House Republicans Call For Stimulus Audit

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

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and other House Republicans proposed an audit commission of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Wednesday, claiming that proper transparency of stimulus spending has not yet been provided.

“It’s time for Congress to demand answers on behalf of the hardworking taxpayers we represent,” Wilson said in a statement. “It is critical that American taxpayers receive adequate answers as to the whereabouts of stimulus funds.”

The bill calls for a 10 member bipartisan commission to be established, with a chairman appointed by President Barack Obama. The commission would investigate how jobs are being reported, the accuracy in the number of jobs being created and preserved and pursue future steps for job development.

“If you look at the number of jobs created by district and then look at the extraordinary cost, it is very revealing in itself,” Wilson said.

Reps. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), Mark Sounders (R-Ind.) and Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) are co-sponsoring the bill, at Wednesday's press conference, each cited cost-benefit discrepancies on the official stimulus website recovery.gov.

“The Obama administration’s website creates phony Congressional districts and fishy jobs numbers,” Kingston charged. “It’s time to pull back the curtain and get some transparency."

Senators Call For Task Force To Repair Debt

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

Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) called on Congress Wednesday to repair the national debt, introducing legislation to create a bipartisan task force to address the long-term budget crisis.

“The biggest threat that faces our nation today is our fiscal situation at the federal level,” Gregg said during a press conference. “We are on a path to bankruptcy as a nation.”

The Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act would be made up 16 Congressional Members and two officials from the Obama administration, including the Secretary of the Treasury. The task force would deliberate to create recommendations to solve fiscal imbalances.

The commission would function under a supermajority. For recommendations to be submitted for a vote, 14 of the 18 members would have to approve it.

“What we have outlined here has the best prospect of success but what is absolutely essential is that there be a special process, that it be bipartisan and that it lead to an assured vote on the work product of the task force,” Conrad said.

Both Senators said they want the bill to be a part of the upcoming vote to increase the debt limit, adding that they will not vote to raise the federal debt limit unless Congress commits to the task force.

“We’re saying very clearly that we’re not going for debt limit extension without an approach like this being included,” said Conrad. “We’re not going to relent on this and we’re not going to agree to any kind of long-term debt limit extension.”
 
The bill has 24 bipartisan co-sponsors thus far: nine Democrats, 14 Republicans and one Independent.

Democratic Caucus Planning Jobs Legislation Before Christmas

By Leah Valencia - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) said Tuesday that the House of Representatives will pass a job creation bill before Congress breaks for its Christmas recess.

“We feel we can move fairly quickly,” Larson said following a Democratic Caucus meeting. “We have a limited amount of time left, but we feel we can accomplish those goals in that time period.”

The legislation proposed by House Democrats would use Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds to pay for the job creation program, an idea that was endorsed by President Barack Obama during his remarks at the Brookings Institute earlier in the day.

“I am glad President Obama agrees with proposals set forth by House Democrats to use returning TARP funds to pay for job creation legislation,” Larson said. “It is time for Wall Street to help rebuild Main Street. We will take steps in the coming weeks to make sure that happens.”

Larson said the size and cost of a jobs package will depend on further discussions with the executive branch, but the need for job stimulation is a top priority within the House.

'Party Of No' Creating Hurdles For Americans Says Hoyer

By Leah Valencia - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) chided Republican leadership Monday, claiming the minority party has acted irresponsibly by using obstructionism to slow down the legislative process.

“No one expects Republicans to roll over for President Obama," Hoyer said during his remarks at The Center for American Progress. "But the ‘Party of No’ strategy is so disappointing because the history of Congress is full of loyal oppositions that shared responsibility for governing in trying times and shaped some of the most important legislation of their eras."

The Majority Leader said using such tactics lessens the overall effectiveness of Congress, saying that in the Senate the use of filibuster has turned from a rare tool “of passionate oppostiton” into a “routine hurdle." Hoyer added that 70 percent of all major bills face filibuster tactics as compared to only eight percent in the 1960's and 70's.

"The hard choices that are being forced on our country demand engagement from both parties," Hoyer said. “It is almost impossible for one party to take them on alone.”

Hoyer noted past Republican legislative work on Medicare and Social Security bills to demonstrate the merit of bipartisan partnership.

"It is not asking too much for today’s Republicans to rise to those examples," he said. "The history of constructive minorities shows how much more we should expect and demand of them."

The Leader said he would welcome Republicans into debates on today’s key issues such as health care and climate change for the good of constituents nationwide.

“It's easy to say that Democrats actually want extremism to be the face of the opposition...that we would be happy for the 'Party of No' to keep saying no, but that's not true.” Hoyer said. “When we say no to the work of legislating, we do real harm to the institution of Congress and our nation's future."

Grassroots Organization Urges Congress To Be More Fiscally Responsible

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

The Concord Coalition presented their Fiscal Stewardship Project's report on Capitol Hill Monday in an effort to urge Congress to take a serious look into the nation's debt, saying that big systemic changes are needed.

“Advisory council members across the country are disappointed that Washington has failed to exercise greater responsibility in handling the nation’s finances,” the project’s overview states. “Federal officials are failing to set meaningful budget priorities... and refusing to pursue obviously needed reforms.”

The non-partisan grassroots organization started the Fiscal Stewardship Project, a long-term fiscal study of the economic problems in the U.S. and possible solutions conducted by six advisory councils nationwide, in an effort to raise awareness about the need for fiscally responsible federal policy.

“Politicians may be surprised at how empathetic ordinary citizens are about fiscal responsibility and what solutions they are prepared to consider once they have studied the issues,” Concord Coalition executive director Robert Bixby said.

The study found the need for improvements in government spending for the health care system and Social Security and better education of fiscal matters for the general public.

The coalition argued that the need for a review of country's fiscal management is pertinent.

“We can no longer ignore our responsibility to act,” said the Atlanta Council, in their report. “The status quo is unacceptable because it is doomed to failure.”