How much welfare is enough?
March 12, 2010
Heritage Foundation: The left plans to continue its assault on welfare reform by extending the welfare spending increases established in last year’s “stimulus” bill. Fortunately, The Heritage Foundation’s welfare expert, Robert Rector, continues to play an important role in the debate.
At a congressional hearing yesterday, Rector was the only witness representing conservative ideas. He was up against Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and his handpicked witnesses, who argued that welfare spending hasn’t increased enough.
Rector, who was chiefly responsible for the groundbreaking welfare reforms of 1996, testified that the U.S. is already expected to spend almost $1 trillion on means-tested (i.e. “welfare”) programs next year. This is roughly a 50 percent increase since fiscal year 2007. The welfare reforms Rector pioneered in the 1990s “led to a dramatic reduction in welfare dependency and child poverty.”
This factoid prompted an interesting exchange between Rep. John Linder (R-GA) and Carmen Nazario of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which has jurisdiction over major welfare programs.
» Watch a video of the exchange
Linder quoted directly from Rector’s testimony and then asked, “Is it your testimony that $953 billion is not enough?” To which the Obama administration witness responded, “Who’s to say what is enough?”
Well, if this is an open invitation, The Heritage Foundation can certainly think of someone to tell the Obama administration witness what’s enough. But, then again, I think he already did.
Great job, Robert Rector!
Who’s to Say What Is Enough? WE DO! Enough!
March 12, 2010
DeMint Irks Republican Party By Going Conservative!
March 12, 2010
It looks like our efforts to stand up to President Obama’s radical agenda and to help elect principled leaders to the U.S. Senate has upset some Washington insiders in both parties.
Here’s the headline from the Politico this morning: “DeMint courts tea party, irks GOP” Click here to read more.
These attacks don’t bother me. I didn’t go to Washington to make friends and so far I haven’t been disappointed. I’m a proud Republican but I’m not going to make excuses for my party when it’s wrong.
Republicans in the House did something very important this week that should be applauded. They unilaterally adopted a one-year moratorium on earmarks, which are routinely used to buy votes for budget-busting spending bills.
Next week, I will force a vote to apply the earmark ban in the Senate to members of both parties. We’ll see who is serious about breaking the addiction to pork that has perverted the purpose of Congress and driven up our national debt.
I believe most of my Republican colleagues will support the ban, but some won’t because they still don’t get it. While they talk about cutting spending and debt, they keep voting for new government programs and against efforts to stop wasteful spending.
Now that voters outside the Beltway are beginning to notice, the Washington establishment is looking for someone to blame. Read the Politico story and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
While the establishment attacks me, it’s you they are afraid of. If Americans remain engaged and continue to hold Washington accountable, the establishment can’t continue with business as usual.
This is why we must rally support for Marco Rubio in Florida, Chuck DeVore in California, Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania, and Michael Williams in Texas. These leaders have all shown that they have what it takes to stand up for conservative principles, even when it’s not popular.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. Together, we will strengthen the U.S. Senate and take back our country.
Sincerely,
United States Senator
Here’s Why California Will Fail!
March 12, 2010
Say What? Program will pay homeowners to sell at a loss
March 11, 2010
This is outrageous. Now we have a government program to pay homeowners to sell at a loss? First they take over an auto company and now they are invading the real estate industry! Crimminal! Time to let the adults run the government again! – FedUpEditor
New York Times -
In an effort to end the foreclosure crisis, the Obama administration has been trying to keep defaulting owners in their homes. Now it will take a new approach: Paying some of them to leave.
To read the full story, please click here.
Support Israel in the Middle East
March 9, 2010
Downsizer Needs Help! Huge CFPA on the Way!
March 9, 2010
Congress wants to establish a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) that will regulate everything from credit cards to mortgages.
House Democrats want the CFPA to be an independent agency, but Republicans are opposed. As a result, Senators Chris Dodd and Bob Corker are thinking of making it an arm of . . . the Federal Reserve!
Both Democrats AND Republicans are missing the point. Only Congress – not unelected bureaucrats – should have power to write and pass laws. Please tell Congress to oppose the creation of the CFPA and tell them to introduce the Write the Laws Act (WTLA) instead.
You may borrow from or copy this letter . . .
I’m upset that Congress is considering the creation of a new regulatory agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). The CFPA would do more harm than good . . .
* it will regulate financial institutions to supposedly protect consumers
* whereas other federal regulators are charged with protecting the health and solvency of these same institutions
* these differing objectives will lead to conflicting regulations
* that will cause harm to both consumers and the industry itselfAnd the CFPA is unnecessary . . .
* existing agencies already have consumer protection powers
* members of Congress claim these agencies haven’t regulated adequately or wisely, HOWEVER
* there’s no evidence that yet another new regulatory body will do any betterYou, the members of Congress, have ultimate responsibility for policy. You can restrain the bureaucrats, and you can give them specific instructions. New bureaucracies are not needed; instead, Congress must assume its Constitutional responsibility for ALL regulations.
Frankly, I do not believe any new regulations are needed. If you abolished the Fed, granted free competition in currency, and allowed free banking, the market would regulate itself according to the demands of the people. But if you are convinced that federal regulations are needed, the least you can do is follow the Constitution!
