Good morning folks,

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. After Democrats spent $787 billion in stimulus to keep unemployment under 8%, its mind boggling to watch them make the same sales pitch for “Stimulus II” as unemployment creeps toward 10.5%.

Now on to the news ...

Good morning folks,

Next week in a prime time setting, which the President and his team seem to prefer, the President will announce his decision about the next step forward in Afghanistan to our military forces, their families, and the American people. Mr. President, you were right, the war in Afghanistan is one of necessity. It's time to give our troops the resources the commanders believe they need to successfully complete their mission.

Now on to the news …

All,

This afternoon the Administration said that the Democrats’ trillion dollar plus health care overhaul is the answer to getting our nation's fiscal house in order. Really? This is just the latest sign of an Administration that will put its goals, regardless of the cost, above the will of the American people. 

NYC Trial Of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Represents Failure Of Judgment
The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Rep. Eric Cantor
November 22, 2009 

WASHINGTON The Obama administration has elected to try 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a civilian court just a few blocks from New York City's Ground Zero. The decision has left millions of Americans bewildered as to why we would not prosecute him in a military tribunal.

The administration portrays the move as a pain-free step forward for America's image around the world. But treating terrorism as if it were a matter of domestic law enforcement is more accurately a step backward that only invites pain. Any marginal benefits in world popularity must be weighed against the risks to national security and legal complications that will arise by importing suspected foreign terrorists and affording them the same rights as U.S. citizens who commit crimes.

Most importantly, suspected terrorists will be able to force the government to make public all evidence used against them. In the 1993 World Trade Center bombing trial -- handled in federal court -- the government had to disclose its list of 200 suspected terrorist co-conspirators. The federal prosecutor who handled the case, Andrew McCarthy, says the list was delivered within days to Osama bin Laden, who gained a window into U.S. intelligence strategies and found out which terrorists were compromised.

The latest Gallup Poll reinforces what other recent polls have shown, that the American people don’t agree with the direction that the Administration is taking the country. Whether it is a nearly $800 billion dollar failed stimulus plan, a job killing national energy tax, a $210 billion deficit spending doc fix, or a trillion dollar government takeover of health care, Americans are losing hope in this Administration’s approach.

Background:

Fox News-Opinion Dynamics: “FOX News Polls Shows Obama Approval At New Low.”

Rasmussen Reports: “Matches The Lowest Approval Index Rating Yet Recorded For This President.”

Quinnipiac University: “Obama Approval Dips Below 50% For First Time.”

Public Policy Polling: “Barack Obama's Approval Rating Has Dropped Below 50% For The First Time.”

Good morning folks,

As Republicans continue to offer responsible solutions to jump start the economy and get Americans back to work, Democrats continue to offer nothing but rhetoric. True to form, Democrats are pushing for higher taxes to pay for traditional liberal programs that will stifle small businesses and increase the role of government … all while hard working families watch their futures mortgaged with record deficits.

Now on to the news …
 

Americans have had enough with the Democrats’ wasteful spending and record setting deficits. Today, the House Republican Conference showed that we are listening to the American people — and earning back our mantle as the party of fiscal responsibility.

The Republican Whip team worked hand-in-hand with Republican doctors for over a month and coordinated with multiple committee Ranking Members and their staff to develop a fully paid for alternative. The Republican alternative compensates doctors appropriately while ensuring that seniors have access to the care they need without increasing the deficit.

The key to opposing reckless Democrat legislation is to offer a credible alternative as Republicans have done with every piece of major legislation this year. This is the latest example of Republicans coalescing around a common-sense solution that stands in sharp contrast to the Democrat Majority’s spend now, pay later approach.

Today’s Democrat ‘Doc Fix’ Bill (which adds $210 to the deficit) passed 243-183
Breakdown: R-1-172 – D-242-11

Point Of Reference:

Last Year’s ‘Doc Fix’ Bill passed 355-59
Breakdown: R 129-59 – D-226-0
 

Please take a look at the news release from the Democrat Majority Leader.

