Lee Introduces Cut, Cap, Balance Act

Aug 1, 2012

It’s not right to ask the American people to pay for the debt Congress created, especially if it has not taken significant steps to reverse overspending. We have to identify our priorities, set responsible spending levels to meet them, and eliminate the trillion dollar deficits that are sapping the economy of precious resources. Cut, Cap, Balance moves us in the right direction so we can restore confidence in our economy, create jobs, and get the country moving again.

Time for the Leahy-Thurmond Rule -- Day Lee Briefing 7/31/2012

Jul 31, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of the Salt Lake City Police Department. He will also attend a Steering Executive Committee meeting at 4:15 PM EDT (2:15 MDT).

 

From the Senator’s Desk

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

 

The new minority: Millions of long-term unemployed looking for hope

 

Joe Carbone can't sleep — and the odd thing is, he deals in hope. Carbone is the President and CEO of The WorkPlace, Inc., a non-profit workforce and economic development organization in Bridgeport, Conn. He developed an experimental program to help the long-term unemployed that was recently featured on "60 Minutes."

 

Eurozone unemployment hits record high, while Mario Monti sees ‘light at end of tunnel’

 

EU data agency Eurostat said the seasonally-adjusted rate was the same as an upwardly-revised May toll but noted another 123,000 people lost their jobs going into the European summer, bringing the total to nearly 18m, more than 2m up on a year earlier.

 

Looking Ahead

 

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of the Western Energy Alliance. He will also host a Jell-O bar for office visitors at 3:30 PM EDT (1:30 MDT).

More Deficits -- Day Lee Briefing 7/30/2012

Jul 30, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee flies back to Washington.

 

From the Senator’s Desk

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

Administration projects budget deficit to be $1.2 trillion

The White House predicts this year's federal budget deficit will end up at $1.2 trillion, marking the fourth consecutive year of trillion dollar-plus deficits during President Barack Obama's administration.

 

Businesses blame government for the mess in Texas

Another of the regional Fed business surveys shows what everybody already knows: the economy’s luffing, slowing down as the tailwinds die. The Dallas Fed’s manufacturing index fell to -13.2 from 5.8 a month ago. But that doesn’t tell the whole story.

 

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of the Salt Lake City Police Department. He will also attend a Steering Executive Committee meeting at 4:15 PM EDT (2:15 MDT).

Lee: Senate Must Protect Its Institutional Rights and Impose the Leahy-Thurmond Rule

Jul 30, 2012

The Constitution assigns to the Senate the right and duty to advise and consent to the President’s judicial nominees. During President Obama’s term in office, the Senate has acted responsibly in carrying out this role. Indeed, numerous measures demonstrate that the Senate has treated President Obama’s judicial nominees fairly, confirming them at a greater rate and more quickly than the Democratic Senate confirmed President Bush’s nominees.

Weekly Wrap-up: Senate Dems Pass Higher Taxes -- Day Lee Briefing 07/27/12

Jul 27, 2012

This week, the Senate Democrats voted to raise taxes even as a steady stream of worsening economic data kept pouring in. The Richmond Fed survey plummeted, signaling major weakness in the region. The second quarter’s annualized GDP growth came in at a “stall speed” level of 1.5%. A significant number of economists are warning that we are on the verge of, or even already in, another recession. Americans are more than halfway through our third straight “Recovery Summer”, and we’re still waiting for a real recovery.

It’s clear that President Obama’s policies aren’t working. Yet it is in this stagnant economic environment that his party wants to take even more from the private sector. The plan passed by Senate Democrats even included a new death tax that would have disproportionately damaged the family farms and ranches that are currently in the middle of fighting the worst nationwide drought since the Dust Bowl.

Unemployment remains above 8%, a record number of Americans are on food stamps, and a “recovery” has never been this anemic. Is now the time for the government to deal yet another blow to the economy?

Below are some of the week’s articles on this subject:

Sickly second-quarter GDP report puts U.S. economic recovery — and Obama’s reelection — in jeopardy

The U.S. economy is not doing fine.

Morning Bell: Senate Votes to Raise Taxes on Small Businesses

Yesterday, the Senate narrowly voted (51-48) to raise taxes on 1.2 million small businesses, which will likely kill more than 700,000 jobs at a time when nearly 13 million Americans are out of work. Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Jim Webb (D-VA) joined all Republicans in bipartisan opposition to the tax hike.

