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Remembering 2011 Milestones

June 29^th: Lee, GOP Senators Push for Balanced Budget Amendment

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Republican Caucus began a coordinated effort to push for passage of the S. J. Res 10, the Hatch Lee Balanced Budget Amendment.  Senator Mike Lee, a lead cosponsor of the bill, has consistently championed the need for binding, structural spending reforms like a constitutional amendment, even before joining the Senate. The bill would force Congress to balance its budget each year, limit spending to no more than 18% of GDP, and require a supermajority vote in both the House and Senate before raising taxes or increasing the nation’s debt ceiling.

“To truly fix the spending problem in Washington, we have to fundamentally change the rules that govern Congress,” said Lee. “If we want to eliminate deficits, reduce the national debt, get control of spending, preserve our constitutional priorities, and save our economy, it starts with the balanced budget amendment.  It is the only solution that guarantees future reforms will be enforced.”

A number of GOP Senators, including Lee, spoke in support of the amendment this morning on the Senate floor.  They will also hold a press conference at 11:30 am near the Ohio Clock outside the Senate Chamber.  Floor speeches on the balanced budget amendment will continue tomorrow, with Members planning to carry the message into the July 4^th recess.

On Twitter

This is disturbing RT @johncornyn: POTUS to end-run Senate confirmation by recess appointment of another unaccountable czar

SenLeeComs

Perhaps Obama will decide to dispense w/ this year's election too and simply appoint himself President for 4 more years #Cordray #CFPB

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Our friends at Utah Public Radio in Logan just suggested we add pineapple to our Jell-O on Wednesdays. What do you think?

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After holiday break, #Europe's debt crisis resumes downward spiral: http://bloom.bg/wTJv3I #USfuture? #euro #eu #debt #deficit #tcot #tlot

Around the Water Cooler

Obama, Congress begin year in oil pipeline dispute

President Barack Obama and Congress are starting the election year locked in a tussle over a proposed 1,700-mile oil pipeline from Canada to Texas that will force the White House to make a politically risky choice between two key Democratic constituencies.

Some unions say the Keystone XL pipeline would create thousands of jobs. Environmentalists fear it could lead to an oil spill disaster.

Obama gets two ‘awards’ for worst product failures of 2011

President Barack Obama can claim partial credit for two of this year’s greatest product failures described in a top-seven disaster list prepared by Yahoo! Finance.

The top two product disasters were a push-up bra for pre-teens and Netflix’s short-lived Qwikster video-rental spin-off.

But two autos pushed by Obama’s government-directed auto companies won slots No. 3 and No. 6 on Yahoo!‘s ”Worst Product Flops of 2011.”

Remembering 2011 Milestones

June 28^th: DeMint, Lee, Paul Offer Bill to Begin Restoring Sound Money

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) introduced the Sound Money Promotion Act, legislation that would remove the tax burden on gold and silver coins that have been declared legal tender by the federal government or state governments. On May 9, the State of Utah became the first state to recognize such gold and silver coins as legal tender for use within the state, and similar legislation has been introduced in 12 other states, including South Carolina.

“Thanks to the government’s reckless over-spending, continued bailouts, and the Federal Reserve’s easy money policy, this year the purchasing power of the dollar hit an all-time low in the several decades since we went off the gold standard,” said Senator DeMint. “In order to rebuild strength and confidence in our economy, we need both the fiscal discipline to cut wasteful spending and the monetary discipline to restrain further destructive monetizing of our debt. This legislation would encourage wider adoption of sound money measures, and that’s a step in the right direction.”

“Good monetary policy is an important part of a healthy and prosperous economy,” said Senator Lee. “Since the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, the dollar has lost approximately 98 percent of its value. This bill is an important step towards a stable and sound currency whose value is protected from the Fed's printing press."

Senator Paul added, "As the government runs massive deficits, uncontrolled spending, and an increasingly unsustainable debt, governments and the bureaucrats in charge are often forced to take an easier approach: to monetize the debt, inflating the currency.  These implications can be devastating, leading to higher interest rates, which lead to higher borrowing costs and slower economic growth, but most importantly, destroying the savings and standard-of-living of all Americans.  This bill will hold politicians and the Federal Reserve accountable; acknowledging that states are serious about an alternative to a weakening dollar.”

