Congress

Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Jobs - Liberals - President - Regulation - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Obama’s Regulations So Far Cost Us $84.8 Billion And Climbing Weekly

November 2, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

There is a lot of talk about the high cost of regulations (in fact, a lot of talk from me about them). But how do you put a number on that cost? Well Sam Batkins of the American Action Forum has been keeping a running tab not only on the high cost of the regulations themselves but also the man hours it takes Americans to implement them and the cost is staggering.

Every Friday Batkins reviews that week’s new regulatory onslaught, makes his calculations and thus far Obama’s regulatory juggernaut is costing Americans $84.8 billion bucks. But that isn’t the last of what it will cost Americans. In order to implement these regulations, to make sure business and individuals are following the rules, it will cost Americans 88.2 million annual man hours to do the paperwork, file the reports, and follow the Internet-based reporting procedures in order to satisfy the rules.

Imagine this burden of worker’s time wasted just to make sure we follow regulations! It is obscene.
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Obama’s Regulations So Far Cost Us $84.8 Billion And Climbing Weekly”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - Free Trade - Government - House of Representatives - Jobs - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - NLRB - Pensions - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Pelosi: Boeing Plant Should Unionize or be Shut Down

November 1, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

The now thankfully former Speaker of the House Nancy “San Fran Nan” Pelosi said in a recent interview that a Boeing plant in South Carolina should either unionize or be shut down by the iron fist of government. So much for America being the land of the free, eh?

Pelosi appeared on CNBC with hostette Maria Bartiromo. Bartiromo asked about the famed Boeing plant being harassed by Obama’s union-sold National Labor Relations Board.

“Do you think it’s right that Boeing has to close down that plant in South Carolina because it’s non union?” Bartiromo asked. “Yes” insisted the former Speaker.

A flat out “yes.” No equivocation.

Lachlan Markay notes that the workers at the Boeing plant in question overwhelmingly voted not to join a union.
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Pelosi: Boeing Plant Should Unionize or be Shut Down”

Budget - Business - Congress - Conservatives - Economy/Finances - GOP - House of Representatives - Jobs - Paul Ryan - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Saving the American Idea: Rejecting Fear, Envy and the Politics of Division

October 29, 2011 by

This week, Representative Paul Ryan (R, Wisc.) made an important speech at the Heritage Foundation.

Full Text

Thank you so much, Ed, for that kind introduction.

We’re here today to explore the American Idea, and I can’t think of a better venue for this topic. The mission of the Heritage Foundation is to promote the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

These are the principles that define the American Idea. And this mission has never been timelier, because these principles are very much under threat from policies here in Washington.
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Saving the American Idea: Rejecting Fear, Envy and the Politics of Division”

Anti-Americanism - Banks - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Democracy - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - EPA - Ethics - Financial Reform - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Government - Government, Ill. County - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Policy - President - Public Employees Unions - Regulation - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - The Law - Unemployment - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Business Roundtable: Regulations Are Killing Business

October 28, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

On Friday I attended an informative business roundtable meeting of Chicago-area small businessmen who came together to discuss how government intervention and its avalanche of regulations are killing jobs and businesses not only in Illinois, but nation wide. Some of the stories were chilling, to say the least. These trials go to show how anti-business the most famously capitalist country in the world has become. No wonder we can’t get out of this second great depression!

The event was held at the headquarters of The Rabine Group in Schaumburg, Illinois. The Rabine Group is a group of nationwide companies that specializes in driveway paving, roofing, and other contracting work. The company is headed by owner and CEO Gary Rabine.

Filling out the panel was Moderator, Brian Kelly of Bulk Lift International; Gary Rabine, The Rabine Group; Garrett Patten, Patten Industries; Randy Truckenbrodt, Randall Industries, Inc, and Former State Senator Steve Rauschenberger, Rauschenberger Partners.

