Archives for December 2011

As Congress bickers all the way to the end of the calendar year, a bipartisan agreement on reforming Medicare is quietly impressing health care experts.  Republican Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan and Democratic Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden are pushing the framework for a plan that would bring competition to firms vying to insure older Americans but also give seniors the option of sticking with traditional Medicare.  So why is this the most promising plan we’ve seen in a long time?  Will it get any traction in an election year?  And would it be sustainable?  We ask Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute.  She also tells us about her testimony before Congress last week that detailed the growing worries of small businesses over the Obama care care laws.

Standard Podcast [ 10:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Over the past several days, hardware giant Lowe’s has been the target of many organizations for removing its sponsorship of the TLC program “All-American Muslim”.  So is Lowe’s guilty of discrimination or was this mainly a decision based on the bottom line?  What’s the long-term goal of this protest?  And what’s the strongest case that Lowe’s does not discriminate against Muslims?  We discuss it all with Act for America Founder Brigitte Gabriel, author of “They Must Be Stopped”.

Standard Podcast [ 7:56 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review are pleased that the insane, murderous reign of Kim Jon-Il is over as the North Korean dictator dies.  We also wonder what in the world Newt Gingrich is thinking by suggesting as president he would abolish courts and remove judges for egregious decisions.  And we discuss the late surge of Ron Paul in Iowa.

Standard Podcast [ 12:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

House Republicans have approved a plan to fund the government through September 2012.  Costing just over a trillion dollars, the plan cuts discretionary spending and also eliminates what the GOP considers job-killing energy regulations and abortion funding for the District of Columbia.  But is the plan fiscally responsible?  And why are Republicans now advancing an omnibus bill like the one they condemned in the previous Congress?  We discuss it all with New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce.

Standard Podcast [ 7:23 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As members of Congress race to extend payroll tax rates, unemployment benefits and funding of the government, a surprising provision is also part of the House plan.  Republicans succeeded in passing language that will forbid funding for the enforcement of a 2007 law that phases out the traditional incandescent light bulb.  Why is this important?  How long will this reprieve last?  And will manufacturers start making them again?  We discuss it all with Texas Rep. Michael Burgess.

Standard Podcast [ 6:25 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Capitol Steps continue their Christmas parodies with a jab at Al Gore in “Temperatures We Have Heard Are High” and also examine how outsourcing may impact Santa Claus himself.

Standard Podcast [ 6:03 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review celebrate the House GOP saving the incandescent light bulb just two weeks prior to its extinction.  They also reflect on the impact of the late journalist Christopher Hitchens.  And they marvel at the disregard the Obamas have for the taxpayers as they make separate vacation flights to Hawaii just a couple of days apart.

Standard Podcast [ 10:34 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

David Bellavia is a highly decorated Iraq War veteran.  He is also very upset that the Obama administration failed to achieve a new Status of Forces Agreement that would keep troops in Iraq as our commanders requested.  Why does he fear America’s sacrifices could end up being wasted?  And why does he believe those fears would be eased by maintaining a small presence in Iraq for a little while longer?  We ask Sgt. Bellavia, who is also founder of Vets for Freedom.  Bellavia is also outraged that the Obama administration is seriously considering the transfer of terrorist Ali Mussa Daqduq – a man responsible for the deaths of several U.S. troops.

Standard Podcast [ 9:39 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer is running for the Republican presidential nomination.  He has not been invited to any of the GOP debates but now leads Rick Perry in a New Hampshire poll.  Will that get him invited to a debate soon?  What is the Roemer campaign all about?  Why is unique among Republican hopefuls in embracing the Occupy movement?  Why is he already considering a third party bid?  And why does he say that would not ultimately help President Obama?  We discuss it all with Gov. Roemer.

Standard Podcast [ 8:18 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended a complete ban on cell phone use by drivers – no texting and no talking on the phone even with hands-free devices.  Is this a reasonable response to the growing concern over distracted driving or just the government deciding it knows what’s best for us more than we do?  We discuss it with Horace Cooper of the National Center for Public Policy Research.

Standard Podcast [ 9:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download