Law of the Sea Treaty Loses Support in Senate -- Day Lee Briefing 7/16/2012

Jul 16, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee flies back to Washington.

 

From the Senator’s Desk

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

U.S. economy appears weaker as retail sales slump

The outlook for the U.S. economy appeared dimmer Monday after a report that Americans spent less at retail businesses for a third straight month in June.

 

PICKET: Obama – ‘If you’ve got a business – you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen’

President Barack Obama addressed supporters in Roanoke, Virginia on Friday afternoon and took a shot at the business community. President Obama dismissed any credit business owners give themselves for their success:

 

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of the National Campaign to Stop Violence, the Utah Association of Conservation Districts, Tobacco-Free Kids, Red Wing, Salt Lake City, and CenturyLink.

Governors Rejecting Obamacare -- Day Lee Briefing 7/12/2012

Jul 12, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of Orthodox Union and the National Youth Leaders Conference. He will also attend a Foreign Relations Committee hearing at 9:00 AM EDT (7:00 MDT).

 

From the Senator’s Desk

Courtesy of the Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee:

Writing in this morning’s Washington Post, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker has a must-read op-ed outlining how Obamacare’s poor policy prescriptions will harm his state.  Among the bad side effects of the law:

  •  100,000 people will be dropped by their employer-sponsored health insurance;
  • 59 percent of people who buy their own health insurance will experience an average premium increase of 31 percent;
  • 150,000 people will stop buying health insurance in the private sector and will instead become dependent on the government and taxpayers; and
  • Between 2014 and 2019, Obamacare could cost Wisconsin taxpayers $1.12 billion; after all federal aid and tax credits are applied, the state’s portion of the bill will be $433 million.

These aren’t conclusions reached by Walker himself – they are among the conclusions of an actuarial analysis conducted in part by Jonathan Gruber, who served as a paid consultant to HHS in developing the Obamacare law.  And the fact that even supporters of Obamacare admit the law will raise both insurance premiums and dependence on government programs is as strong an argument as any for the measure’s repeal.

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

Study: $15 trillion in welfare spending has had little impact since 1964

A policy analysis released by the Cato Institute in April shows that despite nearly $15 trillion in total welfare spending since President Lyndon Johnson began the "war on poverty" in 1964, the poverty rate in the United States has remained relatively constant.

 

Rising costs push California cities to fiscal brink

Facing the same financial stressors that pushed San Bernardino toward bankruptcy, cities across California are slashing day-to-day services and taking other drastic actions to skirt a similar fiscal collapse.

 

Looking Ahead

 

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will be back in Utah to meet with constituents.

 

Lee Comments on Judiciary Hearing on Oversight

Jul 11, 2012

Today's Judiciary Committee hearing highlighted legitimate concerns about the availability of ITC exclusion orders in disputes involving standard-essential patents. I am pleased that both the DOJ Antitrust Division and the FTC are committed to ensuring that those who have agreed to license such patents on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms are not able to use the threat of an exclusion order in an anticompetitive manner. I join with colleagues on both sides of the aisle who believe these concerns deserve careful consideration as the ITC determines when the availability of exclusion orders are in the public interest.

Preventive Services Lead to Cut Services -- Day Lee Briefing 7/11/2012

Jul 11, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of Utah Metal Works. He will also attend a Judiciary hearing at 9:30 AM EDT (7:30 MDT) host a Jell-O bar for office visitors at 3:30 PM EDT (1:30 MDT).

 

From the Senator’s Desk

Courtesy of the Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee:

Last week, the New York Times reported on a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, which found that the number of women in their 40s obtaining mammograms declined “in the year after an expert panel’s recommendation that women delay regular breast cancer screenings until age 50.”  The “expert panel” in question is the US Preventive Services Task Force – referenced 21 different times in Obamacare, and granted the power by the law to set federal coverage standards for preventive coverage by insurers.

The Mayo study leads to the unsurprising conclusion that if a government board decides a treatment is not “approved,” people will receive less of that treatment.  Empowering a government board will decrease access to preventive care screenings, as insurance companies will likely follow the directives of a federally-backed panel.  So rather than keeping choices between patients and doctors, Washington has effectively short-circuited that process, because the rulings of a government board will lead insurance companies to stop covering preventive treatments.

Unfortunately, it’s not just access to mammograms that may be affected – prostate cancer screening may well be next.  Earlier this year, the US Preventive Services Task Force released its final recommendations regarding prostate cancer screening.  Even before the Task Force’s draft recommendations were issued last October, insurers were already re-evaluating whether or not to cover screening tests in light of the Task Force’s decision. 

Yet even as the recommendations from the Preventive Services Task Force have reduced the use of preventive care screenings, the Administration has been promoting “preventive services” elsewhere.  Over the past several months, HHS has been handing out grants from Obamacare’s prevention new “slush fund” to finance things like jungle gyms, bike paths, and crosswalks.  So when it comes to prevention funding from this Administration, the mantra appears to be “Mammograms, no; jungle gyms, yes!”

