Boehner pushes back Majority Leader, Whip elections to November

The calendar for new House leadership elections has been pushed back, meaning that the scrambling for position, internal sniping and various bits of dirty laundry being aired is going to stretch on for nearly two more months. Originally we expected to see nominations for the new Speaker and the election of the new Majority Leader and GOP Whip taking place this Thursday, but this afternoon John Boehner threw a wrench in those plans and pushed things back to after he’s left the building. (Washington Post)


Read more at Hotair.com Read More......

The Revolution Has Begun

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when it started, but with Speaker John Boehner’s resignation announcement, there’s no doubt the revolution has begun. Perhaps it was the first time you bookmarked the Drudge Report. Or maybe, when at the Drudge Report, you said: “Who is this Breitbart?” Eric Cantor’s primary loss to Dave Brat was certainly a moment when the revolution was stirring and produced tangible results rather than just internet narrative.


Read more at PJ Media Read More......

Beware of counterfeit conservatives groups

In politics, some groups like to masquerade as things they are not, and use downright Orwellian distortions of political terms to make their claims. Voters need to learn to recognize such groups and not be taken in by them. In recent years, moderate and even liberal groups have often tried to pass themselves off as conservative. Eastern North Carolina has seen its share of such behavior.

Read more at the Beaufort Observer Read More......

Story that Boehner blindsided Obama on Netanyahu invitation was manufactured agitprop

A correction appearing in the New York Times quietly unravels what has become a major story as phony agitprop, intended to discredit the leaders of Israel and the House of Representatives.  Of course, the story is still believed by many, and has well served those in the White House and media who created and disseminated it. Omri Ceren spotted the correction and explained on Twitter:

Read more at American Thinker Read More......

Flood of Anti-Boehner Calls Rattles Leadership

It wasn’t the Republican votes against House Speaker John Boehner that truly rattled the GOP leadership, it was the phone calls.  There were hundreds of them, jamming the phone lines of the district and Capitol offices of dozens of House GOP lawmakers.  The callers were not angry about legislation. Nor were they asking for help with a local matter. They were demanding their representative vote against Boehner Tuesday in his bid to win election to a third term as speaker.

Read more at the Washington Examiner Read More......

Pollster Pat Caddell: One-Third of GOP ‘Hanging by a Thread from Bolting’

Fox News contributor and Democratic pollster Pat Caddell told Breitbart News Executive Chairman Stephen K. Bannon that up to one-third of Republicans are ready to call it quits as members of the GOP.

“The alienation among Republican voters is so high,” says Caddell, that conservatively “a quarter to one-third of the Republican party are hanging by a thread from bolting.” Caddell argues that GOP voters’ attitudes are “so anti-establishment,” and they give Republican leadership poor ratings.

Read more at Breitbart.com Read More......

Exclusive—Boehner, McCarthy, Scalise to All Republicans on All Bills: Pass Them to Find Out What’s in Them

Two top deputies to Speaker John Boehner defended on his behalf the tactic of forcing members to vote on legislation they haven’t yet read in Monday evening’s more than two-hour-long conference meeting of Republican members, one of the members challenging Boehner for Speaker told Breitbart News exclusively.  Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), a candidate joining Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) to challenge Boehner for Speaker on Tuesday, told Breitbart News that he stood up and offered in conference that Republicans should not vote on legislation without having 72 hours to read it at a minimum. But Yoho was met with fierce opposition from both House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Majority Whip Steve Scalise.

Read more at Breitbart.com Read More......

Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) to Serve as House GOP Leadership Chairman

OREGON REPUBLICAN PARTY, 2/4/2010 (via email) - Tiernan says Walden Leadership Appointment well deserved and will be good for Oregon! Portland, Ore. – ORP Chairman Bob Tiernan said today, "The appointment of Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) to serve as House GOP Leadership Chairman is a testament to Congressman Walden’s dedication and hard work on behalf of the people of Oregon and the Republican Party. I want to congratulate Congressman Walden on this well deserved appointment and commend Leader Boehner on his selection. I look forward to continue working with Congressman Walden in this new role to promote the Republican agenda to reduce wasteful government spending and promote economic prosperity."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/4,/2010, CONTACT: Michael Steel - Boehner Taps Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) to Serve as House GOP Leadership Chairman: Oregon Congressman Joins Republican Leadership Team, Assumes Post Previously Held by Former GOP Reps. Walker, Paxon, Portman. Read More......

Health Care: No One Supports The Status Quo

Information we need to know that most media is not telling! --bc
GOP.com, 7/17/2009 - Republican Proposals Decrease Costs, Increase Access Without Government Takeover: President Obama On Wednesday: “So make no mistake, the status quo on health care is not an option for the United States of America.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Health Reform And America’s Nurses, The White House, 7/15/09)

GOP PLANS CHANGE STATUS QUO, MAKES INSURANCE CHEAPER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE
RNC Chairman Michael Steele Outlines GOP’s Common Sense Solutions For Health Care Reform. “Republicans support common sense reforms that will control cost, preserve quality and provide the health care that Americans deserve. Our plans will: Reduce and control individual costs. Protect the doctor-patient relationship. Preserve and improve quality & choice. End lawsuit abuse in order to reduce costs to consumers. Responsibly reform health care without further bankrupting the country.” (RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Memo To Republican Leaders, 6/30/09)

Houston Chronicle: GOP Ideas “Blessedly Free Of Loud Political Rhetoric.” "The Republican plan emphasizes preserving health care choices for individuals while bringing down costs, which have soared since 1993, the last time reform was attempted… The plan is earnest and blessedly free of loud political rhetoric. GOP leaders appear to have received the message that most Americans really do want a workable solution to this problem, as does most of the nation's business community, which labors under competitive disadvantages internationally on its account." (Editorial, "Minority View: Give The Republican Proposal For Health Care Reform A Respectful Hearing," Houston Chronicle, 6/18/09) [HC link not good, hyperlink goes to an alternate site].

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) Outlined Sound Steps Towards Covering Uninsured. “To get to the problem of uninsured, we have to equalize the tax code. Business provides health insurance for its employees. If an individual buys insurance, it is not deductible. Number two, we should be incentivizing wellness programs. Targeting smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and lack of exercise. Safeway have been able to cut health-care costs by incentivizing employees to take good care of their health. Those are the kinds of steps that we could take to really address the problem of access and cost without scrapping the finest health care in the world.” (FOX News’ “America’s Newsroom,” 7/16/09)

House Republican Leader John Boehner (OH) Said GOP Plan Will Increase Affordability, Accessibility Of Health Care. “House Republicans have offered a better solution to make health care more affordable and accessible. Our alternative plan will let patients and doctors – not government bureaucrats – make critical and personal decisions about their health care. It will ensure that Americans who like their health care plan can keep it, unlike the House Democrats’ proposal, which would force as many as 114 million Americans to lose their current coverage. And it will not raise taxes on small businesses and put even more jobs in jeopardy at a time when middle-class families already are hurting. It’s time for Washington Democrats to abandon their ‘go it alone’ approach and work with Republicans on true reform that expands Americans’ access to affordable health care.” (Rep. John Boehner, “Boehner Statement on White House Announcement with Hospital Executives,” Press Release, 7/8/09)

House GOP Health Care Solutions Group Proposed Principles To Increase Access, Reduce Costs. "Republicans are looking at solutions to: (1) Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions; (2) Protect Americans from being forced into a new government-run health care plan that would: (a) eliminate the health coverage that more than 100 million Americans currently receive through their job, (b) limit your choice of doctors and medical treatment options, and (c) result in the federal government taking control of your health care; (3) Let Americans who like their health care coverage keep it, and give all Americans the freedom to choose the health plan that best meets their needs; (4) Ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats; (5) Improve Americans' lives through effective prevention, wellness, and disease management programs, while developing new treatments and cures for life-threatening diseases." (Rep. Roy Blunt, "Health Care Solutions Group," Press Release, 6/17/09)

