My fellow conservatives, Americans are disappointed. They are disappointed that the debate over our debt limit was about the needs of politicians instead of the needs of the country. They are disappointed with a broken government that refuses to fix itself. And they are disappointed that the Budget Control Act that passed the House last night and is likely to pass the Senate today does not make the transformative changes this nation requires. There are several elements of this plan that are simply unacceptable, even when framed inside the narrow …
He left home at 11 after a rough childhood, spending time on the streets, yet managed to finish both high school and college. He later went on to work as a Pepsi-Cola truck driver, at a meat-packing plant and as a short-order cook. This is the story of Gov. Paul LePage, who, in a little more than six months, has ushered in sweeping reforms for Maine — a record of accomplishments it might take other governors years to achieve. What’s even more remarkable is that LePage is a tea party-backed …
Today marks the Obama administration’s debt deadline, and lawmakers in both parties are rushing to comply. The House hurriedly passed the Budget Control Act yesterday on a vote of 269 to 161. Sixty-six conservatives broke ranks. The Senate is expected to vote today; several conservatives have already voiced their opposition. Meanwhile, transparency promises are being ignored on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) will visit Heritage today for The Bloggers Briefing. He is one of the 22 conservatives who voted against Speaker John Boehner’s bill to raise the debt …
In a recent article in Health Affairs, health economist James Robinson reveals that in areas where hospitals consolidate and enjoy a larger market share, providers are more likely to charge higher prices, as low competition gives them a monopoly in delivering patient care in the region. The lack of competition allows hospitals and other providers to raise the sticker price for the privately insured as reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid fall. Economists call this “cost shifting,” when a lower payment from one group is made up for by a higher …
The deep cuts in defense spending envisioned in the just-announced debt ceiling deal raise a fundamental question for Americans: Will we let a deal stand that promises to end American security as we know it? Or will we demand that the deal, born of crisis-driven politics in Washington, be abandoned because of what’s at stake? The deal promises to raise the debt ceiling by the highest amount ever—more than $2 trillion—while reducing spending by close to $1 trillion over the next decade. It envisions 6 percent and 7.5 percent cuts …
Catching you up on clips, commentary and news of the day. Sign up for the daily email update from Scribe. Hold the Line! – Brian Darling Defense and the Debt Ceiling – John R. Bolton What Really is Poverty? – Ed Feulner Azerbaijan’s Afghan contribution – Ariel Cohen & Robert Nicholson Sacrificing America’s sovereignty at sea – James Carafano Are voter-ID laws needed? Yes, they protect election integrity – Hans von Spakovsky Bend the baby curve like Beckham – Charles A. Donovan GOP must master the art of ‘cool’ to get …
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) repeatedly criticized Democrats last year for voting on legislation that members didn’t have time to read. “Read the Bill” language was even included in the GOP’s Pledge to America to ensure lawmakers would have adequate notice to review legislation. “Neither members of Congress or the public were given time to read the trillion-dollar stimulus before it passed. Nobody read the cap-and-trade bill. Nobody read the budget. And yet Democrats approved them anyway,” Boehner said in a video last year. “Every major bill should be posted online and …
In case you missed this week’s Heritage Libertad Radio Show, make sure to listen to it here: Heritage Libertad Radio Show: La Raza, Member Questions, Education The hour-long program kicks off its first 30 minutes in Spanish, covering the debt ceiling: What’s the debate really about? And why are the left’s phrases of a “balanced approach” and “shared sacrifice” misleading? We also discuss President Obama’s recent speech to La Raza: How can conservatives reach out more effectively to the Hispanic community? Did the right miss an opportunity here to do …
Fifty-five years ago this weekend, at the height of the Cold War, President Dwight Eisenhower designated “In God We Trust” as the national motto of the United States. Even before then, the motto had long been part of the American tradition. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln placed it on the nation’s coins to help guide the country through that great scourge of war. This practice continues today, except the motto is now on all of the nation’s currency, not just the coins. In 1814, Francis Scott Key also employed …
The “Budget Control Act of 2011″ (BCA) contains provisions for a joint committee of Congress, whose supposed job it is to make recommendations to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion. But the legislation does not require the joint committee to do that job. It is merely a “goal” of the joint committee to recommend at least $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, but even if the committee fails to do so, the Congress will give expedited consideration anyway to whatever is in the joint committee bill. The Congressional Budget Office letter …