 

And here are some of the week’s best tweets:

Middle Class Targeted with Premium Increase by Obamacare -- Day Lee Briefing 7/26/2012

Jul 26, 2012

Candidate Obama repeatedly promised premiums would be impacted by about $2,500 per family in his proposal – a development CBO has now confirmed. The only problem is that candidate Obama promised premiums would go DOWN $2,500 – but under the law President Obama signed, premiums will go UP by nearly the same amount.

Lee Opening Statement on DOJ Antitrust AAG Nominee Hearing

Jul 26, 2012

Today we consider the nomination of William Baer to be the next Assistant Attorney General over the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. This is a position of enormous significance. Since its establishment nearly 80 years ago, the Antitrust Division, together with the Federal Trade Commission, has been tasked with the enforcement of our nation’s antitrust laws.

Heading Off the Fiscal Cliff -- Day Lee Briefing 7/25/2012

Jul 25, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of Dixie State College. He will also be a guest on KSL’s Doug Wright Show at 12:00 PM EDT (10:00 AM MDT), attend a prayer breakfast, and host a Jell-O bar for office visitors at 3:30 PM EDT (1:30 MDT).

 

From the Senator’s Desk

Senator Lee’s op-ed, published by the Daily Caller:

Last week, Democrats insisted that Congress raise taxes on the American people. So committed are they to the cause that one top Democrat said they would actually allow the country to drive off the so-called “fiscal cliff” if it gave them the leverage they needed to get their way.

Mind you, they’re not demanding comprehensive tax reform. They haven’t insisted on overhauling the tax code or proposed major revisions that simplify the system so Americans can understand and file their own taxes.

Instead, Democrats are demanding Republicans join them in a plan that divides Americans by income and pits them against one another.

The Democrats are trying to enflame the basest of human emotions to create division amongst the country and then use this division for short-term political gain. This divisive rhetoric is a far cry from the “hope and change” promised four years ago, and exposes the desperation many on the left feel as the electorate realizes Democrats are out of ideas.

Aside from the fact that this call for higher taxes is politically motivated, there are plenty of good reasons to oppose the Democrats’ tax hike. The proposal does not solve the problem of out-of-control deficits and debt and will do significant damage to the American economy.

Read the full article: http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/24/americans-cant-afford-democrats-tax-increases/#ixzz21YyCQWGJ

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

Fear prompts gun sales, panic after Colo. Massacre

Firearms sales are surging in the wake of the Colorado movie massacre as buyers express fears about both personal safety and lawmakers who are using the shooting to seek new weapons restrictions.

 

New home sales post biggest drop in over one year

New single-family home sales in June fell by the most in more than a year and prices resumed their downward trend, suggesting a setback for the budding housing market recovery.

 

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of Boys & Girls State. He will also attend a hearing held by the Foreign Relations Committee and a hearing held by the Judiciary Committee.

Recent Settlement over Bank Interchange Fees Demonstrates Adequacy of Existing Antitrust Laws to Remedy Alleged Anticompetitive Behavior

Jul 25, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Lee made the following statement regarding the recent settlement of an antitrust dispute between a group of retailers and credit card companies.
 
Consumers benefit when free market forces are allowed to determine prices.  As a result, lawmakers shouldn't interfere with those competitive forces.  Existing antitrust remedies are generally sufficient to address particular instances of anticompetitive conduct and restore competitive balance.  I believe the government ought not be in the business of picking winners and losers in the marketplace, especially since legislation addressing specific allegations of anticompetitive behavior can result in broad and unintended negative consequences.
 
These principles apply to the market for credit cards, including the market for the interchange fees that retailers pay credit card companies and banks for the use of those cards.  Last week’s settlement agreement between Visa and MasterCard on the one hand, and retailers on the other, demonstrates the adequacy of existing antitrust law to remedy alleged anticompetitive behavior.  This settlement was negotiated in an effort to restore competitive market balance and will allow credit card companies and retailers to get back to work serving consumers.

Americans can’t afford Democrats’ tax increases

Jul 24, 2012

Last week, Democrats insisted that Congress raise taxes on the American people. So committed are they to the cause that one top Democrat said they would actually allow the country to drive off the so-called “fiscal cliff” if it gave them the leverage they needed to get their way.