REPUBLICANS HAVE OFFERED RANGE OF REFORM ALTERNATIVES

First Comprehensive Health Reform Bill Introduced This Year Was Sponsored By Senators Coburn (R-OK) And Burr (R-NC), Congressmen Ryan (R-WI) And Nunes (R-CA). “The President reiterated a false choice that is damaging the open, honest health care debate that we deserve. The President frames the debate as: The government must take over the management of health care OR continue with the failed status-quo of today. He continues to challenge his critics by asking, ‘What is the alternative?’ He knows that there are alternatives – better alternatives where the patient, not the government, is at the center of health care in America. He knows that we have introduced the Patients’ Choice Act of 2009. He knows this, and is simply hoping that the American people don’t know it. It should be noted that Democrats haven’t yet introduced a bill – we have. The Patients’ Choice Act (pdf) [See THOMAS H.R. 2520] is a real proposal with actual legislative text, demonstrating that we can have universal health insurance in this country without the government taking it over.” (Rep. Paul Ryan, Op Ed, "The False Choice Versus The Patients' Choice," The Journal Times, 6/11/09)

Bill Supports Patient-Centered, Not Bureaucrat-Centered, Health Care. "'The Patients' Choice Act of 2009' transforms health care in America by strengthening the relationship between the patient and the doctor; using choice and competition rather than rationing and restrictions to contain costs; and ensuring universal, affordable health care for all Americans. 'The Patients' Choice Act' promotes innovative, State-based solutions, along with fundamental reforms in the tax code, to give every American, regardless of employment status, age, or health condition, the ability and the resources to purchase health insurance. The comprehensive legislation includes concrete prevention and transparency initiatives, long overdue reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, investments in wellness programs and health IT, and more." (Rep. Paul Ryan, "Senators Coburn, Burr, And Representatives Ryan, Nunes Offer A Better Path Forward On Health Care Reform," Press Release, 5/20/09)

Congressman Shadegg (R-AZ) Introduced “Improving Health Care for All Americans Act.” “[The bill] takes a radically different approach in contrast to what has been discussed by President Obama as well as Democrats in both chambers. It gives people choice and places American families back in control of their plans and their health care. This legislation will reduce the cost and improve the quality of health care while expanding access and portability.” (Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), “Republicans Introduce: The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act,” Press Release, 7/14/09)

• Tax Credits, Not Government-Run Plan, Will Improve Access. “The bill allows Americans who don’t have employer-sponsored care or those not satisfied with their employer-sponsored plan to buy their own plan on the same tax-advantaged basis their employer enjoys. Americans who pay income taxes get a dollar for dollar reduction in their tax bill up to $2500 for individuals and $5000 per family. Americans who don’t pay income taxes get the same amount from the government to buy a policy of their choice; $2500 for individuals and $5000 per family.” (Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), “Republicans Introduce: The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act,” Press Release, 7/14/09)
  
