According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Democrats’ health care proposal includes over $1 trillion in new spending between now and 2019.   The plan includes more than $820 billion in job-killing tax increases on small businesses and families making as little as $18,700 per year over the next decade.   But even these massive new taxes aren’t… Read more

Today’s unemployment insurance (UI) benefit claims data from the U.S. Department of Labor reveals yet another record number of Americans collecting unemployment instead of a paycheck.  For the week ending July 4, the most recent for which we have full State and Federal data, nearly 9.2 million laid off workers collected UI benefits.  As the data below shows, the rise in the number of UI… Read more

With Democrats holding the White House, a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, and a House majority of over 50 seats who’s really holding up healthcare reform?  Do not be fooled by the President’s repeated attempts to create a Republican straw man for his health care troubles.  Here’s a look back at some items that may come in handy before the President addresses the nation on… Read more

Washington, DC – As U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk participates in the 2009 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum’s (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Singapore on July 21 and 22, two House APEC Caucus leaders commented on the importance of the Asia-Pacific region and APEC to the United States and urged the Obama Administration to move ahead with the Trans-Pacific… Read more

We know the House Democrats’ health care bill will increase federal spending “significantly.”  We know it increases taxes by $820 billion despite an unemployment rate fast approaching 10 percent. We know those taxes will be paid by individuals making as little as $10,000 per year, small businesses, and manufacturers.  We also know that over the next 10 years, the House Democrats' bill… Read more

Mayo Clinic’s reaction to House Tri-Committee bill: "Although there are some positive provisions in the current House Tri-Committee bill – including insurance for all and payment reform demonstration projects – the proposed legislation misses the opportunity to help create higher-quality, more affordable health care for patients. In fact, it will do the opposite. "In general, the… Read more

President Obama’s rhetoric about a recession he “inherited” cannot disguise the fact the economy’s performance since his inauguration has only gotten worse.  Despite campaign pledges of fiscal responsibility and job creation, his early achievements, including an $800 billion stimulus bill, have resulted in rapidly growing debt combined with rising unemployment.  Taken together,… Read more

Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf has stated that the House Democrats’ health care bill, “would expand federal spending on health care to a significant degree.”  So much so that despite increasing taxes by $820 billion, in just five short years the Democrats’ planned government takeover of health care starts to increase the federal deficit.  In 10 years, the Democrat… Read more

Washington, DC – Late last night, the Congressional Budget Office announced that the federal deficit will increase by $239 billion as a result of House Democrats’ bill to create a government-run health care plan.  The deficit would begin to skyrocket in just five short years under the Democrat bill despite $820 billion in new taxes to be paid for by individuals making as little as… Read more

Washington, DC – At the conclusion of today’s markup of H.R. 3200 "America's Affordable Health Choices Act" three Democrats voted with all Ways and Means Republicans in opposing a government takeover of our nation’s health care system. The three Democrats voting against the healthcare bill were:  Ron Kind (WI-03), Earl Pomeroy (ND-At Large), and John Tanner (TN-08). ### Read more