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

Another California city opts for bankruptcy

As recently as last month, no city in California had opted for bankruptcy since 2008, and no U.S. city of more than 200,000 people had ever chosen that route.

 

Report: Thousands fled Canada for health care in 2011

A Canadian study released Wednesday found that many provinces in our neighbor to the North have seen patients fleeing the country and opting for medical treatment in the United States.

 

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, Senator Lee will meet with representatives of Orthodox Union and the National Youth Leaders Conference. He will also attend two Foreign Relations Committee hearings.

Small Business Owners Besieged -- Day Lee Briefing 7/10/2012

Jul 10, 2012

From the Senator’s Desk

In comments in Ohio late last week, President Obama criticized Republicans for “playing politics” by recognizing the fact that the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare’s individual mandate ONLY AS A TAX INCREASE.  He criticized the idea that political pressure would compel someone to change their position on the status of the mandate.  He claimed he would “make no apologies” for the individual mandate in Obamacare, and also went so far as to say the following:  “One of the things that you learn as president is that what you say matters and your principles matter.…And sometimes, you've got to fight for things that you believe in and you can't just switch on a dime.”

Which is interesting, because in 2009 the President said that “For us to say that you’ve got to take a responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase….George, the fact that you looked up Merriam’s Dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that you’re stretching a little bit right now.  Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone to the dictionary to check on the definition.”

But two years later, in January 2012, here’s what the Obama Administration argued in federal court – take a look at the headings on page 52 of the government’s appeals court brief in the case of HHS v. Florida (emphasis in the original):

 

THE MINIMUM COVERAGE PROVISION IS INDEPEND­ENTLY AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS’S TAXING POWER

The Minimum Coverage Provision Operates As A Tax Law

 

Why did President Obama and his Administration change positions – twice – on the individual mandate, saying the mandate was not a tax increase before passage, arguing before federal courts it was a tax increase after the law passed, and then arguing for the past week-plus the mandate isn’t a tax increase?  Well, George Stephanopoulos knows why.  In an exchange with House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan on his show last week, the Democrat journalist admitted that such flip-floppery was the only way to get the law passed in the first place:

RYAN:  The president on your show said this is not a tax.  Then he sent his solicitor general to the Supreme Court to argue that it is a tax in order to get this past the Supreme Court….Believe me, if this was brought to the public as a tax, there's no way this law would have passed into law in the first place.  That's what's so frustrating and disappointing with this law.

STEPHANOPOULOS: I think you may be right about that.

So you tell me: Who’s the one playing politics here?

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

Why small business owners feel besieged

The National Federation of Independent Business released its business optimism index Tuesday, its gauge of confidence among small businesses.

 

Report: 83 percent of doctors have considered quitting over Obamacare

Eighty-three percent of American physicians have considered leaving their practices over President Barack Obama’s health care reform law, according to a survey released by the Doctor Patient Medical Association.

 

Looking Ahead

 

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

August 2012 - Mobile Office Schedule

Jul 10, 2012

1.  Mobile Office Visit to Uintah County
When: Wednesday 1 August 2012 @ 10 AM – 12 PM
Where:  Naples, Utah @ Naples City Hall, 1420 East 2850 South, Naples, Utah 84078 (Council Chambers)

2.  Mobile Office Visit to Uintah County
When: Wednesday 1 August 2012 @ 1 PM – 3 PM
Where: Vernal, Utah @ Uintah County Building, 147 East Main Street, Vernal, Utah 84078  (Commission Chambers)

3.  Mobile Office Visit to Daggett County
When: Thursday 2 August 2012 @ 10 AM – 12 PM
Where: Manila, Utah @ Daggett County Courthouse, 95 North 1st West, Manila, Utah 84046 (Commission Chambers)

4.  Mobile Office Visit to Daggett County
When: Thursday 2 August 2012 @ 1 PM – 3 PM
Where: Spirit Lake, Utah @ Spirit Lake Lodge, Spirit Lake Road, Daggett County, Utah 84023 (Lodge Dining Room)[Business/Constituent Outreach]

5.  Mobile Office Visit to Wasatch County
When: Wednesday 8 August 2012 @ 10 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Charleston, Utah @ Charleston Town Hall, 3454 West 3400 South, Charleston, Utah 84032 (Town Hall Room)

6.  Mobile Office Visit to Wasatch County
When:  Wednesday 8 August 2012 @ 1 PM - 3 PM
Where: Heber City, Utah @ Wasatch County Administration Building, 25 North Main Street, Heber City, Utah 84032 (Commission Chambers)

7.  Mobile Office Visit to Utah County
When: Thursday 9 August 2012 @ 10 AM – 12 PM
Where:  Orem, Utah @ Orem City Center, 56 North State Street, Orem, Utah 84057 (Conference Room)

8.  Mobile Office Visit to Utah County
When: Thursday 9 August 2012 @ 1 PM – 3 PM
Where: Provo, Utah @ Provo City Center, 351 West Center Street, Provo, Utah 84601 (Council Chambers) 