* the Constitution reserves legislative power – including regulatory power - in YOU, not in unelected bureaucrats
* write specific legislation, with no details left to the bureaucrats
* Executive Branch agencies should be charged only with enforcing regulations, not with writing themI therefore insist that you oppose the creation of the CFPA. Instead, introduce the Write the Laws Act.
A final note: I am particularly insulted by the proposal to make the CFPA an arm of the Federal Reserve. All 317 House members and 32 Senators who co-sponsored the Audit the Fed bills must be insulted, too. Please do everything in you can to prevent the expansion of the Fed’s powers.
END LETTER
You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org’s Educate the Powerful System.
James Wilson
Assistant Communications Director
DownsizeDC.org
Jim Judd for Congress – California 6th District
March 5, 2010
Thoughts on Big Government:
Most people don’t realize the extent to which big government negatively affects us as individuals and as a country. Many of the programs created by our legislators seem compassionate on the surface. But when we look deeper, we see that all these well-meaning entitlements have actually hurt the United States and our economy, not just today, but well into the future. As an example of the “Too Big to Fail” mentality, we see “Big Government’s” continued debt doubling down by propping up private businesses, something our government should not be doing.
Here’s my point. In the 80s, American businesses were getting their butts kicked by Japan in all areas of the private sector; most notably manufacturing and specifically in the automobile industry. Japan was the leader in quality improvements, efficiency, and increased productivity. What happened was a change in corporate attitude by U.S. businesses that led to one of our biggest booms in the 90s, where we set the pace in the free market and broke the back of the Soviet Union as well. Remember that one? To accomplish this boom, government stepped back, allowing business the opportunity to succeed in creating an environment based on confidence. Consumers felt confident, as did investors. And who won?…Americans. Jobs where plentiful and, oh boy, we sure could use those jobs today!
Here’s the other side of the coin. Today we are embroiled in three issues that do not speak to the competitive advantage discussed above, but instead continue down the path to becoming more regulated by government. These sectors are energy, health care and education. All three are resistant to the culture of free market competition and have become heavily regulated by “Big Government”. Take a look at the Energy Department with a budget of $24.7 billion. Are we more reliant on foreign oil or less? Are we any closer to innovative alternative fuels without them being taxpayer subsidized? And what about Government Health Care? What will happen when we see one sixth of our economy in the hands of “Big Government,” running it like Amtrak or the USPS? We have the Department of Education with a $63.5 billion budget. How’s that working for us, or should I say, for our children? These questions beg the obvious. “Big Government” needs to get out of the way and let the free market work in new and innovative ways. Not to do so will never allow Americans to feel the confidence we need (remember I said it earlier) to invest in America and in our future. “Big Government” and big entitlement programs will only lead to a nation of dependence and a culture of government elitism.
It would seem that the business of our government is to create more government. In fact, the only sector that has grown during this recession was the Public Sector, i.e., government jobs. And a USA Today report shows that in one year, six-figure government salaries fast became the norm under this current administration. Remember, government jobs put back into the economy only what is left from the taxes it first has taken out of the economy. Government does not create wealth; the Private Sector is where wealth is truly created. Individuals and businesses, big and small, are pulling the cart. Now, while many of us are figuring out ways to cut back and do with less, our government is riding high and giving itself raises like there is no tomorrow.
People are finally starting to realize that the system is broken, and it is time for someone to fix it before it is too late. We have relied on countless numbers of career politicians to solve these problems, and we still are waiting. Instead of listening to their constituents, they seem to think their jobs are about getting re-elected.
Now is the time to put people in office with real life experience, ones who REALLY know how to create jobs. It is time we stood together and put our trust in some new faces. When I am elected, my pledge is to represent YOU. Partisan politics will be a thing of the past. I will consider each bill on its merit and how it will best benefit the people in my district. I promise to work hard, speak up and change the way things get done in Washington. You have my word.
- Jim Judd
www.JimJuddForCongress.com
Pelosi Wasting our Money!
February 28, 2010
Rep. Barney Frank is CAGW’s 2009 Porker of the Year
February 26, 2010
Note: This is why we need this guy out of office. Scott Brown was able to do it, perhaps Mass. is coming to its senses and will remove his guy? – FedUpEditor
CAGW President Tom Schatz announced the results of the online poll for 2009 Porker of the Year on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on February 2. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, (D-Mass.) finished first in a field of six with 49 percent of the vote. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) came in second at 26.3 percent, while third-place honors went to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) at 6.6 percent. Chairman Frank garnered the lion’s share of the vote as a result of his relentless and garrulous role in the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two mortgage government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), which the federal government took into conservatorship in September, 2008 after they began to collapse and which remain on life support even after an infusion of $112 billion in taxpayer funds. Chairman Frank safeguarded the GSEs’ lavish franchises and fended off any attempts to establish greater oversight even when it became clear that their precarious condition threatened the entire financial system. “The seeds of the GSE meltdown were sown by politicians like Barney Frank,” declared Schatz. Read more about the results of the 2009 Porker of the Year poll.
