For the past several months, House Republicans have insisted that any extension of existing payroll tax rates be offset with spending cuts to keep the program deficit-neutral. This week, GOP leaders changed that position and will now allow the tax rates to continue and add to the deficit. In exchange, Republicans are now trying to reduce the number of weeks Americans may collect unemployment benefits. Texas Rep. Kevin Brady is chairman of the Joint Economic Committee. He explains why the Republican leaders changed strategies, how much progress the GOP really thinks it can make on jobless benefits and what he makes of the Obama budget.
Archives for February 14, 2012
‘It’s A Scam’
On Friday, President Obama offered an ‘accommodation’ to a new Health and Human Services rule mandating contraception coverage for women at no cost. Obama will now allow religious institutions to reject paying for coverage they consider in violation of their beliefs. Insurance companies will now pay those bills. But National Right to Life Committee Legislative Director Douglas Johnson says this is all a scam and nothing has changed from a policy standpoint. Johnson also says the same rationale behind the decision could be used to mandate ‘free’ abortion coverage in all health plans since it’s cheaper than coverage for having and caring for a newborn baby. Johnson says it’s all a sign of why government has no business dictating the terms of health coverage policies.
Three Martini Lunch 2/14/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Daniel Foster of National Review applaud Republicans for their aggressive denunciation of the Obama budget. However, they also shake their heads as the GOP folds on demanding spending cuts in exchange for allowing an extension of payroll tax rates. And they discuss the odd episode of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer being mugged by a machete-wielding burglar in the Caribbean.