Monday, November 29, 2010

Pelosi Statement on Passage of the Physician Payment and Therapy Relief Act

/PRNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today after the House passed bipartisan legislation blocking the 23 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors, scheduled for December 1, for one month, while a longer-term fix is negotiated. The Senate passed the bill on November 18, and it now goes to President Obama for his signature into law:

"Today, the House of Representatives acted to ensure that America's seniors and military families can continue receiving the care they need and deserve from their doctors. This fully paid-for legislation provides doctors with the stability and support to continue providing vital services to all of their patients in the Medicare and TRICARE systems for the next month, while leaders from both parties work together on a longer-term solution before we adjourn.

"In taking this vote, Members of Congress have taken a clear stand on the side of seniors, service members, and the physicians and medical professionals who treat them."

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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on US Senate's failure to pass Paycheck Fairness Act

/PRNewswire/ -- Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement after the Senate's failure to invoke cloture (by a margin of 58 to 41) on S. 3772 – the Paycheck Fairness Act:

"I am deeply disappointed that the Senate did not pass this important piece of legislation today. But, the issue of pay equity is far too important to give up. I remain committed to the fight for this commonsense reform, and my department will redouble its efforts to ensure America's women are not treated as second class citizens by employers who refuse to compensate them in a fair and equitable manner.

"While the Senate fell short of the mark today, it is important to note that the Paycheck Fairness Act was approved by the House of Representatives almost two years ago. The bill was specifically designed to address the persistent gap between men's and women's wages. It tackles that challenge by enhancing enforcement and by closing loopholes in the 47-year old Equal Pay Act.

"Since the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, the issue of women's pay has grown even more serious. Today, women are the sole or co-wage earner in two-thirds of American households. And, for a growing number of families, equal pay for women is not just a matter of principle. It is a matter of survival.

"Most people are surprised to learn that, despite decades of efforts since 1963, the wage gap has narrowed from 59 cents for each dollar a man makes to a still unbelievably paltry 77 cents in 2010. It is equally shocking that the gap has closed only 5 cents in the past 20 years. At that pace, it will take almost 100 more years for women to achieve pay equity. The situation is even worse for women of color. In fact, today, African-American women make 69 cents for every dollar made by a man. Latinas make just 60 cents.

"Granted, when women enter the labor market, the wage gap is usually small, and some groups of women have earnings on par with men. But, the gap grows substantially as men and women progress in their careers. Men get larger raises and promotions. And, even when women keep pace with promotions, they still fall behind in pay. That has major long-term economic implications. And, by the age of 65, the typical full-time working woman has about $365,000 less in earnings relative to a full-time working man. This gap in earnings follows women into retirement, resulting in smaller pensions and lower Social Security.

"As President Obama has said, 'Equal pay is by no means just a women's issue — it's a family issue.…And in this economy, when so many folks are already working harder for less and struggling to get by, the last thing they can afford is losing part of each month's paychecks to simple discrimination.'

"As a nation, we must continue to pursue pay equity with passion and determination. We owe it to women in America —those of years past, who worked so hard to build our country; those who carry that task on today; and, certainly, those who will shape our future in the workplace of tomorrow."

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Monday, November 15, 2010

Tea Party Group Fights Back: King Street Patriots File Counter Lawsuit Against Texas Democratic Party; Seeks to Overturn Sections of Texas Election Code as Unconstitutional

/PRNewswire/ -- King Street Patriots, a group of concerned citizens in Houston, filed a counter lawsuit today against the Texas Democratic Party and at the same time are asking a judge to rule certain portions of the Texas Election Code governing political speech as unconstitutional.

The non-profit King Street Patriots made up of citizen volunteers dedicated to election integrity, are subjects of a lawsuit by the Texas Democratic Party that falsely claims the group broke state prohibitions against corporate campaign contributions and that it should have to register as a political organization and even reveal donor records. King Street Patriots, in an effort to protect their constitutional freedoms, is asking the judge to dismiss the lawsuit, force the Texas Democratic Party to pay attorneys fees and rule that sections of the Texas Election Code run afoul of the United States Constitution.

"By using state law to try to silence citizens' political speech, the Texas Democratic Party has brought a political slap lawsuit that has nothing to do with the rule of law and everything to do with political retribution," said KSP lead constitutional counsel James Bopp Jr., of the James Madison Center for Free Speech and architect of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Citizens United. "Our clients simply will not be intimidated by such despicable tactics. The only allegation against them is that they exercised their rights under the First Amendment, and we expect the Texas courts to vindicate those rights."

Although King Street Patriots is non-partisan, the group dedicated to keeping elections fair and free drew the ire of the Texas Democratic Party earlier this year after turning over to authorities questionable voter registrations in Harris County and training hundreds of volunteers as poll watchers there.