Americans didn’t need more proof that Democrats are completely out of touch with the challenges faced by American families and small businesses, but today Speaker Pelosi and her team have really outdone themselves. It’s understandable that Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats are panicked after having blown up the deficit to alarming levels while the economy continues to hemorrhage jobs. Speaker Pelosi may like to brag about the Democrats’ accomplishments, but the three million workers and their families who have lost their jobs are not about to congratulate Democrats for wasting $787 billion from the taxpayer’s wallet.

Leader Hoyer’s statement that, “….Republicans have been playing catch-up and trying to decide what they stand for,” and “Democrats have been working around the clock to create jobs and grow the economy” is beyond ludicrous. First, Americans can rest assured that Republicans are not “playing catch-up” to policies that have created the highest unemployment rate in decades and record deficits that place an alarming burden on our children and grandchildren. Second, and more importantly, if working around the clock produces results like these, the majority of Americans would prefer that Democrats simply stop working. 

Good morning folks,

While the President talks about the dangers of increasing the deficit, Democrats in the House today will offer a “doc fix” that adds over $200 billion to the deficit. We doubt the President will warn them of the dangers of their actions, but would welcome some consistency. Perhaps the senior minds in the West Wing believe that though the President and his party continue to drive up the deficit to alarming levels, as long as he says they’re concerned, that’s enough for the American people. We believe otherwise. Today Republicans will offer a “doc fix” alternative that doesn’t add to the deficit. Another day, another contrast - serious problems require serious solutions, not lofty rhetoric and little action.

Republican Leaders and GOP Doctors will hold a stakeout press avail on the “doc fix” at 10 am. This afternoon, Mr. Cantor and the Republican Economic Solutions Group will hold a press avail at 1 pm regarding jobs and economy in H-307.

Now on to the news …
 

Since President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader Reid forced their “stimulus” through Congress, over 3 million jobs have been lost. The President’s budget racked up more debt than the previous 43 Presidents combined, the Speaker forced House Democrats to vote for a job killing national energy tax, and most recently, House Democrats passed a trillion dollar health care bill that raises taxes, increases health care costs, and spends another trillion dollars that we do not have. Republicans have voted against the Democrats’ failed policies while at the same time offering proven job-creating legislation every step of the way. Our ideas to reinvigorate the economy and create jobs include: tax relief for working families; help for America's small businesses; assistance for the unemployed and a plan to stabilize home values.

Over a trillion dollars spent later, Democrats now say they want to focus on jobs. They are calling for a ‘do over’ on their first stimulus by talking about another stimulus bill that we fear will again increase the deficit and not create jobs. Strangely, President Obama told the Associated Press that job creation is not the goal of his jobs forum on December 3. Well, it should be.

Democrats continue to show the American people just how out of touch they are with the reality faced by small businesses and working families. People across this country are tired of Washington getting in the way of job creation. Want businesses to start hiring? Democrats should stop threatening them with massive tax hikes. Worried about continued unemployment? Democrats should stop talking about job killing energy taxes in their cap & trade bill. Think that Washington should focus on jobs? Democrats should stop wasting month after month arguing amongst themselves over a health care plan that families, workers, and seniors in this country don’t support.

Tomorrow afternoon, the House Economic Recovery Solutions group will meet again to continue to develop real common-sense solutions to the economic challenges facing our nation. Republicans have been focused on small business job creators, working families, and fixing our economy from day one. And time and again, Democrats have taken a “my way or the highway” approach. And that approach has not only failed to create jobs, but has blown up the deficit to alarming levels. We would welcome Democrats finally joining us to help get Americans back to work – if they do so in a responsible manner.

Serious problems require serious solutions, not public relations tours, press events, and empty “jobs bills” that focus more on titles than substance. The majority simply doesn’t get it.