Capitol Hill Updates

  • Sen. Marco Rubio Delivers the Republican Address to the Nation
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will deliver the Republican Address to the Nation following the State of the Union address.  Following are excerpts from Senator Rubio's address: "This opportunity – to make it to the middle class or beyond no matter where you start out in life – it isn’t bestowed on us from Washington.  It comes from a vibrant free economy where people can risk their own money to open a business. And when they succeed, they hire more people, who in turn invest or spend the money they...
  • Four Questions About Tonight's State of the Union
    When a rash of reports came out saying that President Obama was going to “pivot” back to the economy in tonight’s State of the Union, it all raised eyebrows – we’ve seen this one before.  (Many times.)  It also, of course, raised hopes that perhaps the president, at the start of his new term, could seize this opportunity to focus on a credible plan for tackling our jobs and spending challenges.  As a matter of fact, Americans are “eager to hear” him do exactly that.  With that in mind, here are four questions ahead of tonight’s speech: 1)    ...
  • GOP Leader McConnell: Will the President have a serious plan tonight—or just another campaign speech?
    ‘I also hope the President will use the big stage he’ll have tonight to finally level with the American people about the consequences of ObamaCare. They deserve to know what’s about to hit them – the cost increases, the premium hikes, the taxes. And they deserve to know that not only may they not be able to keep the health plan they like, but that CBO tells us there will also be fewer jobs. I know those things won’t be easy for him to say. But that’s what it means to be a statesman; to be honest with the people you represent; to admit when something doesn’t turn out the way you said...
  • House of Representatives’ Schedule - 2/12/13
    TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12THOn Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. The House will recess no later than 5:30 p.m. to allow a security sweep of the House Chamber prior to the President's State of the Union address. The House will meet again at approximately 8:35 p.m. for the purpose of receiving, in a joint session with the Senate, the President of the United States. No votes are expected. One Minute Speeches Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules: 1) H.R. 267 - Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 (...
  • Statement by Speaker Boehner on Announcement by Pope Benedict XVI
    WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement regarding the decision announced today by Pope Benedict XVI: "The prayers and gratitude of American Catholics are with Pope Benedict XVI today.  The Holy Father's decision displays extraordinary humility and love for the Church, two things that have been the hallmarks of his service.  Americans were inspired by his visit to the United States in 2008, and by his quiet, steady leadership of the Church in uncertain times.  People of all nations have been blessed by the sacrifices he has made...
  • Weekly House of Representatives’ Schedule – 2/11/13
    THE LEADER'S WEEKLY SCHEDULEWEEK OF FEBRUARY 11TH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11THOn Monday, the House is not in session. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12THOn Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. The House will recess no later than 5:30 p.m. to allow a security sweep of the House Chamber prior to the President's State of the Union address. The House will meet again at approximately 8:35 p.m. for the purpose of receiving, in a joint session with the Senate, the President of the United States. No votes are expected. Legislation Considered Under...
  • White House Outlines Devastating Consequences of President Obama’s Sequester
    The White House released a detailed report on Friday outlining the consequences of the sequester proposed by and insisted on by President Obama. But the question remains: what is President Obama willing to DO to prevent it?  Republicans agree the sequester is the wrong way to cut spending, and agree the consequences are harmful.  That’s why Republicans have twice passed legislation to replace it with common sense cuts and reforms.  But without a plan to prevent his sequester, the president is out of excuses.  Here below, from the White House itself, are some of...
  • Senate Democrats Struggling With the President’s Sequester? Here Are Some Options
    We read this morning that “Senate Democrats are struggling to come up with a replacement for the $85 billion spending-cut sequester set to begin on March 1.”  Since the sequester was President Obama’s idea to begin with, and Democrats already got the tax hikes they wanted last month, here are a few friendly thoughts on actions they could take to protect our national defense and balance things out: Pass the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act (HR. 5652), which the House passed in May 2012.  The bill replaces the president’s...
  • Congressman Fred Upton calls to repeal medical device excise tax in wake of Stryker Corp. layoffs
    Congressman Fred Upton is renewing his call to repeal the 2.3 percent excise tax on U.S. medical device sales that took effect in January as part of the Affordable Care Act.Upton – a cosponsor of the bipartisan Protect Medical Innovation Act (H.R. 523) to repeal the medical device tax – reintroduced the bill to the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. Similar legislation to repeal the device tax passed the House last summer by a bipartisan vote of 270 to 146, but was never considered by the Senate.Upton points to layoffs at Stryker Corp. as an example of how the tax is...
  • Senate GOP Leader McConnell: Take Advantage of Divided Government to Solve our Economic Challenges
    ‘The election is over. The time to govern is now – to make divided government work for the American people, who chose it. We owe Americans action, not rhetoric. We owe it to the millions of college graduates out of work. We owe it to the strivers who find themselves still living in their parents’ basements. They’re all counting on us to enact real, bipartisan solutions – solutions that can get our economy moving again today and that can ensure greater prosperity tomorrow. Is Washington up to the task? Republicans are. And we’re still here, ready to work with the President as soon as...