"It is outrageous that a group of American citizens who simply volunteered to get involved in the political process are forced into court by the Texas Democratic Party," said Kelly Shackelford, president and chief counsel of Liberty Institute, also representing KSP. "Using a political party to sue and attack citizens, and to try to reduce the Constitutional rights of all Americans, is a disgrace."

Liberty Institute is a nonprofit legal organization dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights and the Constitution. James Bopp, Jr. has a national federal and state election law practice. He is an attorney with Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom and General Counsel for the James Madison Center for Free Speech. He is also a former Co-Chairman of the Election Law Subcommittee of the Federalist Society.

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Friday, November 12, 2010

Six-Point Economic Recovery Agenda Proposed

/PRNewswire/ -- As Congress returns next week, swing election issues such as job creation, economic recovery and acceleration of economic growth should be foremost on their agenda. The National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) and the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET) have proposed six pro-growth policies for immediate consideration:

* Extending the Bush tax cuts for everyone
* Allow immediate expensing of investment
* Extend the R&D tax credit and the patch for the alternative minimum tax (AMT)
* Reduce the corporate tax rate
* Eliminate individual and employer mandates to purchase insurance, and
* Repeal Medicare tax hikes.


Adopting these six policies are the most important step that Congress and the Administration can take to immediately and permanently reduce taxes on capital and labor, and therefore spur economic growth.

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Rand Paul Urges Senate GOP to Ban Earmarks and Push for Balanced Budget Amendment

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Senator-Elect Rand Paul today (November 9) released the following statement:

“In fact, I am joining Senators DeMint, Coburn, Toomey, Rubio, Lee and others in asking for a GOP caucus vote next week on banning earmarks entirely.”

“The American People are tired of politics as usual and are demanding fundamental reform that ends the overspending and rampant political patronage we see throughout Washington.

“As part of my commitment to this effort, I will not submit Earmarks and will vote against all Earmarks. Also, one of the first pieces of Legislation I introduce will be a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. Since there have been erroneous media reports on the subject in recent days, I wanted to be sure to correct the record. I will never Earmark. Period.

“In fact, I am joining Senators DeMint, Coburn, Toomey, Rubio, Lee and others in asking for a GOP caucus vote next week on banning earmarks entirely.

“I am very encouraged that the Senate GOP Conference will vote next week on this caucus-wide agreement to ban Earmarks as well as commit to passing a Balanced Budget Amendment.

“The fact that these votes are happening next week is powerful evidence that the TEA Party message is coming with full force to Washington. Ending Earmarks and passing a Balanced Budget Amendment are two key parts to the fundamental reform Americans are demanding, and I will never waiver in my commitment to fight for these and other crucial solutions to out-of-control Government spending and debt.”


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Sunday, November 7, 2010

Pelosi Announces Run For House Democratic Leader

/PRNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following letter to her Democratic colleagues Friday afternoon announcing that she will run to become House Democratic Leader in the next Congress.

Excerpt from her letter to Democratic colleagues:

"Our work is far from finished. As a result of Tuesday's election, the role of Democrats in the 112th Congress will change, but our commitment to serving the American people will not. We have no intention of allowing our great achievements to be rolled back. It is my hope that we can work in a bipartisan way to create jobs and strengthen the middle class.

"Many of our colleagues have called with their recommendations on how to continue our fight for the middle class, and have encouraged me to run for House Democratic Leader. Based on those discussions, and driven by the urgency of protecting health care reform, Wall Street reform, and Social Security and Medicare, I have decided to run."

* * *

Below is the full text of the letter:

November 5, 2010

Over the past several days, I have spoken with many Democratic colleagues about how to continue our fight for to make our country more secure and strengthen the middle class, create jobs, protect Social Security and Medicare, and promote the innovation, technology and education to make America Number One in the world. As always, I am inspired by the fighting spirit of our Democratic Members.

As you know, Democrats have produced historic legislation in the area of health care, veterans' benefits, women's rights, Wall Street reform, and cutting taxes for 95 percent of the American people and millions of small businesses. And we have restored fiscal discipline to the Congress by making the deficit-cutting Pay As You Go rules the law of the land.

These accomplishments have begun the difficult work of recovering from the worst economic collapse since the 1930s and, according to independent reviews, prevented our country from plunging into another Great Depression. As a result, numerous congressional experts call this the most productive Congress in a half century. This was only possible because our Members had the courage of their convictions and put the interests of the Country first.

Our work is far from finished. As a result of Tuesday's election, the role of Democrats in the 112th Congress will change, but our commitment to serving the American people will not. We have no intention of allowing our great achievements to be rolled back. It is my hope that we can work in a bipartisan way to create jobs and strengthen the middle class.

