Friday, January 31, 2014
Rep. Joe Pitts: No reason for Obama to bypass Congress
By Congressman Joe Pitts
When
you go home from work after a long day, do you take a bumpy road that
takes additional miles and time? Of course not, you take the most
direct, fastest route even if there are some lights
and traffic. Why go out of your way when all you want to do is get
home?
In
Washington, the direct route to getting something done is through
Congress. There’s good reason why the President travels down
Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol to lay out his priorities.
Because without changes to the law, the proposals would be written in
the sand of executive order and regulation.
Every
President wants a lasting legacy, solutions that stand the test of
time. When President Obama signs an executive order, that is a promise
that may not last even the duration of his own
presidency. These orders don’t have the force of law. They are much
more likely to be struck down by a court and they can be undone by
another executive order.
I
understand that the President is frustrated that his big-ticket items
aren’t going to go through a Republican-led House, but that shouldn’t
prevent us from working together on things we agree
on. In his State of the Union address, the President announced at least
three proposals that could get bipartisan support. Why go around when
we can work together?
The
first proposal that could easily get through Congress is reform of
federal job training proposals. There are roughly 20 million Americans
who are unemployed or underemployed right now.
In our fast moving economy, workers have to continue developing their
skills over a lifetime. Federal job training programs are supposed to
ensure that no one gets left behind.
Unfortunately,
federal job training programs have become duplicative and bureaucratic.
There are over 50 separate programs now and duplication of effort may
be wasting as much as $18 billion
annually. Workers find themselves having to jump through a number of
hoops before they become eligible.
In
the State of the Union address, the President asked Vice President
Biden to conduct a review of job training programs and called on
Congress to help. The President however, is late to the
game. The Republican budget called for consolidation of job training
programs three years ago. Last year, the House passed the SKILLS Act
that streamlines 30 separate programs into a new, single fund. This bill
has been sitting in the Senate for nearly a year.
There’s
no need for further review when the Government Accountability Office
already studied this issue in depth. We don’t need a duplicative study
to get rid of duplicative programs.
In
his address, the President also called for cutting red tape to bring
more natural gas plants online. Republicans agree that we should take
more advantage of a clean-burning natural resource.
In fact, we passed the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act last
fall with bipartisan support.
New
plants can’t be built without safe, efficient pipelines. Again, the
Senate has not acted on this bill, even though it had support from 26
Democrats. If the President acts without authority
from Congress, it is far more likely that radical environmental groups
will stop any progress with lawsuits. We should work together to bring
more clean energy online sooner.
The
President also called for additional research into vaccines and cures
for disease. The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act would
eliminate public funding for the Democratic and Republican
national conventions and instead fund pediatric research at the
National Institutes of Health.
The
bill passed with a veto-proof majority in the House. Just like the
other two proposals I’ve discussed, this bill is sitting in the Senate.
We can immediately move $13 million a year into
research just by agreeing that the American taxpayer shouldn’t pay for
political events.
The
President also proposed a new investment product for low-income
Americans, the MyRA. For years, I’ve been working to pass legislation to
create individual development accounts to help low-income
workers save for the future. I’m sure there are others in Congress who
would work with the President to establish this new investment vehicle in law.
U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts is a Republican who represents Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Joe Biden's $115,777 taxpayer funded Aspen ski
Judicial Watch has obtained documents showing how the American taxpayer picked up the tab for Joe Biden's expensive ski weekend.
Biden Presidents’ Weekend 2014 | Judicial Watch
Biden Presidents’ Weekend 2014 | Judicial Watch
Emails expose close coordination between EPA, liberal environmental groups
You wanted proof that Obama has turned over the EPA to radical environmentalists?