The panel began with some of the regulatory horror stories experienced by the panel. Each story illustrated how government stands in the way of job creation, small business, and expansion, and how government is not working hand-in-hand with small business but actually fosters an inimical relationship. The panel showed how the oppressiveness of these regulations actually tempts business to break laws just to be able to carry on with business.
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Business Roundtable: Regulations Are Killing Business”

Congress - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Joe Walsh - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Is Rep. Walsh Supporter’s Facebook Page ‘Cyber Bullying’ of Rep. Hultgren?

October 27, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the Daily Herald’s bloggers is wondering if the attack page against Congressman Randy Hultgren put on Facebook by a Rep. Walsh supporter qualifies as “cyberbullying.” It is an absurd charge, but the page in question is an interesting page of which to take note.

For those unaware, because of Democrat’s having redisticted Illinois and because the state lost a congressman because we lost residents in the last census, Rep. Joe Walsh (currently elected to the 8th District) announced that he will run against Rep. Randy Hultgren (currently of the 14th District). Instead or running again in the newly reconfigured 8th District, Walsh is challenging Hultgren in the 14th District.

Walsh feels he has to do this because his District was turned from a moderately GOp District to a leans Democrat District and because a lot of his constituents were switched over to the 14th district. This out come, where it is Republican against Republican, is precisely what the Democrats wanted. And boy are they getting it.
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Is Rep. Walsh Supporter’s Facebook Page ‘Cyber Bullying’ of Rep. Hultgren?”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - Illinois - Jobs - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Arie Friedman Comments on Disappointing Illinois Jobs Report

October 22, 2011 by 1 Comment

From the Friedman for State Senate campaign…

“Illinois continues to lead the nation in jobs lost since Springfield Democrats raised the state income tax in January,” Dr. Arie Friedman, said Friday, commenting on the latest statistics released by the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Friedman is seeking the Republican nomination for the State Senate in the 29th District, which extends through southeast Lake County and takes in parts of Northfield and Wheeling Townships and a small section of Palatine in Cook County. The district’s senator, Susan Garrett, announced her retirement this summer.

“From the time those tax hikes on families and employers passed in January,” Friedman said, “Illinois’s employment picture has demonstrated shocking weakness. We led the nation with 24,900 job losses in the month of July and continue to lead in the overall number of jobs lost this year. Illinois has lost 92,785 jobs during the first nine months of 2011,” he noted.
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Arie Friedman Comments on Disappointing Illinois Jobs Report”

Congress - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - President - Warner Todd Huston

Grabowski Announces for Ill. 3rd Congressional District

October 22, 2011 by

Richard Grabowski has announced that he will seek to unseat Dan Lipinski in the Third Congressional District in 2012.

Grabinski, from Hometown, Illinois a south suburb of Chicago, is a first time candidate. He says he’s from the “real world working class” and works as a Materials Supervisor at a suburban manufacturing company.

His campaign website says that Grabowski, “cares deeply about the uncertain path our state and federal government leaders have chosen to lead us down. He’s stepping up to the plate for our state, our southland communities and our 3rd congressional district at a time when we are in dire need of good, uncorrupted leadership in Washington DC and here in Illinois.”
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Grabowski Announces for Ill. 3rd Congressional District”

Barack Obama - Congress - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Eric Holder - Ethics - FBI - GOP - Government - Guns - House of Representatives - Liberals - Mexico - President - Republicans - RightPundits.com - War On Drugs - Warner Todd Huston

FBI Pressed to Say Which F&F Gun Used to Kill Border Agent

October 21, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

After these many months, the FBI is still stonewalling the congressional committee investigating Obama’s Fast and Furious program that illicitly armed Mexican narco-terrorists. One particular bit of info the FBI refuses to confirm concerns the guns from F&F found at the scene of the murder of U.S. Border Agent Brian Terry.

This week Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Darrell Issa (R, Calif), sent a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller demanding definitive answers about the F&F guns found at the scene of the border agent’s murder. Issa specifically wants to know if any of them were used to kill the agent…

Read the rest at RightPundits.com.

