Capitol Hill Updates

  • 179 Round Trips to the Moon & 7 Other Things You Could Do in the Time Since Senate Democrats Last Passed a Budget
    Will Senate Democrats ever pass a budget? The last time they tackled “the most basic responsibility of governing” was on April 29, 2009. With the House set to vote on a “no budget, no pay” bill this week, the Speaker’s office has a new graphic showing just some of the things that could have be done in a similar four-year span. For example: The Keystone XL energy project would create thousands of jobs – and you could construct the whole thing, all 1,179 miles of it … twice (if the president stopped blocking it, of course). Need a vacation? How about a cross-country trip from Key...
  • House of Representatives’ Weekly Schedule – Week of 1/21
    THE LEADER'S WEEKLY SCHEDULEWEEK OF JANUARY 21ST MONDAY, JANUARY 21STOn Monday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. No votes are expected in the House. TUESDAY, JANUARY 22NDOn Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. H.R. 307 - Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Suspension, 40 Minutes of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Rogers (MI) / Energy and Commerce Committee) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23RDOn Wednesday, the House...
  • House Majority Whip McCarthy: Senate Must Pass a Budget
    Williamsburg, VA – House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released the following statement regarding the President’s request to raise the debt limit: “During a press conference last week President Obama outlined his plan to deal with the nation’s $16.4 trillion debt and annual deficits topping $1 trillion; it is to simply do nothing. Unfortunately, this is the same approach that Senate Democrats have taken over the last four years in their refusal to offer, let alone pass, a budget. Only the House has met this basic function of governing by passing a budget that tackles the debt...
  • Speaker Boehner: No Budget, No Pay
    WILLIAMSBURG, VA - Following are excerpts of House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) closing remarks as at the House Republican members retreat on Friday, as prepared: “Before there is any long-term debt limit increase, a budget should be passed that cuts spending. The Democratic-controlled Senate has failed to pass a budget for four years.  That is a shameful run that needs to end, this year. “We are going to pursue strategies that will obligate the Senate to finally join the House in confronting the government’s spending problem.  The principle is simple: no budget, no pay...
  • Congressman Price Counters President Obama’s Gun Speech
    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (GA-06) offered the following perspective after President Obama’s recommendations for executive action: “All Americans want our communities to be safe places to live, learn, work and play.  As we review how best to prevent mass shootings and the loss of innocent lives we should make a robust analysis of America’s mental health system a priority.  A proper diagnosis and comprehensive treatment are critical to ensure we are identifying indicators of violent behavior that may lead to horrific crimes.  To do otherwise...
  • Fitch: Cut Spending or Risk Credit Rating Downgrade
    President Obama says “America cannot afford another debate” over the debt limit. In one respect he’s right, the debate is over – we need to cut spending. Fitch Ratings made it clear on Wednesday that America’s national debt is undermining our economy, and that raising the debt limit without making serious spending cuts and reforms could result in another credit downgrade for the United States: “The United States risks losing its AAA credit rating from Fitch if any deal to raise the legal borrowing limit does not include a plan to put public finances on a more sustainable footing...
  • Committee Leaders Announce Plan to Review Range of Programs to Better Understand What Can Be Done To Prevent Tragedies Like Newtown
    WASHINGTON, DC – House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA) today announced that the oversight subcommittee would spearhead the committee’s examination of a range of programs and issues within its jurisdiction, including mental health, that have been raised in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut, tragedy. The subcommittee expects to hear from the nation’s leading experts on mental health and illness including those leading research efforts in federal agencies as part of the ongoing national...
  • If It Sounds Too Good to Be True…
    Obamacare Premium Shock May Lead Administration to Reach Beyond Legal Authority  WASHINGTON, DC – We are all familiar with the age-old saying, “if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Surely, the notion of more health care spending for a lower cost sounds a little too good, so it’s no surprise that this central premise of Obamcare is being proven not to be true – not even close. In fact, many health care experts and insurers are concerned that, far from reducing costs, the law will lead to huge premium increases across the country. On Monday, Politico reported...
  • Daily House of Representatives’ Schedule - 1/15/13
    TUESDAY, JANUARY 15TH On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business. First votes expected: 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. Last votes expected: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Reading of the Constitution of the United States by Members of the House of Representatives  (Sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte) One Minute Speeches H.R. 152 - Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (Structured Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Hal Rogers / Appropriations Committee) The rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments: Rep. Hal Rogers Amendment in the...
  • RSC Chairman Scalise reacts to President Obama's press conference
    Washington, D.C. – Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today released the following statement after President Obama’s press conference. “President Obama seems to be the only person in Washington who threatens default on America's debt obligations,” Scalise said.   “The President has an obligation to preserve the credit rating of the United States, and hitting the debt ceiling does not immediately trigger a default unless his administration fails to do its job and prioritize our debt payments.  Default is not an option unless President Obama and his...