Emails expose close coordination between EPA, Sierra Club and other liberal environmental activist groups | WashingtonExaminer.com
Emails expose close coordination between EPA, Sierra Club and other liberal environmental activist groups | WashingtonExaminer.com
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Report: AOL's Patch May Be Dismantled
An ambitious plan to create online news sites to compete with newspaper websites has failed. AOL is pulling the plug on Patch after losing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Report: AOL's Patch May Be Dismantled | NetNewsCheck.com
Report: AOL's Patch May Be Dismantled | NetNewsCheck.com
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Under Obama, U.S. in retreat as a global power
We have China building a huge Naval force in the Pacific. We have Iran sending warships into the Atlantic. The U.S. is in retreat as a global power under Barack Obama.
China encroaching on U.S. military dominance in Pacific, says top admiral - Washington Times
China encroaching on U.S. military dominance in Pacific, says top admiral - Washington Times
Top 10 most dangerous jobs for US workers
You would think being a police officer or firefighter would be the riskiest profession, but they're not. Click on the link below to see the 10 jobs where you are most likely to lose your life.
Top 10 most dangerous jobs in the US | Finances Online™
Top 10 most dangerous jobs in the US | Finances Online™
Editorial: Voter ID should not be abandoned in Pa.
Thirty-three other states have Voter ID laws on the books. Why should a Democratic judge stop Pennsylvania from preventing voter fraud? Gov. Corbett is urged to appeal a judge's ruling that derailed Pennsylvania's Voter ID law before it began.
The Voter ID ruling: Try again
The Voter ID ruling: Try again
Monday, January 20, 2014
Guest Column: Healthcare.gov lacks security and transparency
By Congressman Joe Pitts
Shortly
before Christmas, during the midst of the busy shopping season, hackers
stole 40 million credit card numbers from Target. The same hack yielded
70 million records
for customers’ phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and home addresses.
High-end department store chain Neiman Marcus got hit by a similar
attack. Some of their customers reported fraudulent charges on their
cards.
Identity
theft is a huge and growing problem. According to the Department of
Justice, more than 16 million Americans were hit with identity theft in
2012. Financial losses totaled more than
$24 billion in that year.
The
vast majority of victims find out that their identity has been
compromised because a financial institution has informed them. If a
consumer doesn’t get informed promptly, the damage can
be significant. Half of people who took more than six months to get
their identity theft cleared up reported facing severe emotional
distress.
Perhaps
the worst part of identity theft is that the victim usually wasn’t
doing anything risky. In 2014, almost everyone uses a debt or credit
card at the cash register.
This
year, Americans are for the first time required by law to have health
insurance. To meet the requirements of Obamacare, that has to be a
government-approved plan. Whether you sign up for
a plan through a navigator, or on the phone, or by paper, the
application is entered onto the website. Tens of millions of Americans,
even if they didn’t buy a plan, submitted personal information to
Healthcare.gov and other state sites.
Most
people know what a disaster Healthcare.gov has been. Most users
couldn’t get through their application without it crashing until the
beginning of December. According to testimony given
in Congress in the last week, parts of the website hidden from
consumers are still being worked on. The government recently chose not
to renew the contract of the lead website designer, CGI Federal.
In
some of the states, their own website projects have been even more of a
disaster. Oregon’s site has never been functional and all applications
are being processed on paper by hand. Massachusetts
also hired CGI Federal to construct their website and is now thinking
about suing the company. Maryland has faced a host of problems and the
site is now an issue in the Democratic primary for governor with
accusations being traded between the candidates. The
executive director of Minnesota’s site resigned after it was discovered
that she went on a tropical vacation as the website was down for
repairs.
With
all these problems, there are tremendous concerns that the sites lack
proper security controls. Shortly before the website went live, one
federal official refused to sign the security
statement believing that there was a great risk of endangering personal
information.
Even
systems thought to be secure face new and exotic attacks. A relatively
new system full of glitches and sloppy fixes is even more at risk. At
the beginning of the year, I introduced legislation
to require the government to alert individuals if their personal
information has been stolen or inadvertently disclosed. Whenever there
is a breach, the Department of Health and Human Services would have two
business days to alert consumers.