Budget - Business - Campaign Finance - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Paul Ryan - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Paul Ryan To Headline Roskam Fundraiser

October 21, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Representative Paul Ryan (R, Wis) will be headlining a fundraising event next week for Peter Roskam’s re-election campaign. Ryan is the Chairman of the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Ryan is best known for his A Roadmap for America’s Future, a budget proposal favored by many Republicans and conservatives. Ryan has become something of a rock star among conservatives.

Roskam is the Representative of the Sixth Illinois District and is running for reelection. No challenger has announced an effort to face him.

Only in his third term, Roskam rose quickly in the ranks of the GOP and is now the third in line of the House GOP leadership serving as the Chief Deputy Whip.

Tickets for the Oct. 29 cocktail reception and private dinner at Naperville’s Hotel Arista range from $100 (reception) to $2,500 (reception, dinner, photo with the congressmen and “preferential seating”) a piece.

For more information see Roskam’s campaign website: http://www.roskamforcongress.com/.
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Rep. Paul Ryan To Headline Roskam Fundraiser”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren Statement on September Illinois Jobs Report

October 21, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (R, Illinois 14th District)…

Geneva, IL – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement regarding the September unemployment report released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

“Today’s report that unemployment has increased to 10 percent is a clear sign that the state’s private sector has lost faith in the tax-and-spend policies espoused by leaders in both Washington, DC, and Springfield,” said Hultgren. “At the state level, I encourage leaders to work quickly to address the ever-growing pension crisis, the budget deficit, and late payments to state contractors.

“In Washington, I urge Harry Reid and the Senate to pass their first budget in more than 900 days and for them to act on the more than a dozen pro-growth, pro-job bills that have been passed by the House. We must restore the confidence of the private sector so small businesses will begin to grow and hire once again. ”

http://hultgren.house.gov/

Bobby Schilling - Congress - Conservatives - Crime - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Assassination Threat Against Illinois Congressman?

October 20, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Why would anyone want to kill 17th District, Illinois Congressman Bobby Schilling? The shocking threat against Schilling’s life was revealed this week as the FBI has been called in to investigate.

The Hill reports that Schilling received an email threat that featured an offer of $75,000 reward for his assassination.

The email threat against Schilling states, “I will pay $75,000 for ASSASSINATING Illinois Congresswoman (sic) Bobby Schilling and any US Congressman, US Senator and FBI, CIA and NSA DIRECTORS and their FAMILY MEMBERS regardless of their age,” according to local news reports.

Schilling is the father of ten children and owns a successful pizza business in Moline, Illinois. This is his first term in office.
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Assassination Threat Against Illinois Congressman?”

Budget - Business - Congress - Free Trade - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Robert Dold - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Dold Announces the Creation of an Economic Innovation Zone at Naval Station Great Lakes and Lovell Center

October 20, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Robert Dold (Ill., 10th District)…

NORTH CHICAGO, IL – Today, U.S. Congressman Robert J. Dold (IL-10), Lake County Board Chairman David Stolman, members of Lake County Partners and Naval Station Great Lakes, announced a new project at Naval Station Great Lakes and Lovell Center that would create an innovation zone designed to address the high unemployment throughout the region.

“I am pleased to announce today that with the help of Lake County Partners, North Chicago will be at the center of an economic innovation zone,” said Dold. “This will help to address the high unemployment throughout the local community and be a resource in which local officials, businesses, and community leaders can come together and implement an effective strategy to bring jobs to North Chicago residents.”

Rep. Dold is a third-generation resident of the 10th District of Illinois. As a small business owner, he has faced many of the challenges confronting business leaders today and is using that firsthand experience in Washington to help find ways to create more jobs and strengthen the economy. For more information on his work in Congress, visit: http://dold.house.gov/

Computers - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Inernet - Liberals - Military - Patriot Act - President - Republicans - Rights - Security/Safety - Senate - State Department - Technology - Terrorism - Transparency - Warner Todd Huston

We Need Rules for Cyberwarfare Before a President Steals That Power, Too

October 19, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A recent New York Times article revealed that the Pentagon briefly considered engaging in cyberwarfare at the outset of the actions in Libya, but decided against it for a variety of reasons. This reminds us all that as a nation we really need to discuss the use of cyberwarfare. The first question asked must be: should a president be able to simply order such an attack on his own hook?