The warning signs for our economic problems can no longer be ignored:

• While the value of a dollar is at historic lows, the value of gold is at historic highs

• Recently Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S. outlook from “stable” to “negative,” meaning there is a 1 in 3 chance of an actual credit downgrade in the next two years

• The world’s largest bond fund has dumped its U.S. debt-related holdings, over concerns that we will not get our fiscal house in order

• The Federal Reserve is now buying 70 percent of U.S. Treasuries, set to surpass the holdings of both China and Japan combined

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This is disturbing RT @johncornyn: POTUS to end-run Senate confirmation by recess appointment of another unaccountable czar

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Around the Water Cooler

Obama bypasses Senate, installs new consumer-protection chief

A defiant President Barack Obama, tired of Senate Republicans stalling his nominee to lead a new consumer protection agency, put him in charge Wednesday over their opposition.

"I refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer," the president said.

Obama Administration Tests Constitutional Power After Controversial Appointment

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce may sue the Obama administration over President Obama's controversial appointment of Richard Cordray to head a controversial consumer financial board, officials from the business group told Fox News on Wednesday after an unprecedented display of executive power that is sure to poison already-strained relations with the GOP.

Remembering 2011 Milestones

June 14^th: Bishop, Chaffetz, Hatch, Lee Introduce Bill to Protect Utah from Presidential Monument Designations

WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chairman of the House Natural Resources National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee, today introduced the Utah Lands Sovereignty Act, which would protect Utah from future national monument designations made by Presidential executive order.  Congressman Jason Chaffetz (UT-03) co-sponsored the bill and Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. In 1950, Congress passed a law that prohibited the future establishment of national monuments in Wyoming except as authorized by Congress. This legislation would provide Utah with the same level of protection.
 
Last year, Congressman Bishop obtained the internal Treasured Landscapes memo created by the Department of Interior that lists as many as 14 possible new national monuments, two of which are located in Utah.  In total, the memo, which has since generated a groundswell of opposition across the West, identifies as many as 13 million acres of federally owned land and approximately 26 million acres of private land as areas that could potentially be subject to national monument designations.
 
“We have seen far too many attempts by this Administration to circumvent the open congressional process in order to execute their political agenda— the Treasured Landscapes memo is just one of the many examples.  While I’m not necessarily opposed to national monuments, I do not support efforts to create new designations, locking up thousands of acres of land, without the support of our local communities, residents and stakeholders,” said Congressman Bishop. “Last week’s remarks made by former DOI Secretary Bruce Babbitt are a reminder that the Antiquities Act is still being considered as an avenue to lock up millions of acres of public lands.  It is clear that former Secretary Babbitt isn’t in the business of protecting hard-working Utahns, and is instead looking to fulfill the agendas of a handful of radical special interest groups.  This legislation provides a necessary safeguard to protect Utah from future national monument designations made through executive fiat.”
 
During a press conference held on June 08, 2011, former Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Bruce Babbitt suggested that the President use the Antiquities Act as executive fiat to pressure Congress into implementing restrictive new land management policies. Babbitt stated that, “By voicing his willingness to use the Antiquities Act as an alternative to Wilderness designation, the president can bring Congress to the table to work out conservation measures acceptable to reasonable stakeholders.”  He went on to say that, “the best way to defend the Antiquities Act is for the president to use it.”  [read the entire transcript here]
 
“Utahns are all too familiar with the consequences of presidential administrations creating national monuments without public input or congressional approval. We have been living with lost jobs, economic inactivity and other fallout from the creation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument since 1996. National monuments should not be created in secrecy and without the consent of Congress, this bill will ensure that they won’t here in Utah,” said Senator Hatch.
 
“The Antiquities Act is a misguided and outdated law that lends itself to abuse by the Executive Branch.  The Utah Lands Sovereignty Act improves the law to ensure local input is considered.  Decisions regarding control of our public lands rightfully belong to those closest to the situation and those most likely to be impacted.  Management of our public lands must reside in the hands of elected officials who are accountable to their local constituencies.  Congressional, state, and local leaders are the ones best equipped to manage these precious resources, and to make decisions regarding their future,” said Congressman Chaffetz.
 
“Proponents who have abused the system suggest Utah is being ‘honored’ with national monument designations.  Frankly, Utah has been ‘honored’ enough.  We lost nearly 2 million acres when the Clinton Administration created the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument without any input from Congress or state officials.  This bill will prevent that from happening again,” said Senator Lee.
 