Many of our colleagues have called with their recommendations on how to continue our fight for the middle class, and have encouraged me to run for House Democratic Leader. Based on those discussions, and driven by the urgency of protecting health care reform, Wall Street reform, and Social Security and Medicare, I have decided to run.

I am writing to respectfully request your support and I look forward to hearing your views. Please let me know what you are thinking.

Thank you for your leadership and friendship.

best wishes,

Nancy Pelosi

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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Gov.-elect Deal announces transition/inaugural team

Gov.-elect Nathan Deal has announced the leadership of his transition and inaugural teams, who will serve in preparation for the beginning of his administration on Jan. 10.

Transition Team

T. Rogers Wade, Sandy Springs, transition chairman - Mr. Wade is the chairman and former president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, an independent think tank that proposes practical, market-oriented approaches to public policy to improve the lives of Georgians. He has been active in the Georgia business and political community for more than 40 years. Wade and his wife, Marcia, are longtime residents of Sandy Springs.

Pete Robinson, Columbus, transition vice chair - Mr. Robinson is Chairman of Troutman Sanders Strategies, a full-service federal, state and local lobbying/issue management firm, and a partner in Troutman Sanders LLP. He is a former state senator from Columbus. He and his wife, Emily, have a daughter and two sons.

John K. Watson, Powder Springs, transition vice chair - Mr. Watson is the principal of real estate development at TPA Realty Services. Prior to his role at TPA Realty, he worked for more than 15 years in politics, government and business at the local, state, and federal levels. Watson previously served as chief of staff to Governor Perdue, general consultant to Perdue's campaign for Governor in 2002 and vice chairman of Governor-Elect Perdue's transition team. Watson earned a bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University. He and his wife, Kimberly, have two children.

Philip Wilheit, Gainesville, transition vice chair - Mr. Wilheit is the president of Wilheit Packaging, a provider of packaging materials for business. Active in state and regional business activities, he is a past chairman of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Georgia, and serves as chairman-emeritus of Northeast Georgia Health System. He currently serves on the Georgia Board of Economic Development and is vice chair of the Board of Trustees of Brenau University. He and his wife, Mary Hart, have two children and three grandchildren.

Inaugural Leadership Team

Jay Morgan, Atlanta, inaugural co-chair - Mr. Morgan has been a trusted adviser to candidates, corporations and business associations with public affairs strategic plans. He has been involved at the highest levels of Republican politics in Georgia and throughout the Southeast since 1984, when he became the youngest Executive Director of a Republican Party organization in the country in his home state of Georgia. Morgan and his wife, Laura, a former presidential appointee in the George H.W. Bush administration, have three children: Caroline (19), Jason (16) and Victoria (13).

Tricia Pridemore, Marietta, inaugural co-chair - Mrs. Pridemore is a technology entrepreneur with several successful business ventures. She is also the state director of the 9.12 Project of Georgia, a conservative grassroots organization. Tricia is a member of board of the WellStar Foundation, the GAGOP Technology Committee and serves on the Cobb County Republican Party Executive Committee.
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Bauer Says Early Election Results a Referendum on Obama ... and Voters Have had Enough

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former presidential candidate Gary Bauer Tuesday night said that the early election results were a "referendum on Obama, and the voters have rejected his agenda."

The chairman of the Campaign for Working Families, Bauer made the following statement:

"The night is young and the votes are still being counted. But judging from early indications it is clear that the American people have repudiated the leftwing agenda of higher taxes, more spending and bigger government. Democrats promised the country hope and change. Instead, we got a re-run of Jimmy Carter's "malaise days" - rising unemployment, out-of-control spending and ever-expanding regulations.

"There is no spinning the results: The 2010 election is a referendum on Obama and the voters have rejected his agenda of failed stimulus bills, cap and trade energy taxes, government takeovers, union bailouts and socialized medicine.

"The voters also sent a clear message about what they expect from Washington. By voting for conservative candidates, they are demanding fiscal responsibility, smaller government and more respect for traditional values.

"Tonight's results cannot come as a surprise to anyone. The signs have been there all along - from the Tea Party and town hall protests, to polls showing overwhelming opposition to ObamaCare, to the 2009 victories of Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie to Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts. Yet, Obama and congressional Democrats ignored them all. Today, the American people sent an unmistakable message: ENOUGH!

"With yet another and even larger rebuke at the ballot box, it is incumbent upon Barack Obama and congressional Democrats to stop pandering to left-wing special interest groups, abandon their ideological agenda and deliver on their promise of transparency and post-partisanship.

"This year the American people again voted for change in Washington. Now Republicans must regain their trust and work hard to restore their hope."

For more information on a conservative agenda, go to www.cwfpac.com.

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