The Times noted that one of the concerns about the use of cyberwarfare is how it would be justified under the War Powers Resolution of 1973?

One unresolved concern was whether ordering a cyberattack on Libya might create domestic legal restrictions on war-making by the executive branch without Congressional permission. One question was whether the War Powers Resolution — which requires the executive to formally report to lawmakers when it has introduced forces into “hostilities” and sets a 60-day limit on such deployments if Congress does not authorize them to continue — would be required for an attack purely in cyberspace.

One would think that the answer to this would be somewhat obvious — though nothing seems obvious in Constitution-based discussions, sadly.

We know that the Founders vested in Congress the power to declare war not in the president. They wanted to avoid a repeat of the historical outrage of a King’s untrammeled powers to declare wars without the consent of the people and their duly elected representatives.
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We Need Rules for Cyberwarfare Before a President Steals That Power, Too”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Jobs - Liberals - President - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

President Continues to Play Politics With the Economy

October 19, 2011 by 1 Comment

The GOP Senate’s video this week is about the bipartisan opposition to President Obama’s most recent stimulus proposal (#Stimulus2). Senate Republicans believe Congress should follow the bipartisan path it recently pursued when it passed the Colombia, South Korea, and Panama free trade agreements (#TradeMeansJobs) and focus on passing other measures that will free businesses to grow and create jobs.

Campaign Finance - Congress - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren Out-Raises Walsh in 3rd Quarter, Receives Major Endorsement

October 19, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (R, Illinois 14th District)…

Geneva, IL – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today announced that he out-raised U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (IL-8) during the 3rd quarter fundraising period and that he has received the endorsement of a local
Pro-Life group.

“Joe Walsh’s support is clearly eroding as marked by his worst fundraising quarter of the year,” said Andrew Flach, campaign spokesperson. “It’s also no coincidence that we were able to out-raise Mr. Walsh in the same quarter that he announced his intentions to run against Congressman Hultgren.”

According to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission, Hultgren reported raising $186,945 during the months of July, August, and September, compared to only $156,099 for Walsh.

Also over the weekend, Hultgren was endorsed over Walsh by The Right to Life McHenry County Pro-Life Victory PAC. In a press release issued on Friday, the group stated, “Randy Hultgren should not have to face opposition in the primary from U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh. We continue in our efforts to encourage Joe to run as the pro-life candidate in the 8th Congressional District.”

“We are very proud and honored to receive the endorsement of The Right to Life McHenry County Pro-Life Victory PAC,” said Flach. “Congressman Hultgren has been and will continue to be a leader and a tireless fighter for the sanctity of human life.”

http://hultgren.house.gov/

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Jobs - Joe Walsh - Liberals - Obamacare - President - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Joe Walsh Discusses Obamacare

October 18, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Representative Joe Walsh appeared at a conference earlier this month and he was asked to address some of the troubles that this nation is going to suffer once Obamacare really kicks in.

Walsh is 100% right about his contentions over this destructive Obamacare mess.

Representative Walsh has already announced that he will run against Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren in the newly re-configured 14th District in the upcoming primaries.
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Rep. Joe Walsh Discusses Obamacare”

Aaron Schock - Adam Kinzinger - Bobby Schilling - Budget - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Joe Walsh - Liberals - Mark Kirk - Peter Roskam - President - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Robert Dold - Stimulus - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

GOP to Illinois State Leaders: There Will Be No Federal Pension Bailout‏

October 18, 2011 by

This morning, Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam (IL-06), 8 House GOP Committee Chairs, and the entire Illinois GOP Delegation sent a letter to Illinois’ legislative leaders and Gov. Quinn in advance of next week’s Veto Session. Gov. Quinn wrote in his FY 2012 Budget earlier this year that his Administration was considering “seeking a federal guarantee of the debt” for Illinois’ $85 billion unfunded pension liability.

