The Latest News from Washington

Where Leading from Behind Leads

For over a week now, the American people have been bombarded with news of violence perpetrated against Americans and American interests throughout the Middle East. Attacks on our embassies and threats of further violence only underscore how important it is that America show leadership. At a time of great turmoil, the world looks to the United States. Those who wish us harm will try to gauge if we are willing to stand up for our freedoms and principles both at home and abroad. Our allies will look to see if we have the resolve needed to face down these threats. To both friend and foe, we must be clear that our commitment to freedom and free people remains unquestionable. To that end, America cannot be a nation that leads from behind.

For more on this issue, please check out my oped “Where Leading From Behind Leads”, by clicking here.

Stopping the War on Coal

In 2008, then-Senator Obama said, “if somebody wants to build a coal plant, they can – it’s just that it will bankrupt them.” Today, President Obama’s administration is doing all it can to keep that promise. New and pending regulations from his Environmental Protection Agency could cost 1.65 million American jobs in less than a decade. This is good-paying, honest work at a time when the nation’s unemployment rate has been at or above 8 percent for 43 straight months.

Rather than punishing the private sector, we ought to be doing all we can to encourage job creation. That is why on Friday the House of Representatives passed, with bipartisan support, the “Stop the War on Coal Act.” The legislation would protect a vital part of America’s economy. That is a step in the direction of stronger economic growth and job creation. It is an important part of our fight for a true all-of-the-above energy strategy and the jobs that will come with it.