Bipartisan Caucus Calling On Government To Balance The Budget

By Laurel Brishel Prichard
University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) along with Reps. Jim Marshall (D-GA) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) unveiled new legislation on Thursday aimed at balancing the federal budget. According to Marshall, H.J. Res. 1 is an amendment that would force government to “make the tough decisions.”

Over the past 50 years, the nation's budget has been in balance only four times, said Marshall. This amendment would attempt to balance the budget within five years, which “will be a major challenge,” he said.

“It’s not the concept that is hard; it’s finding the will to do so. Millions of American families do it. Millions of American small businesses do it. 49 states do it. It's time for the federal government to do it too,” said Coffman.

With the country's debt currently over $12 trillion, the legislation would place restraints on how the government keeps its books. Even President Barack Obama would be required to submit a proposed budget for any fiscal year in which total outlays would not exceed total receipts.

“The problem that we have right now is that everyone gets what they want,” Coffman lamented.

In 1995 and 1997, a similar amendment passed through the House, but ultimately died in the Senate. This newly formed bipartisan caucus would fight to ensure the amendment passes this time around.

"I think this amendment will pass if we just get it out of the House and Senate...The states will [ratify] this in a heartbeat," said Marshall.

The resolution currently has 175 cosponsors, and needs just 125 more to reach the required two-thirds majority in order to pass the House.

Insurance Providers May Soon Have To Reveal Rationale Behind Premium Increases

By Laurel Brishel Prichard-University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

Health and Human Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters Thursday that through the administration's health care reform effort, health insurance providers could soon be required to publish the rationale behind premium increases on American's policies.

“Right now we have a situation where the top 5 companies filed earning reports of $12.7 billion for 2009 in terms of profit statements and yet pivot around with double digit rate increase," Sebelius said during a conference call with reporters. “People have no bargaining power, they have no leverage and often are desperate in terms of what in the world they are going to do."

According to the secretary, posting the reasons behind raised premiums online will provide additional transparency.

Sebelius's remarks came shortly after a meeting with a variety of the heavy hitting insurance company CEO's and commissioners, including those from UnitedHealth Group, Aetna and WellPoint.

President Barack Obama stopped in during the meeting, according to Sebelius, to share a letter that he received from a cancer survivor in Ohio. Her rates were increased 25 percent last year, which put her insurance premiums at $7,000, with $4,000 in out of pocket costs, and has been informed that her rates will go up another 40 percent this year.

Sebelius quoted Obama saying “that kind of rate increase is just unacceptable and unsustainable.”

Saving The Environment Could Save You Cash And Maybe Your Job, Says Labor Secretary

By Laurel Brishel Prichard University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

A new rebate program for home retrofits proposed by the Obama administration could save homeowners hundreds of dollars a year and create new jobs, according to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

“The single act of retrofitting these home to make them more energy efficient is one of the fastest and easiest things that we can do to put Americans back to work while saving families money and reducing harmful emissions,” Solis said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. “In short, this is a triple win. We are meeting the needs of workers, employers and home owners.”

Solis added that the administration will offer training programs to instruct workers in retrofitting. The secretary contended that the program is an important step in recovering the hard-hit construction industry.

The $6 billion program would be divided into two rebates, the gold and the silver star, which would be added to the current energy tax rebate program that was enacted under the Recovery Act, according to Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner.

The silver star program would issue a 50 precent rebate for point of sale purchases on energy saving equipment up to $1,000 and cap the credit amount to $3,000 per home. The gold star program would be an overall rebate of $3,000 on whole home energy retrofits.

Browning estimates that around 2-3 million homes would be affected and homeowners could stand to save around $200- $500 per year in energy costs.

McCain Supports Afghanistan Troop Surge, But Is Wary Of Timetable

Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) gave high praise Tuesday to President Barack Obama’s decision to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, but warned that the proposed withdrawal timetable could be devastating to the mission.

“I worry about that a great deal," said McCain during a discussion at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington think tank. "General McChrystal, in questioning by the House Armed Services Committee, was asked if he made that recommendation or ever referred to a date for withdrawal. He said no."

Earlier this month President Obama announced a 30,000 troop increase in Afghanistan along with plans to begin withdrawing forces in 18 months.

McCain urged the importance of victory in Afghanistan and argued that the failure could be completely devastating to the region.

“We cannot afford to lose this conflict. The repercussions of failure will reverberate for decades,” said McCain. “I will be an ally in this effort... I will work to get this policy the votes, the resources and the time it needs to work.”

McCain urged the President to gain support not only from Congress, but from the public as well.

House Democrats Unveil Immigration Reform Bill

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and more than 20 like-minded House Democrats unveiled new legislation Tuesday to reform immigration. Under the new bill millions of illegal immigrant could legalize their status.

"We have waited patiently for a workable solution to our immigration crisis to be taken up by this Congress and this President," said Gutierrez. "The time for waiting is over. This bill will be presented before Congress recesses for the holidays so that there is no excuse for inaction in the New Year."

The bill, with full support of the Black, Hispanic, Asian and other progressive Congressional caucuses, proposes that illegal immigrants should have the right to register with the government, and after paying a $500 fine per adult, learning English and passing background checks, become eligible for a six-year visa and eventually a green card.

“Border security, that is a concern of all of ours,” Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.). “We need to know everyone that is in the United States today...Not have people living in shadows.”

Many critics see a rough road ahead for immigration reform legislation, particularly with the U.S. unemployment rate at 10 percent and mid-term elections approaching.

“We want to make sure American workers get the first crack at all American jobs,” Gutierrez said. “But we want to invite immigrants to come here, bring their money, bring their knowledge, bring their entrepreneurship. We’ll let them in as long as they come here and create jobs for Americans.”

President Barack Obama said in August that he is confident that Congress would pass legislation that would overhaul immigration. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are expected to introduce an immigration bill in the Senate by February of 2010.