RSC Update: Monday, June 29, 2009
From the Chairman
Last Friday, the House of Representatives voted 219-212 in favor of a 1,200+ page bill that surely no Member of Congress could have fully read in the short time it was available prior to the vote. Democrat leaders continued their now well-established practice of backroom deal making by filing a 300-page amendment after 3 a.m. The House began consideration of the legislation less than six hours later.
The Waxman-Markey climate legislation, a National Energy Tax that will have a devastating effect on the economy while having almost no effect on global temperatures, contained 397 regulations and 1,060 government mandates. This so-called cap-and-trade proposal threatens to cost American families more than $3,000, raise energy bills by $1,500 a year, and reduce employment by more than a million jobs. President Obama himself has said, “Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” Furthermore, this National Energy Tax will force many businesses to relocate, outsource jobs overseas, or even close their doors altogether.
Our economy continues to struggle under the burden of Washington’s unrestrained addiction to spending, debt, and harmful government policies. Instead of a National Energy Tax, I continue to support the American Energy Innovation Act, an all-you-can-create energy plan. By relying on innovation, conservation, and production we can create a 21st century clean energy economy. If you know someone that wants to join our fight, please have them join us at http://rsc.price.house.gov/.
Thanks for your support!
Sincerely,
Congressman Tom Price
Chairman, Republican Study Committee
RSC Media Activity
Every week, Republican Study Committee members work hard to ensure that the conservative viewpoint is well-represented in all corners of the media.
· Rep. Buck McKeon (CA-25): Start by Defeating Job-Killing Measures Such as Card-Check; The Hill, June 24.
· Chairman Tom Price (GA-06): A Dangerous Solution; USA Today, June 25.
· Rep. Aaron Schock (IL-18) and Rep. Phil Roe (TN-01): Never Meant as a Door to U.S.; The Washington Times, June 25.
· Rep. Paul Broun (GA-10): ‘Cap-and-Trade’ Bill Will Cripple Economy; Athens Banner-Herald, June 25.
· Minority Whip Eric Cantor (VA-07): Obama’s Conflicting Signals; National Review, June 26.
RSC Legislative Activity
RSC members have made it a priority to introduce productive, conservative alternatives to the Democrats’ reckless agenda.
· Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the RSC Sunset Caucus, introduced two bills that seek to eliminate federal programs that currently use taxpayer dollars. The first bill would terminate taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns, and the second would prohibit the use of public funding for political party conventions. Click here to send the Sunset Caucus your own suggestions for programs to target for elimination.
· Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-03), a co-chairman of the RSC Sunset Caucus, introduced a bill to eliminate the federal subsidy for mohair. Mohair subsidies were originally authorized to help hold down the cost of military uniforms, but the military has not used mohair in their uniforms since the Korean War. Eliminating the subsidy will save taxpayers $28 million dollars annually.
· Rep. Mike Turner (OH-03) has introduced a Constitutional amendment to preserve capitalism in America. It would: Prohibit the acquisition of any stock or equity interests; Preserve the right to provide loans to private enterprise or to acquire equity interests in the following only: To any public authority corporations, or To any public use corporations, or As investments by any government pension fund.
House Floor Activity
The following key legislation came through the House of Representatives last week.
· Speaker Pelosi and Democrat leaders narrowly forced a National Energy Tax through the House last week by a vote of 219 to 212. The Waxman-Markey so-called cap-and-trade legislation could cost American families more than $3,000 in new taxes a year, raise energy bills by $1,500 a year, and reduce employment by more than a million jobs.
· House Democrats continued to push huge domestic spending increases while shortchanging national defense and homeland security as the House passed the Homeland Security Appropriations Act, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2010, and the Interior and Environment Appropriations Act. While the Interior and Environment bill included a 17% spending increase, the Defense Authorization and Homeland Security bills received only marginal additional funding.
Outlook
Here is a preview of upcoming Democrat proposals to advance their big-government, anti-taxpayer agenda.
· The House of Representatives is scheduled to be out of session until Tuesday, July 7. The debate over health care reform continues, however, and the danger of a government takeover of health care remains a serious threat.
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House Republican Study Committee
Rep Tom Price, M.D., Chairman
Paul Teller, Executive Director
Brad Watson, Policy Director
Natalie Farr, Professional Staff
Emily Henehan, Professional Staff
Bruce “Fez” Miller, Professional Staff
Jonathan Day, Director of Member Services and Business Outreach
Alex Shively, Director of Conservative Coalitions
Brendan Buck, Communications Director
Brian Straessle, Deputy Communications Director
Curtis Rhyne, Staff Assistant
424 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 226-9717
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