Healthcare Fight Not Over, Say GOP'ers

Although President Barack Obama will soon sign the main health reform bill passed by the House last night, Republican lawmakers aren't convinced that their window of opportunity to 'kill the bill' has closed. Hours after the House passed the Senate's bill, as well as a subsequent reconciliation bill, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) drafted legislation to repeal them.

“Americans across the country are outraged that liberals have made an unconstitutional bill full of special interest bribes the law of the land. Democrats will pay a price for their overreach. This fight is far from over. Now the work begins to repeal this monstrosity and restore the principles of freedom that made America a great nation," said King in a statement released Monday morning.

King's effort will most likely enjoy support from at least a few on the other side of Capitol Hill.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has already said he will introduce a repeal measure in the Senate, and during an appearance on ABC this morning Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) vowed "we're going to repeal this."

Realistically, Republicans will more than likely have to win control of both Houses this fall in order to have a shot at repealing the soon-to-be laws. Additionally, without 60 seats in the Senate, Republicans would have to use the same reconciliation process they have assailed Democrats over the past few months for using. However, while attaining a super-majority is out of the question, Republicans are betting on the fact that Obamacare will pay dividends for their candidates later this year.

One such candidate is Rev. Isaac Hayes (R), a youth Minister from Chicago, who sees healthcare as a way to defeat Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) in his race to get re-elected to the House.

"I believe the process by which health insurance reform has been jammed down our throats will be the centerpiece of the November election...America knows this is a government grab of one-sixth of the economy and they are encouraging Republicans to repeal this bill the moment we are sworn in as the 112th Congress," Hayes told Talk Radio News Service on Monday.

GOP Doesn’t Mind Being ‘Party Of No’ On Spending

With Democrats in the Senate getting set to put forth a jobs bill, perhaps as early as Monday, their counterparts across the aisle are saying ‘no’ to more spending.

“We have a situation now that’s just too serious to continue to handle that way,” said Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) on Thursday. “It’s not an exaggeration to say our country is on the edge of a financial cliff.”

DeMint and fellow GOP Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and George LeMieux (R-Fla.) unveiled their party’s latest attempt to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington, calling on Congress to support a one-year moratorium on earmarks along with a Constitutional Amendment to balance the federal budget.

“What we’re doing here today, is to try and challenge everyone in the Senate -- Republican and Democrat -- to join us in those steps that we can take...to address our growing deficit,” said DeMint.

“Everything is gonna get cut...it’s gonna be painful, but I guarantee you that we can cut the agencies of government...by 20 percent even, maybe 30 percent,” added LeMieux.

McCain, a noted opponent of federal earmark spending, blasted President Barack Obama for supporting using unspent Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) funds to fuel a jobs bill which could total over $100 billion.

“The President says he’s gonna have a spending freeze next year, and in the very next breath proposes a hundred billion dollars in new spending called a ‘jobs bill.’ It’s out of control.”

The hard part now for the 11 cosponsors of the measures will be to actually practice what they preach. Graham, for example, has a known record of not being averse to requesting earmarks. As recently as 2009, he helped secure nearly 10 million dollars to fund construction of a fitness center inside Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.

Graham, however, said he’s willing to bite the proverbial bullet in the short-run.

“It would be tough for us all, but it’s the right thing for the future. So I don’t mind an earmark system in the future that’s transparent, that’s logical and fits within a balanced budget.”

Senate Republicans Will Try To Slow Health Care Bill

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

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says he’s ready to do everything within his power to slow down the passage of health care reform.

“It is our intention not to pass this bill easily,” said McConnell. “I have a practice of not telegraphing procedural moves that may be available to us…I don’t think anyone’s missed it. We don’t think this bill should pass.”

McConnell alluded to speculation that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will unveil his latest version of health care reform early Saturday morning, with a cloture vote to follow promptly if the Senate expects to make its Christmas deadline.

The Leader explained that he along with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) would demand that every change be read on the floor.

“If we have seen it don’t you think we should have time to at least examine it? I don’t think it would be outrageous to ask for a bill to be read that we have seen that affects one seventh of our gross domestic product,” said McCain.

New Bill Will Separate Commercial And Investment Banks

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

Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced bipartisan legislation Wednesday that would prohibit commercial banks from affiliating themselves in any manner with investment banks or securities firms.

The Banking Integrity Act of 2009 would restore 1933 legislation, repealed in 1999 under legislation guided by former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), to establish a wall between commercial and investment banking to help protect depositors' money from being put at risk by Wall Street speculation.

"I'm sure that Senator Gramm probably does not agree with this legislation. It doesn't change our relationship, we just don't agree," said McCain.

“For nearly 60 years, a firewall maintained the integrity of banking systems; preventing self-dealing and other financial abuses; and limited stock market speculation,” said Cantwell during a press conference. “Our bill would return that firewall.”

Under Cantwell-McCain, major financial firms currently operating as both commercial banks and investment houses would have to make a decision on whether to focus on commercial or investment banking.

“I want to ensure that we never stick the American taxpayer with another $700 billion or even larger tab to bailout the financial industry. It is time to put a stop to the taxpayer financed excesses of Wall Street,” said McCain.

McCain brushed off concerns that Gramm, who served as a campaign adviser for the Arizona senator's 2008 presidential campaign, would be troubled by the move to sweep away his legislative accomplishments.

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.