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.

House Republicans Ready To Fight Waxman-Markey Bill

The American Clean Energy and Security Act, an expansive piece of climate change legislation backed by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), faces an uphill battle at the hands of House Republicans.

“The proponents of this legislation...have maybe 190 votes. That falls way short of the necessary 218,” said House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) during a press conference Wednesday. “The American people are growing very weary...of the cost and consequences of the democratic agenda in the House.”

House Republicans warned that the bill could eliminate jobs by threatening coal production and pose huge costs.

“This is the largest national energy tax this nation is going to see,” said Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio). “Some people want to call it cap-and-trade but this is cap-and-tax.”

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.

Pence: “Welcome To The Next Installment Of The Party Of Yes”

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

At a press conference today, leading Republican Party members’ discussed their House Republican Housing Plan proposal.

Congressman Cantor said, “The notion in this country is you work hard, you play by the rules and that you can get a reward. This administration in the housing area doesn't quite jive with that sense of the American spirit. Instead what we have seen are proposals that call upon the 90 some percent of the Americans, who are paying their mortgage, playing by the rules, calling on them to subsidize those who don’t. So the plan we have unveiled today responds to that notion and speaks to all Americans and tries to address the severe problem with excess and home inventories.”

Congressman Cantor added that this was a “central element to addressing the bank failures and capital markets failures.”

The Republican plan says that it can “provide a $5,000 refinancing tax credit to help families cover the costs of a mortgage refinancing, buy down points, or reduce their principle balance (covers refinancing through July 1, 2010).” The plan also states that, “in exchange for a lender investing in keeping a homeowner in their family home by refinancing their mortgage and lowering their monthly payments, if the homeowner agrees to share a portion of future home appreciation with the lender, then the lender will not be taxed on that future profit and the borrower will not incur any tax liability as a result of the refinancing (covers refinancing through July 1, 2010).”

Congressman Pence said, “Welcome to the next installment of the party of yes. Yes to new solutions, yes to alternatives that will resonate with millions of Americans because they are grounded in the timeless personal responsibility.

Congressman Pence added, “Unfortunately our democratic colleagues have only offered failed policies that reward bad behavior and massively expand government programs. The Republicans today unveil a better solution, and when the American people have a chance to look at it I believe most of them will agree.”

Repbulican watchdogs to monitor Obama

Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Johny Isakson (R-Ga), Representatives.
Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and Eric Cantor (R-Va) held a press
conference today to present the House-Senate Fiscal Responsibility
Group. Cantor described that the group was created to oversee the
implementation of taxpayers funds and to monitor if the money in the
stimulus bill are spent in a transparent and accountable way. He also
stated that the Republicans suggested a more efficient plan than the
Stimulus package. Cantor stated that if Congress would have passed the
Republicans solution, twice as many jobs would be created. The
solution should lie on job creation not raising taxes on the citizens,
said Cantor.

Thune discussed the consequences the stimulus package will have for
America. He described that it will not only affect the current tax
payers situation, but also future generations. By passing the recover
bill, taxpayers will suffer and money will be spent in a wasteful way.

Isakson emphasized the importance of holding President Obama
accountable for what he says and making sure that taxpayers money will
not be a waste. Isakson also stated that the group will work as
watchdogs to ensure that money is being spent in a transparent way.

Hensarling stated that not before in American history has so few voted
so fast on such a important matter, as the stimulus package. He stated
that by passing this bill, Congress made a mistake because the road to
recovery goes through the small businesses; By not implementing the
Republicans plan, America transfers the financial crises on to the
next generation.
Hensarling also stated that the group will work with the President to
make sure that the expenses are made in a decent way.

Cantor also commented on the recovery package's focus on investing in
health care. He said that the big investment should be in the job
creation area, because if people loose their jobs they will
automatically loose their health care. By creating jobs the problem
can be solved from the root.