GOP Leaders Warn Against Pelosi Backed Energy Bill

By Michael Combier-Talk Radio News

In a press conference Friday, House Republican members said they were making their best efforts to profit off the Democrats’ apparent lack of unity on the American Clean Energy and Security Act in hopes of defeating the legislation.

GOP leaders described the bill, which stands to regulate carbon emissions as “a bureaucratic nightmare. "This is a tax on anyone who drives a car, buys an American-made product. [It] will affect every American,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) added that the bill is “wrong for America, it is the wrong bill at the wrong time."

As an alternative to the act, Rep. Cantor proposed reducing the cost of alternative fuels.

Boehner Accuses Pelosi Of Killing Jobs And Creating More CO2 Through Waxman-Markey Support

By Sam Wechsler-Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) voiced strong opposition Thursday to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) support of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, also known as the Waxman-Markey bill.

Boehner began a press conference Thursday asking, “Where are the jobs?”, complaining that three million jobs have already been lost this year and that new jobs are not coming from government spending but from small businesses. He then stated that the upcoming Waxman-Markey bill would force small businesses to pay more for high energy and cost 2.3 to 2.7 million Americans their jobs.

“Mark my words, the American people are going to remember this vote. This will be a defining moment and a defining vote in this Congress,” said Boehner. 

The Minority Leader argued that the bill will not cause carbon dioxide emissions to decrease, but will instead result in an increase. Once the high energy sector jobs have been shipped overseas, the energy companies in India and China will import more American coal, Boehner explained. He added that since China and India do not have the technology America does, when the country burns the coal to produce energy they will create five times more carbon dioxide emissions than if the coal was burned in the U.S.

“[Waxman-Markey] is the most convoluted idea I’ve ever seen,” Boehner said.

House Republicans Announce Health Care Plan

By Joseph Russell- Talk Radio News Service

Leading House Republicans announced a desire to work diligently with House Democrats on comprehensive health care reform legislation. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) asserted that both parties have similar goals for health care reform, including providing access to millions of Americans without health insurance. The disagreement arises from the price tag, Boehner claimed.

Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) echoed Boehner, adding that government insurance is too costly and there are better avenues to achieve health care goals. “We are prepared to be engaged in the process,” Cantor said. “If Democrats mean what they say, we'll reach a solution.”

The Republicans said they want legislation that allows Americans to keep the health care they already have and prefer, while addressing the problems of access and out-of-control costs. The Republicans claim their plan meets immediate needs, while also addressing costs over the long term.

Few specifics were offered, as Republicans have yet to hammer out details with their Democrat counterparts. However, one tenet that Republicans called "essential" is tax credits that allow individual ownership of health care insurance.

Most Congressional Republicans are opposed to government-run health insurance, and with recent numbers showing the high costs and limited effectiveness of current proposals, the Republican minority's proposal for comprehensive health care reform may have a shot at majority support.

Budget Battle Continues

By Suzia van Swol-University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News Service
About a week after President Obama presented his budget to congress, House Republicans and Democrats continue with aggressive tactics. Republicans say the budget will leave the country with staggering debt through reckless spending.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) called the budget “staggering,” adding that such widespread spending will be put at the expense of future generations of Americans. Boehner’s comments that the country has had to tighten it’s belt everywhere except in Washington echoes sentiments made by critics of the budget presented to Congress by the President.

“I think it is wrong to deal with these challenges by mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren,” Boehner said. The proposed budget backed by Democrats “makes the economy worse and will destroy more American jobs,” will double U.S. debt over the next five years and triple economic debt in ten years, he said.

On Wednesday, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan (R), who is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, introduced a budget solution he says will curb spending, create jobs and leave the U.S. with $3.6 trillion less debt than the Democrats’ proposed budget.

Boehner does not support Democrats plan to raise energy taxes in the middle of a recession and said that it could cost every family as much as $3,100 a year in additional energy costs. “Think of the millions of American jobs that are dependent on a lot of energy use,” said Boehner. When asked if there is the possibility for a compromise, Boehner said “Oh yeah, I’m only for losing one million jobs, or I’m only willing to raise taxes on people $2,000 a family...No there is no compromise!”

In the middle of a recession, Congress cannot “throw a wet blanket on a weak economy, you’ll smother it,” Boehner said.

Toxic Asset Relief Program (TARP), allows the United States Department of the Treasury to purchase or insure up to $700 billion of "troubled" assets. “It’s just out of control,” said Boehner. No one has any idea where the money is going, how much is left, or where it went and the American people have a right to know where this money is going, stated Boehner.

Thousands of Americans lost their jobs in January; responding to questions regarding Congress making sacrifices by perhaps taking a pay cut, Boehner replied only that, “I understand.”

Republicans up in the air over oil production

House Republicans held a press conference to discuss their trip to Alaska and Colorado on the American Energy Tour. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) noted that oil production in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska has declined, chastising Democrats for standing in the way of Congressional progress on energy issues. According to Boehner, Republicans embrace a holistic energy strategy that includes drilling, conservation, and increasing the development of oil alternatives.

Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) noted the importance of Alaska’s infrastructure, saying 17 percent of the continental United States' oil travels through Alaskan pipelines. When questioned on short term oil production increases, Boehner cited a report that says new drilling could begin in Alaska in as little as six months. After flying over the region, Boehner stated there there is little topographical difference between the National Petroluem Reserve - Alaska (NPR-A,) where drilling currently takes place, and the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR.) He then questioned Democrats’ support for drilling in the NPR-A, contrasting this support with adamant Democratic opposition to drilling for oil in ANWR.

Boehner added that drilling leaves few environmental footprints, noting technological advances that have made oil production more efficient. In her statement, Rep. Mary Fallin (R-Okla.) said wildlife and drilling can co-exist, recalling the presence of caribou along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and warnings of aggressive polar bears in the region.