Van Hollen: No Major Legislation During 'Lame-Duck' Session

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the third-ranking Democrat in the House, told reporters today that he does not anticipate the House voting on anything big during the brief session of Congress following this November’s elections.

“It’s very clear that there’s not gonna be major legislation during that period,” he said, citing Republican “scare-tactics” as the source of such speculation.

Nonetheless, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), has filed a resolution, to be considered this coming Tuesday - the same day the House will vote on a bill to send emergency aid to states - that would prohibit Congress from voting during the two-month session.

Price defended his resolution on the floor of the House last week.

“Americans are sick and tired of their elected leaders making backroom deals to ram through unpopular, 2000-page bills that no one has read,” he said. “They are sick of out-of-touch politicians, and they are tired of being ignored.”

Van Hollen, however, rebuked Price’s notion, saying the decision by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to call the House back into session was motivated by the need to preserve jobs.

“We’re coming back because it makes no sense from a jobs perspective and…from the prospective of our children’s education to have an insufficient number of teachers in the classroom,” he said.

Democratic Health Bills Don't Offer Americans Enough Freedom To Choose, Say GOP'ers

By Chingyu Wang - Talk Radio News Service

Members of the GOP Solutions Group blasted the White House's health reform proposal during a conference call with reporters on Thursday.

"The new plan looks a lot like the old plan, and every time when they are talking about the old plan I think Democrats lost this debate," said Group Chairman Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). "We'd like to see a plan that reduces costs, increases access and doesn't cripple the states."

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), a physician himself, slammed a provision within both Democratic health bills that would require Americans to purchase health insurance. Price said the question of who should decide what kind of medical care individuals receive is one of the main factors dividing Republicans and Democrats on the issue of healthcare reform.

A proposal by the Republicans would allow Americans "To truly shop across state lines to purchase the insurance that you want for yourself or your family," said Price, adding that the Democrats' bills would allow the "government to dictate [your insurance policy] for you."

"Democrat solutions come down on the side of larger government [and] integrated bureaucracy." he argued.

GOP Congressmen Warn That Health Care Reform Could Provide Public Funding For Abortion

By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

House Republicans gathered on Tuesday to denounce the inclusion of publicly funded abortions in the proposed health care reform.

“If the President is serious about passing true health care reform... [he] needs to step up, clarify his position about whether he wants abortion to be included in his health care reform,” said Rep. Mary Fallin (R-Ok.)

The proposed health care reform legislation requires every American to have the right to benefit from a minimum health care coverage, which may include abortion unless Congress makes abortion a statutory exception.

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) warned that “The issue here is clear - abortion is not explicitly excluded, it is implicitly included. The stakes are high and the implications incredibly far reaching.”

GOP leaders claim that allowing abortion to be funded by taxpayers may legitimize the procedure, which in turn could lead to an increase in abortion rates.

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) noted the disrespect shown to pro-life Americans who, through this legislation, would indirectly fund abortion through taxation.

“Millions and millions of American women have profound moral qualms about the killing of unborn children by abortion, putting these American women in a position that violates their deeply held beliefs on abortion... [The legislation] will trespass their rights to refrain from funding an industry that they find to be destructive to our nation's social and moral fabric,” Foxx said.

"Abortion, except in rare circumstances, is not heath care,” noted Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.)

U.S. Rep. Warns Against Public Health Care Option

By Joseph Russell- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who holds a medical degree, and Donald Palmisano of the Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights warned that providing the American people with a federally funded health care option can ultimately prove risky.

"Solutions used by the government over the decades of Medicare and Medicaid increased the uninsured, escalate medical care costs, and drive the public government programs into insolvency," said Palmisano during a discussion at the American Enterprise Institute Friday. "You can't force a bad treatment using intimidation and ad hominem attacks against the only persons qualified to give medical care."

Price said there are "three death nails for quality medicine: government option/public option, any mandate, and seceding the definition of quality to Washington."

Price added that "affordability, access, quality, responsiveness, innovation, and choice," are the six main principles of health care. According to Price, a government take-over will hurt these principles since the government will focus on costs and access to insurance but neglect the other significant concerns.

Price stated that the available data clearly shows this, but accused the Democrats and President Barack Obama of "refusing to face facts."

Sunset Caucus To Shed Light On Government Spending

By Aaron Richardson-Talk Radio News Service

The Republican Study Committee (RSC) introduced the formation of the Sunset Caucus today. Rep Tom Price (R-Ga.), the Chairman of the Republican Study Committee described the Sunset Caucus as “A new inititive that will continue to bring sensibility to Washington spending.” The Sunset Caucus is made up of Republican House Representatives from across the U.S. including Kevin Brady (R-Texas) who is the co-chairman, and Bob Goodlatte (R-Va).

The members of the Sunset Caucus plan to review certain federal programs and end those deemed wasteful, inefficient, or dangerous. Goodlatte named one program he was anxious to cut.

“The visa lottery program was established in 1990 and awards approximately fifty-thousand permanent resident visas to foreign nationals each year. The State Department’s Inspector General has testified that this program poses a serious national security threat to the U.S," said Goodlatte.

Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) spoke about against funds going towards the island nation of Palau.

“Our government pledged $200 million in development assistance to Palau. That comes to $12 million per individual detainee. That's $200 million equals the annual college tuition for over 2,000 students," Posey stated. "The new slogan for Palau will be: Come tan with the terrorists and pay low.”

For information about the RSC or the Sunset Caucus visit www.rsc.price.house.gov