Press Releases
Lee Highlights Democrats' 1000 Days of Failure
Jan 23, 2012
The inability of the President and Democratic leadership in the Senate to produce and pass a budget for the American people in nearly three years is a stunning failure. We have gone 1000 days without a blueprint for America's priorities, and it has lead to more irresponsible spending and record-setting annual deficits. Future generations will pay through higher taxes, greater inflation, and diminished prosperity.
Lee Reaffirms Opposition to PROTECT IP Act
Jan 18, 2012
Today, Senator Mike Lee reaffirmed his opposition to the PROTECT IP Act, flawed legislation that would unduly burdened certain online businesses, threaten Internet security, and stifle innovation.
Lee Adds Major General (Ret) Condon as Senior Policy Advisor
Jan 17, 2012
Senator Mike Lee announced the addition of Air Force Major General (Retired) Pat Condon as a senior advisor on military issues. General Condon served on active duty in the Air Force for 33 years, commanding at different times the Air Force Armament Laboratory at Eglin AFB, FL, the Arnold Engineering Development Center at Arnold Air Force Base, TN, and the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Utah’s own Hill AFB. He has also served in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition in the Pentagon and as the Director of Plans and Programs in Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Condon holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Lee Blasts Justification for Recess Appointments
Jan 12, 2012
In the memorandum released today, OLC effectively asserts that the President may unilaterally determine if and when the Senate is in recess for purposes of exercising his recess appointment power. This remarkable and novel assertion breaks with 90 years of historical precedent. Even more disturbing, this conclusion violates the basic separation of government powers enshrined in our Constitution," said Senator Lee, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senators and Congressmen Denounce Obama Administration's decision to Ban Uranium Mining in Northern Arizona
Jan 9, 2012
The American people are desperate for jobs, and our domestic energy industry provides some of the best paying jobs in the western states. However, the President and Interior Secretary Salazar are intent on appeasing their friends in the extreme left wing of the environmentalist movement during an election year by locking up as much land as possible, regardless of the negative effects on our economy. For energy production that has long been safe and responsible, the announcement represents a needless overreaction to a fictitious problem.
Senator Lee Appoints Boyd Matheson as State Director
Jan 6, 2012
Today, Boyd Matheson became the Utah State Director for Senator Mike Lee. Matheson is bringing more than two decades of experience in the business world to the senator’s state operations. He is an exceptional strategist with specialized knowledge in many fields, includingcommunication, leadership, and internal culture development. Since 2005, Matheson has served as president of Trillium Strategies, helping organizations to transform through effective branding, restructuring, and messaging. He will replace outgoing State Director Dan Hauser, who has decided to move on to new opportunities.
Senators Fight Back on Appointments
Jan 6, 2012
Today, Senator Mike Lee joined Senators Charles Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Jon Kyle, Jeff Sessions, Lindsey Graham, John Cornyn, and Tom Coburn in signing a letter addressed to Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the recent appointment of four officials to various positions in the Obama administration. Excerpts of the letter are below.
Senator Lee: Cordray Appointment Shows Disrespect for Constitution
Jan 5, 2012
The President’s decision yesterday to bypass the Senate and make four controversial recess appointments shows an alarming disrespect for Congress and our constitutional system of separation of powers. Article II, Section 2, paragraph 2 of the Constitution provides that such appointments must receive the “Advice and Consent” of the Senate. Article II, Section 2 elsewhere provides that the President may “fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate,” but Presidential practice and Senate precedent has long established that this authority does not extend to brief breaks such as the one used by the President yesterday to make his ill-advised appointments.
Lee Sponsors Bill to Protect American Civil Liberties
Dec 15, 2011
Today, Senator Mike Lee co-sponsored the Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011, which clarifies that a declaration of war or authorization for the use of military force by Congress does not authorize the indefinite detention of American citizens or legal residents who are apprehended in the United States.
Lee Statement on BBA Vote
Dec 14, 2011
Though it was no surprise that getting the requisite two-thirds vote on either amendment was a tough hill to climb, I am shocked that more than sixty percent of the Democrat caucus could not support either version.