They write, “we urge you to seize the opportunity to appropriately reform the State’s public pension systems to address their massive unfunded liabilities,” but “we can say with clarity: there will be no legislative bailouts from the U.S. House of Representatives.”

Roskam was joined by the Illinois GOP congressional delegation and Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, Education & Workforce Chairman John Kline, Energy & Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, Financial Services Chairman Spencer Bachus, Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith, Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa and Ways & Means Chairman Dave Camp.
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GOP to Illinois State Leaders: There Will Be No Federal Pension Bailout‏”

Congress - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

The Hultgren Huddle – October 16, 2011‏

October 18, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (R, Illinois 14th District)…

I’m back in Illinois after another busy, but also productive, week working on your behalf in Washington, DC.

The biggest news out of the Capitol this week is that, after a long delay, Congress finally ratified three Free Trade Agreements. These FTAs, with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, promise to open valuable new markets for American manufacturers and farmers. They will also help create jobs in Illinois and across the country.

In Illinois alone, exports support almost 146,000 jobs, with 26,000 of those in our 14th District. Free trade is also hugely beneficial to our farmers: in 2010, the state’s agricultural exports were estimated at $5.8 billion, supporting almost 49,000 jobs statewide. To learn more about these FTAs, and what local stakeholders have to say about them, read my statement applauding their passage.
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The Hultgren Huddle – October 16, 2011‏”

Campaign Finance - Congress - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Joe Walsh - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Another Strong Fundraising Quarter‏

October 18, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Joe Walsh (R, Illinois 8th District)…

Rep. Walsh on another strong fundraising quarter
“This continued support tells me that people are happy that I have kept my promises to cut the size of government, cut taxes, cut red tape and kill Obamacare.”

McHenry– Last night Congressman Joe Walsh released his third quarter fund-raising numbers. As of September 31st, Congressman Walsh has now raised over $800,000 dollars. This latest quarter now puts him on pace for raising over one million dollars for the year. These numbers contrast with his potential opponent Randy Hultgren who has only raised roughly $650,000 for the year. Other highlights from this reporting period are:
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Another Strong Fundraising Quarter‏”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Ethics - GOP - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Obamacare - Paul Ryan - President - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Did a Big Dem Donor Turned Obama Medical Records Czar Hoodwink Members of Congress?

October 17, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Did Obama’s medical record czar, Judy Faulkner, hoodwink five members of Congress into pushing her own medical records company as the solution for the problem of electronic medical records for all government contracts? That’s what some wonder as Obama’s search for an electronic medical records solution evolves.

In a likely earnest effort to bring jobs to Wisconsin and help improve the fortunes of a home state company, five members of Congress signed onto a letter urging the Department of Defense to seriously consider EPIC Systems medical records computer architecture. (Download PDF of letter)

The letter, signed by Wisconsin Senators Herb Kohl (D) and Ron Johnson (R), as well as Representatives Paul Ryan (R), Tammy Baldwin (D), and Ron Kind (D), was written some two years after EPIC Systems CEO, Judith Faulkner was appointed (April 3, 2009) to Obama’s Health Information Technology Policy Committee. This is a committee established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will, “make recommendations on creating a policy framework for the development and adoption of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure,” for electronic medical records.
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Did a Big Dem Donor Turned Obama Medical Records Czar Hoodwink Members of Congress?”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Liberals - Socialism - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Occupy Wall Street’s Essential Hypocrisy

October 17, 2011 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

There are a few major reasons that this Occupy-Whatever “movement” is as hollow as a Halloween pumpkin. One is that they are employing the sort of rhetoric with their “we are the 99%” claim that they complained about from Tea Partiers and two that some of their spokesmen are not what they claim to be.

