This week, the government announced there would be no Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for social security recipients for the second straight year. So as the checks stay the same and the system loses money, the Capitol Steps wonder how the elderly will get by if the system runs out of money. Our guest is Steps star Elaina Newport.
Just days after a federal judge in Michigan dismissed Constitutional challenges to the individual mandate component of the new health care laws, a judge in Florida has allowed a similar challenge from 20 states to move forward. The judge also permitted a challenge to the mandated expansion of Medicare to go forward as well. How critical is this to the ongoing fight against the new health care plan? Does this give Obamacare opponents a leg up when the case goes to trial? Why did the Obama administration lose credibility in defending the individual mandate? And why could the mandate be seen as a human rights violation? We ask Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks and co-author of “Give Us Liberty: A Tea Party Manifesto”.
The American Legion is joining the chorus of criticism aimed at federal Judge Virginia Phillips, who not only struck down ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ but refused to stay her decision while the appeals process plays out. The Legion says its concern is not about the merits of the case but one judge deciding what’s best for the military. So how should this issue be decided? Will politics end up deciding this issue rather than what’s best for the military? How much should the opinions of active duty personnel matter in the Pentagon’s evaluation of the policy? We ask Craig Roberts of the American Legion.
The fragile economy and America’s exploding debt are front and center in the minds of most voters this year. Both parties deserve blame, but something needs to change quickly. That’s the thesis of “I Want Your Money”, the new documentary from filmmaker Ray Griggs that includes interviews with policy experts as well as some creative animation featuring presidents Reagan and Obama.
Ilario Pantano is a two-time Marine Corps veteran and is now challenging Democratic North Carolina Rep. Mike McIntyre. Why is Pantano running for Congress? Why does he believe McIntyre needs to be fired? How would he work to grow the economy? And what is his closing argument to North Carolina voters? We discuss all of this with Ilario Pantano.
Earlier this week, the Obama administration announced it was lifting the moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. But what has been the damage from the months the moratorium was in place? Did the moratorium accomplish anything positive? We ask Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, who also anticipates strong GOP midterm gains and warns Democrats against trying to cram controversial bills down America’s throat in a lame duck session of Congress.
Have President Obama and his allies found a good wedge issue by questioning the source of funding behind special interest group political ads? Or is this proof positive that Democrats are desperate as they see a possible tidal wave of voter anger next month? We ask John Gizzi of Human Events and also get his midterm predictions on several key races for the Senate and House as well as two key governor’s races.
Federal judge Virginia Phillips overturned the longstanding “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy concerning gays in the military, and now she says the law should be eliminated immediately. How should we view this decision from a legal perspective? Does a judge have the right to strike this law from the books? Will the decision be stayed until appeals are heard? What would happen if the case did get to the Supreme Court? We ask Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs at Liberty Counsel.
With 20 days left before the midterm elections, Democrats are trying to paint the rosiest possible picture despite many signs of a big Republican year. But what do Democrats honestly expect to happen? Why do they think voters appear ready to back the GOP? Is the Obama strategy of targeting the financing of outside conservative interest groups a good tactic? And how would President Obama and a new Republican majority be wise to act if the election projections are correct? We ask longtime Democratic strategist and former Lieberman chief of staff Michael Lewan.
Democrats have controlled the Oregon governorship since 1987, but Republicans see their best chance at winning the office in a generation. How is the anti-incumbent mood impacting this race when no incumbent is on the ballot? Why does former Gov. John Kitzhaber want the job again? Is he running on the past or what he would do in the future? What platform is former NBA player Chris Dudley running on and what experience does he bring to the job? We discuss all these questions with Ryan Brown, news director at KFLS in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