The 1906 Antiquities Act allows the President to unilaterally designate new national monuments through executive order. This legislation would ensure that all future national monument designations in Utah are subject to the open Congressional process, which would provide Utahns and other westerners with the opportunity to have their voices heard.  Former President Bill Clinton used the Antiquities Act in 1996 to unilaterally designate the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah without ever consulting the public or state, local and federal officials.
 
The total number of acres targeted as possible new national monuments in the Treasured Landscapes memo is more than the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

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All 47 Republicans voted to support #SJRes10, a #StrongBBA, that would have led to serious spending reform.

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Around the Water Cooler

Police plan tight security at Times Square

Less than two weeks after graduating from the New York City police academy, more than 1,500 rookie officers have a daunting first assignment: helping to protect Times Square on New Year's Eve.

The deployment is just one of an array of security measures - many visible, many not - that the New York Police Department rolls out each year for the event that turns the "Crossroads of the World" into a massive street party that stretches 17 blocks through the heart of Manhattan.

North Korea Says It Will Never Engage in Discussion with South Korea

North Korea warned the world Friday there would be no softening of its position toward South Korea's government after Kim Jong Il's death as Pyongyang strengthened his son and heir's authority with a new title: Great Leader.

Remembering 2011 Milestones

March 30^th: Sen. Lee and Rep. Bishop Introduce Land Conveyance Legislation for Mantua, Utah

WASHINGTON– Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT) introduced legislation to transfer three parcels of federally owned land in Box Elder County to the town of Mantua, Utah. Specifically, The Box Elder Utah Land Conveyance Act would convey nearly 32 acres of land that could be used by the community for multiple purposes, including the potential development of a new city cemetery, a new town hall, fire station, park or elementary school.

The parcels of land included in this legislation are located on the south end of town below 100 South and west of Main Street and Willard Peak Road. They are part of a larger tract originally owned by Hans Rasmussen, an early settler of Mantua, whose family deeded the land to the U.S. Forest Service in 1941 for $1.00. Under this legislation, the city of Mantua would not be required to pay for the land, but would assume all costs associated with surveying and development.

“It is a testament to the growth of our state and cities like Mantua that this bill is necessary,” said Senator Lee, who sits on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “The city can use the land productively and the federal government has no pressing need for it. With the help of Rep. Bishop, I hope we can move this bill quickly through Congress.”

“There is absolutely no valid reason why the federal government should maintain ownership of this land, which has sat vacant and virtually unused for decades, when it could otherwise be utilized by the town of Mantua to meet the current challenges associated with its growth and expansion,” said Congressman Bishop, whose district encompasses all of Box Elder County. “The parcels of land we’re asking to have conveyed are relatively small in size but would have a significant impact on the future of this community.”

In addition, Senator Lee is also introducing legislation to return forest service land to the town of Alta for a community center and fire station.  

On Twitter  

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RT @jackiebodnar: Via @politico: The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments on legality of the health care reform law for March 26-28.  

SenLeeComs  

Documents show politics energized Obama ‘green' programs http://wapo.st/u3c4oM

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Welcome home! RT @deseretnews: 7 Utah Airmen among the last military members to leave Iraq http://desne.ws/vvJ4ft

SenLeeResearch  

In 2011, the govnt spent $175k studying how cocaine affects quail mating habits: http://thedc.com/t5Cu1w #thisisyourquailondrugs #tcot #tlot

Around the Water Cooler

Company to close at least 100 Sears, Kmart stores

After a disastrous holiday shopping season, the parent company of Sears and Kmart will close at least 100 stores to raise cash — a move that sparked speculation about whether the 125-year-old retailer can avoid a death spiral fed by declining sales and deteriorating stores.

Sears Holdings Corp., a pillar of American retailing that famously began with a mail-order catalog in the 1880s, declared Tuesday that it would no longer prop up "marginally performing" locations. The company pledged to refocus its efforts on stores that make money.

U.S. Navy won't tolerate 'disruption' through Strait of Hormuz

After four years without a job and two years living in a Motel 6 in Inglewood, Calif., Jay Payne is Christmas shopping for the first time in a long while.

His three children, ages 7, 13 and 15, have asked him for a Nintendo 3DS gaming console and a PlayStation system, gadgets the 37-year-old single father has frantically tried — and failed — to budget for. Payne, who landed a parking lot security job this month, is hunting for gifts in the few places he can afford: dollar stores.