This
bill passed the House with overwhelming support from both Republicans
and Democrats. With 291 yes votes, the bill had a veto-proof majority.
The
House followed this up the next week by passing a bill introduced by my
colleague Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) that would require the government to
give weekly reports of basic information about
the website. This would include information on problems and glitches
facing website users. This bill also passed with 33 Democrats supporting
it.
Despite
promises, the Obama administration has been anything by transparent,
especially when it comes to Obamacare. In the more than three months
that the website has been up, they have only
provided basic data three times. That is unacceptable considering how
easy it would be to provide it to Congress and the public more
regularly.
The
American people have a right to know what is going on with
Healthcare.gov and other exchange websites. Security and transparency
have to be priorities when personal information is being
stored in government databases.
###
US Rep. Joe Pitts is a Republican who represents Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District, which includes parts of Berks, Chester and Lancaster counties.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Pro-Life People 'Have No Place in the State of New York'
When it comes to abortion, not-so-tolerant liberals like N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo have no room for anyone who believes in the sanctity of human life.
Check out this statement from Chiaroscuro Foundation President Greg Pfundstein on Gov. Cuomo's remarks about anyone who opposes abortion:
"Governor Cuomo's suggestion Friday that pro-life New Yorkers 'have no place in the state of New York' reflects a perverted view of the abortion issue and it raises significant questions that the governor needs to address. Just which New Yorkers have no place? Is it the 35% of New York Democrats who call themselves pro-life? Or the 76% of New Yorkers who favor requiring parental notification before a minor receives an abortion? Are these the New Yorkers Governor Cuomo is talking about?
"Is it the Ninety-two percent (92%) of New Yorkers who oppose gender selection abortions, which Governor Cuomo's abortion expansion bill would allow up until birth? How about the 75% of New Yorkers who oppose allowing people who are not doctors to perform abortions?
Andrew Cuomo: Pro-Life People 'Have No Place in the State of New York'
"What about the 72% of New York Democrats who favor a 24 hour waiting period before an abortion? Or the 74% of pro-choice New Yorkers who agree with them?"
Friday, January 17, 2014
Pennsylvania voter ID law struck down by activist judge
Dead voters all over Philadelphia are rejoicing today. A two-year-old law designed to prevent voter fraud has been rule unconstitutional by an activist judge in Pennsylvania.
One Democratic judge overturns a law passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor. Shameful.
Pennsylvania voter ID law struck down | TheHill
One Democratic judge overturns a law passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor. Shameful.
Pennsylvania voter ID law struck down | TheHill
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Bible ban: Wisconsin university system removes book from campus center rooms
Christianity is under attack in the US, especially at colleges and universities.
Bible ban: Wisconsin university system removes book from campus center rooms - Washington Times
Bible ban: Wisconsin university system removes book from campus center rooms - Washington Times
Study: Florida's Alan Grayson Congress' Least Valuable Player
Found: The worst member of Congress ... and there was plenty of competition for the dubious title.
Study: Alan Grayson Congress' Least Valuable Player
Study: Alan Grayson Congress' Least Valuable Player
Poll: Despite MSM Hype, Christie Story Attracts Little Public Interest
The mainstream media has been foaming at the mouth over the so-called "bridgegate" scandal involving NJ Gov. Chris Christie, but a new Pew Research poll finds that public opinion of Christie has changed little despite round-the-clock coverage by the media.
Christie Story Attracts Little Public Interest
Christie Story Attracts Little Public Interest
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Chester County Democrat to run for Gerlach Congressional seat
The problem with switching parties right before you run for office is that alienate potential supporters from both parties. Republicans won't vote for this guy because he registered as a Democrat in December and Democrats won't vote for him because he was previously a Republican.
Malvern Democrat to run for Gerlach seat
Malvern Democrat to run for Gerlach seat
Monday, January 13, 2014
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
Don't blame the weather for the dreadful December job report
It's not the weather, it's Obama's failed economic policies.
