Republican Leader John Boehner | Links for April 14, 2008

GOP Leader Blog

Links for April 14, 2008

Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on April 14th, 2008

“Caving on Colombia,” (Chicago Tribune Editorial)

“Politics Trumps Free Trade,” (Charleston Post & Courier Editorial)

“Altered Rule Poses Danger” (Charlottesville Daily Progress Editorial)

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Walberg Blog on the Tax Increase Prevention Act

Posted by Nick on April 10th, 2008

From “Tim’s Blog”:

“My legislation, H.R. 2734, the Tax Increase Prevention Act, would stop the massive tax increase in the Democrats budget, a tax increase that amounts to $3,000 per taxpayer. Specifically, my bill would make permanent the tax relief of 2001 and 2003, and stop tax increases on raising children, earning money, saving and investing, operating a small business, adopting a child, paying off college loans, and even dying.

“In my state of Michigan, families and businesses have unfortunately felt first-hand the powerful, negative impact of tax increases, as Michigan has experienced job losses, declining personal incomes, diminishing home values, and the highest unemployment rate in the nation. By proposing a massive $3,000 per taxpayer tax increase, Democrats in this Congress are following the same failed blueprint that Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm used to drive our state economy into a ditch and to destroy Michigan jobs.

“In these turbulent economic times, Congress needs to encourage job creation, hard work, investment, and innovation. With Americans facing rising health care costs, high energy prices, and economic instability, the absolute last thing families need is to be hit with a massive job-killing tax increase.”

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Links for April 10, 2008

Posted by Nick on April 10th, 2008

“Pelosi’s Bad Faith,” Wall Street Journal editorial, April 10, 2008:

“The Democratic Party’s protectionist make-over was completed yesterday, when Nancy Pelosi decided to kill the Colombia free trade agreement. Her objections had nothing to do with the evidence and everything to do with politics, but this was an act of particular bad faith. It will damage the economic and security interests of the U.S. while trashing our best ally in Latin America.”

“Trade Talks,” Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial, April 10, 2008

“A mantra of Democratic activists is that George W. Bush — the irresponsible cowboy gunslinger — has destroyed America’s relationship with the rest of the world. So how would the Democrats repair these tattered bonds? Apparently by stabbing our trade partners in the back.”

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Podcast Update

Posted by Nick on April 9th, 2008

Audio from the April 9th Republican Leadership Stakeout can now be found on the House Republican Leader Podcast. If iTunes is installed on your computer, you can click here to subscribe.

MORE: Past episodes and more information on Podcasts

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The Pelosi Premium

Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on April 9th, 2008

(Graphic courtesy of the Committee on Energy and Commerce Republicans)

As Americans wait for Democrats to unveil their secret plan to lower gasoline prices, costs at the pump continue to rise at an alarming rate. Since Democrats took control of the House, the average price of gas has increased more than $1 per gallon from 2.33 to $3.34. The Associated Press recently reported that prices could soon rise as high as $4 per gallon.

Looking at the above chart, it’s becoming clearer exactly which “new direction” Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats are taking American families.

Associated Press: Gasoline Prices Could Rise to $4 Per Gallon (4/8/08)

As Food & Gasoline Prices Soar Further, Democrats Offer Middle Class Families More Tax Hikes (3/10/08)

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Which Side of the Border Fence are Democrats On?

Posted by Nick on April 8th, 2008

News reports today indicate that House Democrats will attempt to block the construction of a border fence designed to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S.:

Fourteen House Democrats, including eight committee chairmen, said yesterday that they will file a brief supporting a legal challenge to the Bush administration’s plans to finish building 470 miles of fencing and other barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border by the end of the year.

This is in sharp contrast to the rhetoric we’ve heard previously from the Democratic leadership:

“Our first responsibility to the American people is their safety. We must secure our borders and enforce our laws…” (Pelosi Press Release, 3/22/07)

“I believe there is virtually unanimous agreement in the Congress that we must secure our borders and know who is entering our country.” – Then-Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Press Release, May 25, 2006

“Democrats are for the rule of law, we want to get border security right. . .We would do what’s necessary to protect our borders …” Then-House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Press Release, December 15, 2005

While Democrats break their promises on border security, House Republicans will continue fighting tosecure our borders from illegal entry and enforce our laws swiftly and effectively.

MORE:
Discharge Petition on Bipartisan Border Security Measure (3/26/08)
Boehner Backs Drake Discharge Petition to Force Vote on Bipartisan Border Security Bill (3/11/08)

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On General Petraeus’ Testimony and Continued Progress in Iraq

Posted by GOP Leader Press Office on April 7th, 2008

Today in a Townhall.com Op-ed, Leader Boehner previews the upcoming testimony by General David Petraeus:

As a result of these indisputable steps forward, more than 20,000 of our troops are coming home. But more importantly, they are returning home after success – not defeat. That is, after all, where the difference lies between those who have stood behind the Petraeus plan and those who have sought to undermine it every step of the way. And this divide is sure to be on full display this week, when the General and Ambassador testify before the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees in both the Senate and the House.

Also today in a Wall Street Journal Op-ed, Senators Joe Lieberman (I- CT) and Lindsay Graham (R-SC) further outline the dramatic achievements of General Petraeus and the troops he commands:

When Gen. David Petraeus testifies before Congress tomorrow, he will step into an American political landscape dramatically different from the one he faced when he last spoke on Capitol Hill seven months ago.

This time Gen. Petraeus returns to Washington having led one of the most remarkably successful military operations in American history. His antiwar critics, meanwhile, face a crisis of credibility – having confidently predicted the failure of the surge, and been proven decidedly wrong…

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Stand Firm on Iraq

Posted by Nick on April 3rd, 2008

A Washington Times editorial today echoed House Republicans in stating that undeniable progress is being made by our troops in Iraq:

The Republican Party has been united on the war issue. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner have done a solid job of driving home the point that, with violence down and parliament making political progress that would have been unthinkable a year ago on issues like sharing oil revenues and amnesty for lower-level Ba’athists, it would be a grave mistake to abandon Iraq now.

Boehner Delivers Remarks to American Legion (4/1/008)

Boehner: “Honor Our Troops By Honoring What They Fight For and Giving Them Every Tool They Need to Succed in Their Mission” (4/1/08)

Boehner Statement on the Fifth Anniversary of the Iraq War (3/19/08)

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Democrats Again Reject Earmark Freeze Offered by Republicans

Posted by Nick on April 2nd, 2008

Following the release of the annual Citizens Against Government Waste Pig Book, House Republican leaders today forced a vote on a freeze on pork barrel projects. Unfortunately, Democrats rejected the GOP proposal by a vote of 215-199.Not surprisingly, a majority of Democrats including freshmen that Speaker Pelosi has “Showered with Pork,” declined to curb wasteful spending by enacting a one-year moratorium on taxpayer-funded earmarks.

Earlier this week the Associated Press reported on Pelosi’s apparent unwillingness to address Washington’s broken spending process:

As lawmakers returned Monday from a two-week spring break, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi quietly shelved the idea of a one-year moratorium on so-called earmarks, the $18 billion in pet projects that lawmakers sent to their home states this year.

Visit earmarkreform.house.gov for more information on House Republicans’ continuing efforts to enact meaningful spending reform.

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