A particular hypocrisy from these leftists has been repeatedly seen over the last two years when Tea Partiers would say what “America wants” or couched their rhetoric in terms of the country as a whole should do as if all real Americans wanted what the Tea Party was working for. Liberals would immediately scold the Tea Partiers saying that Tea Party folks do not represent the left so they shouldn’t act as if “Americans” wanted what the Tea Party wanted.

Yet, here come these leftists to claim that they represent “99% of America”! Sorry, Occupiers, but you do not represent me or anyone I side with, so don’t claim you represent “99% of America.” In fact, you don’t even represent half the voting base as liberals consistently poll at less than 20% of the Democrat Party these days.

Heck, you Occupiers don’t even represent 99% of your own side of the aisle!
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Occupy Wall Street’s Essential Hypocrisy”

Adam Kinzinger - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Mark Kirk - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Senator Kirk, Congressman Kinzinger Respond to Super Committee’s Spectrum Question: “BRAC” the Spectrum

October 17, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, Illinois 11th District)…

Proposal Would Use Successful Military Base Closure Process to Identify and Auction Federal Spectrum for Deficit Reduction

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, four members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), and Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-PA)) sent a letter to President Obama, requesting a review of how Federally-owned spectrum can be used more effectively to increase public broadband access while paying down our debt.

In response, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) urged the Joint Select Committee Chairmen Patty Murray (D-WA) and Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) to establish a process similar to the successful Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) procedure in order to identify which Federal spectrum should be auctioned for use by the private sector.
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Senator Kirk, Congressman Kinzinger Respond to Super Committee’s Spectrum Question: “BRAC” the Spectrum”

Budget - Business - Congress - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Republicans - Robert Dold - Warner Todd Huston

Video Spotlight: Rep. Dold on Helping Small Businesses

October 17, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Robert Dold (Ill., 10th District)…

WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Congressman Robert J. Dold (IL-10) released a video on five bills that passed through the Financial Services Subcommittee that will empower small businesses to gain more access to capital, which will in turn help them to expand and create jobs.

http://dold.house.gov/

Budget - Business - Coal - Congress - Energy - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Peter Roskam - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Applauds House Passage of the Coal Residuals and Management Act

October 16, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Illinois 6th District)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2273 – the Coal Residuals and Management Act – a bill with bipartisan support that will allow coal combustion residuals to be used effectively and efficiently while protecting jobs:

“This bipartisan legislation is another commonsense solution to restore confidence in American businesses and workers. This is a regulatory solution that would protect jobs, keep electricity costs low, and keep construction material costs low. The construction and energy industries can’t grow and expand with regulations as these excessive these.

“Americans are looking for answers on how we can turn this economy around, and excessive regulations from Washington are only adding to that frustration. It is initiatives like these that will provide for the kind of certainty and pro-growth environment needed to get businesses hiring again and move our economy in the right direction.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Budget - Business - Congress - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Hultgren Statement in Response to President Obama’s Refusal to Acknowledge House GOP Jobs Plan

October 16, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Randy Hultgren (R, Illinois 14th District)…

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) issued the following statement today in response to President Obama’s claim that he has yet to see the House Republican Plan for America’s Job Creators.

“I was surprised by the President’s claim tonight that he has not seen a jobs plan from House Republicans; clearly, he hasn’t been paying attention. Long before the President introduced his American Jobs Act – which members of its own party are keeping at arm’s length – we unveiled our Plan for America’s Job Creators.

“Unlike the President’s proposal – which is far too much of failed ‘stimulus’ recipe of more spending and higher taxes – we’re focused on cutting red tape to unleash the potential of America’s private sector, and that’s been our focus since Day One.

“If the President is serious about getting Americans back to work, he should refrain from taking baseless, juvenile potshots and instead work with Senator Harry Reid to get the dozen pro-growth, pro-jobs bills we’ve passed through the Senate.”

http://hultgren.house.gov/

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Jobs - Peter Roskam - Regulation - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Roskam Applauds House Passage of the EPA Regulatory Relief Act

October 15, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Illinois 6th District)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), Chief Deputy Whip, issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2250 – the EPA Regulatory Relief Act – legislation that will stop the EPA’s excessive Boiler MACT regulations from burdening employers and replace them with common-sense rules to protect jobs:

“The House has taken an important step to relieve an excessive regulatory barrier to job creation. Sensible regulations are important but the EPA’s Boiler MACT rules would force businesses to comply with unnecessarily difficult and complex standards and tests. That would cost American job creators billions and put tens of thousands of jobs at risk.

