GOP'ers Tout Anti-EPA Bill, Assail Obama's Tax Plan
By Janie Amaya
Republicans gathered today to voice support for the TRAIN Act, which would commission a new panel to study the cost-benefit analysis of new air pollution regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The bill’s author, Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.), said the legislation would allow businesses to add to their payrolls.
“The politicians, we don’t create jobs,” he said. “But what we can do is get the heck out of the way. That’s why it’s so important that we address these government regulations.”
The bill is expected to hit the House floor tomorrow. While it has a good chance of passing through the lower chamber, the White House has issued a veto threat against it, arguing that it would “slow or undermine important public health protections.”
Obama, himself, has publicly championed his administration’s efforts to roll back rules and regulations, and earlier this month delayed the EPA’s ability to move forward with a key air pollution rule that Republicans said would hurt businesses badly struggling to help reduce the current 9.1 percent unemployment rate.
On Tuesday, Senate Democrats wrote to the President, urging him to not give in to GOP-led efforts to weaken the EPA’s power to regulate the environment.
GOP lawmakers also blasted President Obama’s latest proposal to raise taxes on top earners in order to pay down the nation’s debt and deficit.
“Unfortunately, what we’ve seen is that the President has made a decision; that he’s gonna go into full campaign mode now, 14 months before the election,” said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.).
Rep. Cantor, Rep. Sullivan, TRAIN Act in Congress
Stimulus Moving Country In "Wrong Direction," Say House GOP'ers
A group of House Republicans called out Democrats on Thursday, blaming them for passing a stimulus package that according to the Republicans, hasn't yet turned our nation's economy around.
Republicans Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Tom Price (R-Ga.), Chris Lee (R-NY), Lynn Jenkins (R-Ks.), Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) and Steve Austria (R-Ohio) took turns bashing the stimulus plan at a press conference aimed specifically at pointing out the missteps of the Democratic majority.
“We are facing a situation where you have a very out of touch administration and majority who don’t realize the fiscal mess that they’re putting us into; but I can assure you the people of my district are extremely frustrated and want them to stop this reckless spending,” said Rep. Lee.
Rep. Price held specific Democrats responsible for the recent loss of jobs, and explained how the current economic downturn will affect Americans in the near future.
“Is this what the Speaker had in mind when she shackled our children and our grand children to this experiment in big government economics?” Price asked.
Rep. Jenkins took swipes at the Democratic majority as well; “Since January this Congress and administration has taken us in the wrong direction. They’ve gone on an unprecedented spending spree with your tax dollars. From numerous bailouts, to the near trillion dollar stimulus,to the natural energy tax, Kansans are saying enough is enough,” said the Kansas Republican.