  
• Insurance Pooling Will Aid Uninsured, Those Unhappy With Current Coverage. “This legislation creates expanded options for the purchase of low-cost health care from new pooling mechanisms. Today, the only health insurance pool available to Americans is their employer’s pool. Americans not in an employer-sponsored pool buy in what is called the ‘individual market.’ The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act dramatically expands the insurance pools Americans can select to join by allowing churches, alumni associations, trade associations and other civic groups to set up new insurance pools and offer affordable health care packages to their members. Instead of having only one group policy to choose from, under this bill, every American will be able to choose from a number of ‘group plans.’ This will make health care more affordable and portable while not locking individuals into staying at a job simply to keep their health coverage. Families should not be forced to choose between leaving their employer and having health care.” (Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), “Republicans Introduce: The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act,” Press Release, 7/14/09)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) Introduced “Health Care Freedom Act Of 2009,” Focusing On Choice, Transparency. “Under the Health Care Freedom Plan, Americans would be able to keep the care they have now, but if they are uninsured or unhappy with their current plan, they could access a voucher to purchase health insurance anywhere in the country. This will create a true, competitive market for health care that will lower costs and increase quality. And it levels the playing field so all Americans – regardless of their employment benefits or employment status -- have the same access to quality health care… The Health Care Freedom Plan will also help bring down overall medical costs by reducing expensive malpractice lawsuits against physicians and hospitals and by adding transparency to the industry. This plan also ensures that Americans with pre-existing health conditions have access to affordable coverage through Federal block grants for state high-risk insurance programs.” (Sen. DeMint, “DeMint Introduces Health Care Freedom Plan,” Press Release, 6/23/09) Read More......

Jobs?

President Obama says, "The Stimulus is working!"
John Boehner, GOP House Leader, asks, "Where are the jobs?" Read More......

GOP Alternative Budget Announced

RECOVERY COUNTDOWN, 3/26/2009, posted by John - President Obama has claimed on several occasions that the Republicans "don't offer an alternative budget." The fact is that they do. The GOP plan costs far less and does more by applying the lessons of economic history:

• Ronald Reagan's response to the deep recession early in his presidency was to cut income tax rates by 25% and lower the capital gains tax rate to 20% from 25%. A massive expansion ensued, extending well beyond his two terms.
• After the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush made across the board income and investment tax rate cuts. The result was well over 8 million new jobs and about 4.5% unemployment for several years.

The GOP plan can be summarized as follows:


Limit the Federal Budget from Growing Faster than Family Budgets
Instead of spending money on wasteful programs under the guise of stimulus and investments, the GOP plan would seek to ensure that the federal budget cannot grow faster than families’ ability to pay the bill.

Provide Universal Access to Health Care and Secure Entitlements
With Democrats trying to sneak their disaterous overhaul of the medical system into law, the GOP offers "tax incentives for millions more working families and small-business owners to obtain access to coverage." The GOP plan would also let people "shop across state lines to purchase affordable policies that best meet their needs."

Lower Taxes
Instead of raising taxes on all Americans in the midst of a recession, the GOP plan replaces history's biggest spending spree with deep tax cuts, an economic jump-starter proven time and again. The plan would establish "a simple and fair tax code with a marginal tax rate for income up to $100,000 of 10%, and 25% for any income thereafter, with a generous standard deduction and personal exemption." Businesses with fewer than 500 employees would get a deduction of 20% of their income, so "these engines of growth will continue to fuel our economic recovery and companies can compete with their foreign counterparts, while keeping jobs here at home."

Keep Energy and Fuel Costs Low
Instead of a new national energy tax that will cost up to $3,128 per household, the GOP plan calls for energy independence with increased development of all our natural resources, including renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

End the Bailouts and Reform the Financial System
Rather than nationalizing the private sector financial system and heaping trillions of dollars of debt on future generations, Republicans want to protect taxpayers and provide a transparent recovery process that does not favor those that have made unsound business decisions. We will ensure that this financial crisis can never occur again.

Keep the Cost of Living Low
Instead of a return to double digit levels of inflation and the failed economic policies of the 1970s, Republicans support maintaining the cost of living after witnessing the booms and busts triggered by loose monetary policy.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) introduced the plan, directly accusing the president’s plan of being "anti-stimulus" and arguing that the GOP plan will "return fiscal sanity" to Washington. The complete alternative budget itself will be unveiled next week by Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI).

House Republicans know that Obama and the democratic congress will not be doing a 180 on economic policy and give the GOP plan serious thought. But they refuse to let the president suggest that adding trillions to the debt of future generations is the only way out of the current situation. Read More......