Thursday, January 24, 2013

Thursday, January 24, 2013

To: Friends & Supporters

From: Gary L. Bauer 

Boehner's Warning 

After every election, new administrations usually have a bit of a political honeymoon when the bitterness of the campaign is set aside and the nation's business takes priority. But judging from remarks made by Speaker John Boehner before the Ripon Society this week, the political atmosphere in nation's capital is as frosty as the sub-freezing temperatures Washington has endured lately. Here's what Boehner said: 

"And given what we heard yesterday about the president's vision for his second term, it's pretty clear to me that he knows he can't do any of that as long as the House is controlled by Republicans. So we're expecting over the next 22 months to be the focus of this Administration as they attempt to annihilate the Republican Party. And let me just tell you, I do believe that is their goal -- to just shove us into the dustbin of history."

And what made Boehner's comments all the more extraordinary was the venue. The Ripon Society is not the Heritage Foundation or the American Conservative Union. It describes itself as a "public policy advocacy organization representing all Americans through moderate, progressive policy formation." 

Boehner went on to say that conservatives are facing "an environment that is going to be far more hostile than anything that I think we've seen for a long, long time." And he added that congressional Republicans will have to pick their battles carefully. 

No Budget, No Pay 

Yesterday the House passed legislation to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling. This avoids for now a potential standoff that could have had catastrophic effects on the economy here at home and around the world. 

The House wisely also included a provision that requires members of Congress to pass a budget. If they don't, their salaries will be suspended. As you may know, the Senate has failed to pass a budget for four years. Try running a business or your family finances like that! 

According to a recent Fox News poll, 83% of the public believes federal spending is out of control. And a Rasmussen poll found that 81% of likely voters believe members of Congress should take a big pay cut until the budget is balanced.

Through this legislation, House Republicans avoided the dangers of being blamed for a default, while tapping into public anger over spending and the failure of the Senate to do its job. The bi-partisan appeal of the "no budget, no pay" concept was obvious: When the bill came up for a vote, 43% of House Democrats voted for it! 

Women To The Front 

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced yesterday that he was lifting the ban on women serving in frontline combat positions. I guess we all misunderstood what Obama meant when he talked about the "war on women." Apparently he really meant that he wanted more women to go to war.