“That’s no way to get our economy moving again. We need to create an environment that promotes private-sector job creation, innovation, and growth. I strongly urge the Senate to take up this legislation and help instill confidence in American businesses.”

http://roskam.house.gov/

Adam Kinzinger - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kinzinger Supports Bipartisan Regulatory Relief Legislation to Prevent Job Loss

October 15, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R, Illinois 11th District)…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, welcomed House passage of H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011.

Kinzinger, a co-sponsor of H.R. 2250, says the legislation would provide businesses with adequate time to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new rules in order to prevent rising costs and destroying jobs or sending jobs overseas.

“Enforcing these current rules could endanger hundreds of thousands of jobs and tens of billions of dollars in additional costs to manufacturers during a time of great economic uncertainty,” said Kinzinger. “The EPA Regulatory Relief Act does not repeal regulations that protect our economy or our environment. Rather, these bills extend deadlines to provide manufacturers with the time they need to comply with new regulations so they are not forced to shut down, which would in turn destroy jobs.”

In February, Congressman Kinzinger led a group of 61 freshmen in sending a letter to the EPA, expressing concern over the Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule for industrial boilers (Boiler MACT). The letter reiterates concerns expressed by a bipartisan group of 114 Representatives during the 111th Congress on the EPA’s proposed Boiler MACT.

“The retrofitting requirements necessary for operators to comply with these stringent standards, at facilities from universities to food processors, and a wide range of industries across the spectrum, will undoubtedly cause the shuttering of domestic manufacturing capacity and associated job losses,” said Kinzinger.

The EPA estimates that capital costs for implementation of these rules would amount to $9.5 billion. According to IHS Global Insight, however, the final Boiler MACT rules could mean more than $14 billion in compliance costs with over 230,000 jobs at risk.

http://kinzinger.house.gov/

Budget - Business - Congress - Economy/Finances - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Robert Dold - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

The Dold-Championed ‘Supporting Economic and National Security by Maintains U.S. Leadership in Multilateral Development Banks Act’ Advances through Committee

October 15, 2011 by

From the office of Rep. Robert Dold (Ill., 10th District)…

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, during the Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade, the “Supporting Economic and National Security by Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) Act” advanced through the committee. U.S. Congressman Robert Dold (IL-10) has helped lead this effort to ensure that the MDBs enact policies that are aligned with American interests, to encourage economic growth in developing counties, and to aid in U.S. national security.

“I am pleased to see this bill pass through Committee with bipartisan support,” said Dold. “Maintaining our nation’s leadership with Multilateral Development Banks is vital to promoting American export markets, job growth, and economic prosperity. Furthermore, our involvement ensures these MDBs implement policies that are aligned with our economic and humanitarian values while enhancing global and national security by helping to create stable countries throughout the world.”

Background Information on the Multilateral Development Banks Act:

  • By maintaining our MDB leadership, our nation’s priorities and policies will remain influential in the global economic and security system while allowing our nation’s entrepreneurs to continue playing a critical role in financial and natural resource development abroad.
  • MDBs also promote corruption-free projects in developing countries, which allow American businesses the opportunities to invest abroad and access new markets. This helps to create new jobs here at home as job creators can expand into growing markets.
  • America’s MDB leadership also strengthens global and national security by helping to other nations improve their own political stability, institutions, infrastructure, and general economic prosperity.
  • The MDB Act will increase transparency and accountability, enhance anti-corruption measures, and maintains strong standards for international competitive bidding on projects while ensuring that American favorably influences foreign country policies, including policies relating to national security, representative government, human rights, and the environment.

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