Don't blame the weather for the dreadful December job report
Don't blame the weather for the dreadful December job report
Congress Is Now Mostly A Millionaires' Club
The majority of members of Congress are now millionaires. And you think they're looking out for you?
Congress Is Now Mostly A Millionaires' Club
Congress Is Now Mostly A Millionaires' Club
Poll: 1 in 5 Dems oppose Obamacare
New year, same old problems with the Obamacare fiasco.
From Investor's Business Daily:
From Investor's Business Daily:
One in five Democrats now opposes ObamaCare, a record high, according to the latest IBD/TIPP Poll. And more than one in six Democrats now say they want it repealed, another new high.
Overall, 55% of the public oppose the law, the highest since IBD/TIPP started asking this question in 2010. Just 37% support ObamaCare, matching a record low.
And while support for outright repeal of the law inched down in January, that was because it fell among Republicans and independents. Among Democrats, support for repeal jumped 4 points.
ObamaCare is also clearly driving down President Obama's approval rating, which dropped to just 38% in January from 43% in November. Among Democrats, Obama's approval has dropped 10 points since November.Read the full editorial at the newspaper's website.
Thursday, January 09, 2014
13,000 illegals apply for Maryland driver's licenses
If you're in this country illegally, how seriously are you going to take motor vehicle laws?
13K illegals apply for Maryland driver's licenses | RedState
13K illegals apply for Maryland driver's licenses | RedState
George Will: Liberalism by gesture
Terrific column by George Will:
Liberalism by gesture
The next item on Gesture Liberalism's agenda is to raise the minimum wage. Less than 3 percent of the workforce earns the minimum; more than 60 percent of those get a raise within a year; more than half are students or other part-time workers from households with average incomes of $53,000. Never mind. Raising the minimum is a gesture of devotion to "equality."Read the full column at the link below:
Liberalism by gesture
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
92% of Pregnant Women at Planned Parenthood Get Abortions
Abortion-factory Planned Parenthood using the word "parenthood" in its name is insulting to women.
92% of Pregnant Women at Planned Parenthood Get Abortions
92% of Pregnant Women at Planned Parenthood Get Abortions
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Former Defense Chief Gates unloads on Obama, Biden, Clinton
To hear former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates tell it, the Democratic leadership triumvirate of Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton resemble The Three Stooges when it comes to foreign policy and defense issues.
Gates unloads on Obama | TheHill
Gates unloads on Obama | TheHill
Shocking Survey: Liberals Don't Think Much of Top-Rated Fox News
A bunch of liberal TV news directors were asked to rank the "journalistic quality" of the major television news divisions. Here's a surprise: the liberals who populate most newsrooms don't like Fox News, even though it is the top-rated news channel.
More So-So Report Cards For National News
More So-So Report Cards For National News
'War on Poverty' a $15 trillion failure by Democrats
On Jan. 8, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared an "unconditional war on poverty in America."
Here we are 50 years later and Washington has spent $15 trillion and created hundreds of new government programs, but the US has officially lost the war on poverty. And thanks to Barack Obama's failed policies, poverty is on the rise again.
Check out Cal Thomas' assessment of where we went wrong ...
Cal Thomas: We must rethink the 'War on Poverty's' $15 trillion failure
Here we are 50 years later and Washington has spent $15 trillion and created hundreds of new government programs, but the US has officially lost the war on poverty. And thanks to Barack Obama's failed policies, poverty is on the rise again.
Check out Cal Thomas' assessment of where we went wrong ...
Cal Thomas: We must rethink the 'War on Poverty's' $15 trillion failure
Monday, January 06, 2014
Guess who's helping pay for President Obama's generous birthday gift for his wife?
Nothing but the best ... courtesy of taxpayers ... for America's royal family.
Now let's get back to that "income inequality" His Royal Highness Barack Obama keeps mentioning.
'I didn’t agree to get her that': Guess who's helping pay for President Obama's generous birthday gift for his wife
