing exempting themselves and their staffs from it. This is what Third World dictators and tyrannical kings do - they create mandates for the supposed `good' of the peasants, while exempting themselves from the burdens of their whims. Our message is clear: stop these secret meetings immediately and get to work defunding and repealing ObamaCare so everyone, not just you and your staff, can be freed from its burdens."

Back in 2010 Dave Camp PROMISED to defund as a mission of last resort, the Obamacare act that inappropriately bears the name "affordable". If I am not mistaken, we are at the last resort stage now.

Hello, is this thing on?

We should remind our legislators that their words of promise have become meaningless, and the line between those whom we would call 'Republican' to the evil that is progressivism, is truly blurred.

"Today as millions of Americans rush to complete their federal income return and file it before the midnight deadline, it is more clear than ever that our tax code is overly complex and in desperate need of reform.  It is simply ridiculous that the average American family needs to spend countless hours simply trying to comply with the tax code or that many need to hire an army of accountants to make certain they comply.

Enough is enough.  It is time eliminate special interest tax breaks and deductions for a few so that we can simplify the tax code and lower rates for everyone. A more flatter, fairer and far simpler tax code will not only allow families to focus on meeting their needs instead of complying with the law, it will also promote economic growth that will create jobs and allow our economy to thrive.  This is the year to finally get that job done."

In an unexpected move, Former Congressman Bart Stupak has endorsed across the aisle, and named Jason Gillman the man to beat for the governorship of Michigan.

Speculation ended only yesterday, when the 1st district Democrat declared that he would rather run against fellow first district citizen, businessman, and author Jason Gillman, for Governor of Michigan, than he would against the current incumbent Rick Snyder.  "My goal is to win back the state for Democrats, and I think I could actually beat Gillman," Stupak said. "And anyhow who is that guy?"

Stupak's campaign manager Dennis Lennox was hired by the former trooper and legislator after it was determined that he was personally responsible for a long string of Republican losses. Lennox reportedly said "What can I say? Its not everyone who has such consistent results," and when questioned about his last paying job, he simply replied "please talk to my attorney."

Stupak was recently recruited by Michigan Democrats by newly installed Dem Chair Lon Johnson. Johnson who lives in the 1st district apparently still 'owed one' to the former congressman not for political favors, but from "that time when he was a trooper and was really cool and let me off with a warning." according to Johnson.

It opens a dialogue to Michigan's representatives. Our folks who travel to that distant land to make the rules and spend our monies. They presumably speak and act for us, so its an opportunity to remind them of their mission, and the things they CAN do. They can subpoena, they can investigate, they can IMPEACH! But one thing that is as relevant as anything is in the financial end, and affects our prosperity.  So a question should be asked and answered.

With Congress having the power of the purse, why on earth is the EPA, the NLRB, the BIA, HHS, DOE, DOE-2 (ed), and HUD still funded?

I would argue that simply eliminating these agencies, we not only reduce or eliminate the deficits, but we also spark a new round of economic prosperity.  Each agency is a block in some way to innovation, individual rights, and the ability for the little guy to get ahead.

• De-fund the EPA, and the producers can catch up to the overzealous regulatory controls.  Congress itself should have such power.
  
• De-fund the NLRB, and the Job creators can stop worrying about the feds up their butt when staffing changes are necessary.  There is no constitutional allowance for the existence for the NLRB anyhow.
  
• The BIA?  Why do we still have nations within our nation?  And why do we allow their citizens to participate in OUR election process when there is no way we could do the same. As an FYI, there are things that can be done on the RES that are not constitutional.
  
• HHS holds the key to Obamacare.  If it is gone, so is Obamacare.  Why is it still operating? Could Candace Miller check that for us?  How about it Dave Camp? (Who said it was on the table when I asked in 2010)  DR. Dan? Mike? Justin? Fred? Kerry? Tim?!
  
• The DOE has been around long enough to see to it that no nuclear power facilities are developed in decades, Coal resources are allowed to be blocked by the EPA, Natural resources are closed off to energy production, solar power is presented as a viable alternative and is mandated, and our technology is exported to competing world powers.  Higher energy cost due to its existence kill job creation. Whats not to love?
  
• The DOE-2 (dept of education) offers no advantage over state directed curriculum.  It burdens our schools with dumbing-down CORE mandates, and funnels precious tax dollars to non performing institutions. It has no mandate under the constitution.  Schools are not a federal concern.
  
• Finally, there is HUD. Under this monstrosity, the milking of America is complete. There is nothing that compares to a new subsidized housing project in a community that is once thriving, but then is overwhelmed by the type of people who occupy them.  Festering hives of poverty develop where HUD sets up shop. I have spoken to more than a few emergency workers who have experienced the urbanization of HUD.  Their towns and cites are in shambles.  The calls to these places of government largess are far in excess of those in suburbia or rural non planned environments.

We de-fund and eliminate HUD, and people have to actually WORK to pay for their housing once more. Working builds wealth. Wealth is a nation's strength.