9.  Mobile Office Visit to Rich County
When: Tuesday 21 August 2012 @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
Where: Laketown, Utah @ Laketown Office, 20 North 200 East, Laketown, Utah 84038 (Conference Room)
10.  Mobile Office Visit to Rich County
When:  Tuesday 21 August 2012 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: Garden City, Utah @  Town of Garden City, 69 North Paradise Parkway, Building C, Garden City, Utah 84028 (Lakeview Room)
11.  Mobile Office Visit to Cache County
When: Wednesday 22 August 2012 @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where:  Hyrum, Utah @ Hyrum City Hall, 83 West Main Street, Hyrum, Utah 84319  (Council Chambers)
12.  Mobile Office Visit to Cache County
When: Wednesday 22 August 2012 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: Nibley, Utah @ Nibley City Office, 455 West 3200 South, Nibley, Utah 84321 (Council Chambers)
13.  Mobile Office Visit to Morgan County
When: Thursday 23 August 2012 @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Morgan, Utah @ Morgan County Couthouse, 48 West Young Street, Morgan, Utah 84050 (Council Room)
14.  Mobile Office Business Outreach Courtesy Visit to Morgan County
When: Thursday 23 August 2012 @ 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: Mountain Green, Utah @  Browning Arms Company, 6175 North Cottonwood Canyon Road, Mountain Green, Utah 84050 

Out of Work -- Day Lee Briefing 7/09/2012

Jul 9, 2012

From the Senator’s Desk

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

House panel probes UN agency’s tech shipments

A House panel launched an investigation Monday into whether a U.N. agency sent computers and other technology to Iran and North Korea in possible violation of U.N. Security Council sanctions.

 

Perry: Texas won’t expand Medicaid

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Monday his state won't expand Medicaid or set up an insurance exchange, joining a growing number of Republican governors who are rejecting two key parts of President Obama's health care law.

Obama isn't Working -- Day Lee Briefing 7/06/2012

Jul 6, 2012

From the Senator’s Desk

Courtesy of the Senate Republican Conference:

June Jobs Report: 8.2 Percent Unemployment

The Obama Economy Isn’t Working

 

  • Today’s jobs report confirms what millions of Americans already know: the Obama economy isn’t working.
  •  President Obama’s failed policies have led to the worst recovery since WWII.
  •  Republicans have solutions to grow the economy and help create jobs.

 

Millions continue to suffer under the Obama economy:

  • The president promised his nearly $1-trillion stimulus would keep unemployment below 8 percent, but June marks 41 straight months of unemployment at or above 8 percent.
  • Over 23 million Americans remain unemployed or underemployed. Almost 5.4 million have been out of work for over one year. 
  • A less-than-expected 80,000 jobs were created in June, well below the 150,000 new jobs needed each month just to keep up with population growth.

 

President Obama’s policies have led to the worst recovery since WWII:

  • Over the past 28 months, President Obama has the worst private sector job creation record of any recovery since WWII.
  • Under the president’s policies, GDP growth is the slowest of any recovery since WWII.

 

Republicans have a better way:

  • Reform the tax code to fuel economic growth.
  •  Increase energy security to create homegrown American jobs.
  •  Cut reckless government spending.
  • Stop job-killing regulations.
  • Repeal ObamaCare and enact common-sense, step-by-step reforms that protect Americans’ access to the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a lower cost.

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

GOP teachers balk at Obama-centric NEA convention

It had all the trappings of a re-election rally: thousands packing a convention center, Barack Obama T-shirts, videos celebrating the health care law, and a wall-size banner with encouraging messages to the incumbent president.

 

June jobs report misses expectations, unemployment 8.2%

U.S. payrolls expanded by just 80,000 net jobs in June keeping the unemployment rate flat at 8.2 percent, new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.

 

Celebrating our Independence -- Day Lee Briefing 7/05/2012

Jul 5, 2012

From the Senator’s Desk

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

Obama remains silent while spokesman denies mandate is a tax

In an interview on CNN Thursday morning, Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said that President Obama disagrees with the Supreme Court’s ruling that the individual mandate in Obamacare is a tax.

 

France: Ready to jump ship

Roger, a senior expatriate executive working for an international company in Paris, is thinking seriously of taking a walk down David Cameron’s “red carpet”.

Facilitating the Unfettered Expansion of Government -- Day Lee Briefing 7/3/2012

Jul 3, 2012

Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee will appear on the Fox News Channel special Out of Work, which will air at 9:00 PM EDT (7:00 MDT).

 

From the Senator’s Desk

 

On Twitter

Around the Water Cooler

Celebrating Independence Day without breaking the bank

The Fourth of July is almost here but celebrating Independence Day doesn't have to be pricey.

 

Government Motors: As GM shares near record low, taxpayer loss on bailout rises to $35 billion

To quote Lando Calrissian, this deal's getting worse all the time.