The House Budget Committee Republicans are out today with an analysis identifying the sector in which Democrats want to create jobs. According to the analysis:
Nearly seven months after the President signed his $787-billion economic “stimulus” bill, the U.S. economy continues to shed jobs, and unemployment continues to rise. But at least one sector has managed to grow: the government itself. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has funded about 3,000 government jobs across 14 major agencies, and the Federal workforce overall has expanded by more than 25,000. Several agencies – including the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, the Government Accountability Office, and the Department of Transportation – have made hires just to oversee “stimulus” spending.
In the 1990s, a Republican Congress achieved significant reductions in the Federal civilian workforce, most of them from the defense drawdown following the end of the Cold War. But in recent years, the Democratic Congress has reversed the trend. Since 2006, Federal employment has grown by more than 15 percent – 20.5 percent in non-defense agencies. The pattern is one clear expression of the overall expanse of government that has occurred in the past 3 years and sharply accelerated this year.
Last night, the House adopted a measure introduced by Jack which requires that this year’s Agriculture Appropriations bill be made available online for at least 72 hours before being agreed to by the House.
Rasmussen is out today with a survey showing that 83% of Americans believe all bills should be posted online in their final form before being brought to the floor for a vote. Only 6% of respondents disagreed with this stance.
Congressman calls for same transparency on all legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives this week approved a measure offered by Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) that would require the Agriculture spending bill be made available on the Internet for at least 72 hours before coming to a vote. Citing the overwhelming 359-42 margin by which his motion was passed, Congressman Kingston called for the same standard to be applied to every bill considered by Congress.
“While this bill may stand up to congressional scrutiny, the American people also deserve to know what their elected representatives are doing,” Congressman Kingston said. “In the past year, we’ve seen bills like the ‘Wall Street Bailout,’ the President’s failed economic ‘stimulus’ and ‘Cap and Tax’ rushed through the House with little time for members or the public to read and fully understand what we’re voting on. I think almost everyone would agree with me that allowing members of Congress to read bills isn’t a radical idea.”
Jack met today with Georgia Family Tree Farmers to discuss issues facing forestry such as the estate tax, conservation easement tax incentives, and environmental education. Those attending include Early and Wanda Barrs of Cochran, Lynda Beam of Savannah, May Flowe of Macon, Barbara and Marsha Millar of Waynesboro, Carla Rapp of Forsyth, and Amy Taylor of Valdosta.
Today is the last day of the 2009 fiscal year. According to CBO, the federal government ran a $1.4 trillion deficit through the first eleven months of FY 2009. Revenues are down 16% and outlays are up 19% compared to last year. The federal government will borrow 43 cents for every dollar that it spends in FY 2009. A figure for the total FY 2009 deficit will soon be available, but the most recent estimate available for that figure comes to $1.58 trillion—$1.12 trillion or 244.2% more than last year, which was at that time the highest deficit in U.S. history. Other facts of note on the nation’s fiscal challenges as the 2009 fiscal year ends:
Rising Debt: The national debt now stands at $11.77 trillion. This is a $3.1 trillion or 35.8% increase since the Democrats took over Congress in January 2007 (a period covering only 33 months). That is more debt than the total debt accumulated by the federal government from the 1789 to 1989—the first 200 years of the federal government. In FY 2009 alone, the federal government ran up $1.75 trillion of debt. In addition, to cover this debt, the Treasury has had to auction off several record-setting levels of debt. CBO projects that the national debt will exceed the U.S. economy by 2022.
Social Security and Medicare Outlook Worsens: Medicare and Social Security’s solvency both worsened substantially. Social Security’s total unfunded obligations amount to $15.1 trillion, and Medicare’s amount to $88.9 trillion. As of this year, the date at which the Social Security Trust Fund is projected to be exhausted has moved up four years to 2041 from 2037, while Medicare’s Trust Fund is projected to be exhausted in 2017 (up two years compared to the previous report).
Congress Keeps Spending Money: Since enactment of the $1.1 trillion “stimulus,” (including interest), the Democrats have enacted a $410 billion omnibus, a second $105.8 billion supplemental for FY 2009 (including tens of billions of non-defense spending), and a spending plan for the FY 2010 regular appropriations process that exceeds $1 trillion for only the second time in U.S. history and is $77 billion (7.6%) above last year.
$8.6 Trillion Deterioration in Fiscal Outlook: Since taking over Congress, the Democrats have turned a projected ten-year $800 billion surplus into a projected deficit of $7.8 trillion (over the same period). This is an $8.6 trillion deterioration of the nation’s budget outlook in the 33 months since Democrats took control of Congress.
Just 41% of voters nationwide now favor the health care reform proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down two points from a week ago and the lowest level of support yet measured.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% are opposed to the plan.
Senior citizens are less supportive of the plan than younger voters. In the latest survey, just 33% of seniors favor the plan while 59% are opposed. The intensity gap among seniors is significant. Only 16% of the over-65 crowd Strongly Favors the legislation while 46% are Strongly Opposed.
According to the latest Gallup poll, 53% Americans favor a government which promotes traditional values as opposed to one which promotes no set of values at all.
The percentage of self-described moderates who favor that approach jumped by 12 points.
While hosting health care town halls in Adel and Valdosta, Jack got the chance yesterday to see Ashleigh Kenny again. In case you haven’t read about her yet, liberal blogs launched vicious attacks against Ashleigh after posing in this picture with Jack.
We gave the 21 year old student at Valdosta State University the chance to respond in this post which was picked up by Erick Erickson at RedState. Jack also weighed in with this note.
Pictured above, Ashleigh and Jack pose with the T-Shirt seen ’round the world in front of a billboard which was donated to Ashleigh by one of her many fans.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA), the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, today praised a bipartisan compromise that will allow science to prevail over emotions when it comes to the re-importation of chicken from China.
“All along, our shared goal has been to ensure the safety of food on American grocery shelves,” Congressman Kingston said. “By letting science, rather than emotion, guide our deliberations, we’ve been able to find an agreement that will not only protect the American consumer but removes language which violates the principles of free trade. In doing so, we will maintain a burgeoning market for America’s poultry farmers and relieve pressures on other industries.”
Here are the top 10 facts every American should know about Senator Baucus’ proposed government takeover of health care:
1. Medicare Cuts Mean Reduced Benefits, Fewer Choices for Seniors. The Baucus plan cuts Medicare by nearly $500 billion, slashing coverage millions of seniors depend on. These benefit cuts will ultimately eliminate choices currently enjoyed by seniors today. Doug Elmendorf, the head of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, told the Senate Finance Committee he “expected the Medicare Advantage plans to lose 2.7 million enrollees over the next decade” as a result of the Baucus plan.
2. Individual Mandate Results in Hefty Tax Increase for Millions of Americans. The Baucus plan mandates that every American buy health insurance or pay a hefty new tax to Washington of up to $1,900 per year. This new tax will take another $20 billion hard earned dollars from working families. Especially during a recession, this new tax will place another large burden on the family budget.
3. No Junk Lawsuit Reform to Reduce Health Care Costs. The Baucus plan includes only a “Sense of the Senate” with respect to the very pressing issue of junk lawsuit reform. Seriouschanges are needed to reduce costly,unnecessary defensive medicine practiced by doctorstrying to protect themselves from a feeding frenzy of trial lawyers. The Baucusplan misses an opportunity for real reform. Read the rest of this entry »
